Paper Money Video Archive
Unlock the Stories of Paper Money
Discover the beauty and significance of banknotes in our Paper Money video series. With expert-led lectures and recorded webinars, delve into topics from the artistry of paper currency design to its cultural impact worldwide. Perfect for collectors of all levels, these videos offer a comprehensive look at the world beyond coins.
U.S. National Bank Note Counterfeits and Counterfeits of Chinese Paper Money
Instructor: Joseph Boling
This two-hour presentation will cover two topics. We will start with counterfeits of large-size national bank notes that were mostly circulated in the 19th century. When the Bureau of Engraving and Printing assumed the responsibility for printing national currency, many employees of the contract printers who had been doing this work no longer had jobs. Some turned their skills to creating notes on the QT; those are what we will examine. As bad notes were identified in circulation, these craftsmen modified the plates they were using so that notes of a different bank became their product. One can trace several generations of counterfeits to single original plates. After the break, we will take up more modern products – notes of China from 1948 to today being pushed into Western markets from Chinese sources. The market for Chinese paper money has been overheated, but is still quite active; if you collect these series, you need to see this presentation. As for all of my presentations, you will be best served if you watch the introductory session on printing technologies here.
Paper Money Made to Deceive Collectors
Instructor: Joseph Boling
The notes to be shown are ones that are replicas intended to sell to collectors, not to circulate (made years after the originals). In a few cases they might have been created for legitimate reasons (movie props, tourist souvenirs) but now appear in dealer’s stocks as originals.
April 13, 1976: A Numismatic Bicentennial Kickoff Event Remembered
Instructor: Lawrence Korchnak
This presentation covers the history and release behind the designed 1976 $2 Bill issue and the resulting new numismatic collectible created that day thanks to the USPS…the postmarked $2 provided 13-cents postage was affixed. It was called by collectors the B$2FDC! Strict rules for the postmarking were set out, but were they always followed? What unique postmarked collectibles were ultimately created in the roughly estimated 10 million $2 bills postmarked nationwide?
The Incredibly Diverse World of Confederate States Paper Money: Part Two
Instructor: Lawrence Korchnak
A continuation of the last webinar, we will be covering types 18 through 46 along with some of the interesting quirks and hidden meanings each type has. The people, deities, and overall vignettes depicted on each type will be explained, just as with the last presentation, and we will also go over some obsolete banknotes that have the same vignettes on them as the Confederate currency does.
The Incredibly Diverse World of Confederate States Paper Money
Instructor: Caleb Audette
What is Confederate Paper Money, and why is it so important to us? This webinar will cover this and all the basics of Confederate States Paper Money. You will embark on a journey in which you will acquire knowledge about the types of this currency and the people depicted on the notes. You will also learn what a PF variety is. Finally, you’ll be instructed on how you can obtain these fascinating pieces of history that were issued from 1861-1864.
Beauty and the Banknote: The Feminine Touch
Instructor: Walt Ostromecki
From nuns to queens; artists to scientists; writers to social and political reformers; philanthropists to national heroes and more, women have played a vital role in shaping world history. As a result, many have been honored by their respective countries with their portraits on currency.
More on Paper and Money Counterfeits
Instructor: Joseph Boling
In the first session on this subject, when time expired we were in the middle of a slide set showing how counterfeiters evade or replicate security features on banknotes. In this session, we will finish that discussion and move to the history of state-on-state counterfeiting – a practice dating back to the American Revolutionary War. If you missed the first session, you can watch it ahead of time here.
The Short Snorter Project
Instructor: Tom Sparks
Tom Sparks founded the Short Snorter Project to educate the general public about the short snorter tradition, the individuals, and the short snorter artifacts. His presentation incorporates his collection of artifacts and research put together over the last 15+ years which was recently published as a digital book on the Newman Numismatic Portal.
MPC Boot Camp
Instructor: Carlton “Fred” Schwan
All Military Payment Certificate (MPC) enthusiasts are to report for duty! The mission includes basic to the advanced study of MPCs. Deserters will be court-martialed!
Women in Military Numismatics
Instructor: Fred Schwan
This presentation will be centered primarily on the two world wars. Topics of discussion include trench art coins, “short snorters,” World War II medals awarded exclusively to women, mothers’ crosses, World War II decorations featuring portraits of women, American Red Cross chits, and war bonds purchased by women in Japanese-American internment camps. This presentation, featuring many numismatic and historic images, is the culmination of 50 years of research published and unpublished sources.
An Introduction to Collecting Colonial Paper Money—“Tis Death to Counterfeit”
Instructor: Raymond Williams
The presentation will discuss the need for paper money in colonial America, their issue by the colonies and the Continental Congress and contemporary counterfeiting. Reference books and methods of collecting will be presented. Examples from several colonies and the Continental Congress will be shown and discussed.
Pay Warrants of the Texian Navy
Instructor: Michael E. Marotta
Part of the ANA’s eLearning Academy. We all remember the Alamo, but the navy was the savior of the Republic of Texas. Printed on orders from Commodore Edwin Moore, the pay warrants of the Texian Navy were repudiated by President Sam Houston. They may hold a clue to the mutiny aboard the San Antonio.
Mexican Voices in Metal and Paper
Instructor: Ricardo de Leon Tallavas
This course examines the general perspective of coins, some medals, and paper money that compose Mexican Numismatics, covering the period from 1492 to 1925.
Backstories
Instructor: Lawrence Korchnak
Numismatic notes on selected coins, currency, and exonumia from Benvenuto Cellini’s Renaissance to Chinese strikebreakers in mid 19th century US.
More on Fakes Targeting Collectors, More on Official Counterfeiting
Instructor: Joseph Boling
This two-hour program completes two previous programs that ran overtime. We will start by finishing October’s discussion of counterfeits made to deceive collectors, not to circulate while the notes were current. That will be followed with more information about official counterfeiting – government-against-government operations.
Is Anything Ever Really New? Coin & Currency Déjà Vu Over Two Millennia
Instructor: Hans H. Liu, M.D.
History tends to repeat itself. In cultures separated by years to millennia, intriguing situations involving coins and paper currency have recurred. These include fraudulent gold-plating of minor coinage, using imagery to bolster fiat currency, and recycling cannons and shells to make spending money. Coincidence or circumstance? Tune into this talk to decide for yourself.
Providencia – Cultural Landscape and Numismatic Heritage
Instructor: Hussein Larreal
Providencia is an island that served as a leprosarium for western Venezuela between 1831 and 1985. However, more than clinical history, it’s a cultural landscape that meant the modification of a natural environment by a society forcibly installed on its territory, but that developed there its life and local culture, leaving a legacy reflected in buildings, stories and assets; that is the case of coins and banknotes intended solely for the use of leprosy patients.
Nixon’s Numismatic Hobby Legacy
Instructor: Walt Ostromecki
The presentation takes a look at the various numismatic hobby items/collectibles which came about during and through Mr. Nixon’s Presidency including legislation for the right for private citizens to once again own gold. This legislation is something he pushed for and was on his desk for signature when he resigned the office of President. Gerald Ford signed it into law a few days after Richard Nixon’s departure. The program will also cover the various official coins, medals and other collectible memorabilia issued during his presidency including the idea of a new $2 bill for the bicentennial.
Introduction to Paper Money Production and Counterfeit Detection
Instructor: Joseph Boling
This class will cover printing technologies used by security printers and the more likely technologies used by counterfeiters.
Rushing Through Panama: Numismatics on the Journey to the American Gold Rush
Instructor: Jack E. Topping
Using primary sources and other relevant information, this presentation focuses on the intricate nature of numismatics during the American Gold Rush—a watershed moment in U.S. history, often overlooked by what came after miners arrived in 1850s California. The coins and currencies used during this westward journey will be discussed.
Siege Notes: The Currency of War
Instructor: Lawrence Korchnak
Siege Currency is rare and historic. This talk will trace the history of siege currency and address the unique circumstances surrounding its issue. The collector will discover how circumstances resulted in coins being struck from planchets made by pasting prayer book pages together. We will also examine notes meticulously written by hand, notes printed on discarded pieces of clothing, and notes printed using a carved croquet mallet as an engraving plate.
Colonial Currency; German East Africa
Instructor: Douglas Mudd
German East Africa is fascinating because of its location in one of the last regions of the African continent to be explored – the old phrase “Heart of Africa” referred to central Africa and east Africa equally for many decades – and its exploration was the stuff of legends. The search for the source of the Nile, Henry Morton Stanley, David Livingstone, Richard Burton, John Speke, Samuel Baker – all played a part in developing Doug’s interest in the region. When he discovered the numismatic background of what was to become Tanzania, his interest peaked yet again.
Sovereign Money, Past, Present and Future
Instructor: Douglas Mudd
This talk is an exploration of the history and origins of money as a form of mass media – a conveyor of meaning – and how it expresses the messages issuing authorities intend and what they tell us about the authorities. To do so, it is necessary to develop an understanding of the symbolism and written shorthand used to convey messages on coinage over time.
Paper Money Oddities
Instructor: Joseph Boling
This presentation covers a variety of errors and environmental issues that can affect paper money, such as ink starvation errors, offset errors, other printing defects associated with the several steps in creating US notes, and color changelings.