2005 500 Patacas Banco Nacional Ultramarino, Macau PMG 67 EPQ Superb Gem Unc. Pk#: 83a

World Paper Money China Macau

Most people first come into contact with World Paper Money through International travel. Interesting examples are kept as souvenirs and often become the beginnings of a World Paper Money collection. As more people travel, World Paper Money collecting has become as popular as coin collecting. Since there are many catalogs with pictures it easy to find information about this fascinating hobby of collecting World Paper Money.

For a List of World Paper Money Categories Click Here

If you have any questions call Jeff @ 870-670-4255

  XWikipedia: X is the twenty-fourth letter in the ISO basic Latin alphabet. →

1993 10 Rials Central Bank, Oman PMG 65 EPQ Gem Unc. Pk#: 28b

World Paper Money Oman

Most people first come into contact with World Paper Money through International travel. Interesting examples are kept as souvenirs and often become the beginnings of a World Paper Money collection. As more people travel, World Paper Money collecting has become as popular as coin collecting. Since there are many catalogs with pictures it easy to find information about this fascinating hobby of collecting World Paper Money.

For a List of World Paper Money Categories Click Here

If you have any questions call Jeff @ 870-670-4255

1997 10 Rials Central Bank, Oman PMG 65 EPQ Gem Unc. Pk#: 19a

World Paper Money Oman

Most people first come into contact with World Paper Money through International travel. Interesting examples are kept as souvenirs and often become the beginnings of a World Paper Money collection. As more people travel, World Paper Money collecting has become as popular as coin collecting. Since there are many catalogs with pictures it easy to find information about this fascinating hobby of collecting World Paper Money.

For a List of World Paper Money Categories Click Here

If you have any questions call Jeff @ 870-670-4255

1990 5 Rials Central Bank, Oman PMG 66 EPQ Gem Unc. Pk#: 27

World Paper Money Oman

Most people first come into contact with World Paper Money through International travel. Interesting examples are kept as souvenirs and often become the beginnings of a World Paper Money collection. As more people travel, World Paper Money collecting has become as popular as coin collecting. Since there are many catalogs with pictures it easy to find information about this fascinating hobby of collecting World Paper Money.

For a List of World Paper Money Categories Click Here

If you have any questions call Jeff @ 870-670-4255

1990 5 Rials Central Bank, Oman PMG 64 EPQ Choice Unc. Pk#: 27

World Paper Money Oman

Most people first come into contact with World Paper Money through International travel. Interesting examples are kept as souvenirs and often become the beginnings of a World Paper Money collection. As more people travel, World Paper Money collecting has become as popular as coin collecting. Since there are many catalogs with pictures it easy to find information about this fascinating hobby of collecting World Paper Money.

For a List of World Paper Money Categories Click Here

If you have any questions call Jeff @ 870-670-4255

2008 50 Dollars Central Bank, East Caribbean States PMG 64 EPQ Choice Unc. Pk#: 50a

World Paper Money East Caribbean States

Most people first come into contact with World Paper Money through International travel. Interesting examples are kept as souvenirs and often become the beginnings of a World Paper Money collection. As more people travel, World Paper Money collecting has become as popular as coin collecting. Since there are many catalogs with pictures it easy to find information about this fascinating hobby of collecting World Paper Money.

For a List of World Paper Money Categories Click Here

If you have any questions call Jeff @ 870-670-4255

2012 200 Rand South African Reserve Bank, South Africa PMG 64 EPQ Choice Unc. Pk#: 137a

World Paper Money South Africa

Most people first come into contact with World Paper Money through International travel. Interesting examples are kept as souvenirs and often become the beginnings of a World Paper Money collection. As more people travel, World Paper Money collecting has become as popular as coin collecting. Since there are many catalogs with pictures it easy to find information about this fascinating hobby of collecting World Paper Money.

For a List of World Paper Money Categories Click Here

If you have any questions call Jeff @ 870-670-4255

2012 200 Rand South African Reserve Bank, South Africa PMG 64 EPQ Choice Unc. Pk#: 137a

World Paper Money South Africa

Most people first come into contact with World Paper Money through International travel. Interesting examples are kept as souvenirs and often become the beginnings of a World Paper Money collection. As more people travel, World Paper Money collecting has become as popular as coin collecting. Since there are many catalogs with pictures it easy to find information about this fascinating hobby of collecting World Paper Money.

For a List of World Paper Money Categories Click Here

If you have any questions call Jeff @ 870-670-4255

The Bank of England Governor, Sir Mervyn King, announced on 26 April that Sir Winston Churchill will appear on the next Bank of England banknote.

Commenting on the choice, the Governor said: “Our banknotes acknowledge the life and work of great Britons. Sir Winston Churchill was a truly great British leader, orator and writer. Above that, he remains a hero of the entire free world. His energy, courage, eloquence, wit and public service are an inspiration to us all. I am proud to announce that he will appear on our next banknote.”

The plan is for the Churchill note to be issued as a £5 note, and that it shall be issued during 2016; but those choices may be reviewed as plans for issuing the new note are finalised. Features of the design on the reverse of the note will include:

    A portrait of Winston Churchill from a photograph taken in Ottawa by Yousuf Karsh on 30 December 1941 - © Yousuf Karsh/Camera Press.
    A view of Westminster and the Elizabeth Tower from the South Bank looking across Westminster Bridge - © Abi Daker.
    The image of the Elizabeth Tower with the hands of the Great Clock at 3 o’clock – the approximate time on 13 May 1940 when Sir Winston Churchill declared in a speech to the House of Commons: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.” This declaration is quoted beneath the portrait.
    A background image of the Nobel Prize medal which he was awarded in 1953 for literature, together with the wording of the prize citation. The trademark Nobel Prize® is reproduced with permission from the Nobel Foundation.

Posted by Ethan Bickford, PMG Researcher on 5/21/2013

In 1859 a self-proclaimed, penniless, US Emperor continued to live the good life and became a beloved member of the San Francisco community.

On September 17, 1859 Joshua Abraham Norton, resident of San Francisco, California, became the first and only emperor of the United States of America. Emperor Norton I enjoyed a 21 year reign, then on a dark and rainy night on a San Francisco street he collapsed and departed this life. The Emperor’s obituary was printed on the front page of every San Francisco newspaper, and as many as 30,000 people from all walks of life attended his funeral. He died penniless. How could a man with such a high social standing die broke?

Norton immigrated to San Francisco from South Africa in 1849 following the death of his father. With $40,000 from his father’s estate he made an entry into the real estate market, and eventually branched out to other businesses. His businesses quickly amassed Norton a fortune of around $250,000. But, unfortunately, after a poor investment in Peruvian Rice and many failed court cases, his fortune was gone and his property had been foreclosed on.

Norton fled San Francisco and disappeared for a couple of years. When he returned he was described as being “insane, or at least highly eccentric”. More than likely the loss of his fortune had affected him greatly. Shortly after his return he proclaimed himself Imperial Majesty Emperor Norton I, and Protector of Mexico. His proclamation was printed in all San Francisco newspapers and he instantly became a local celebrity.

Utterly penniless, Emperor Norton I enjoyed nightly dining at the city’s finest establishments and balcony seats at every major play and musical. How did a broke self-proclaimed Emperor do this? It is simple, since he was Emperor he just issued his own notes…and the people recognized them. The Emperor’s notes became an accepted piece of local currency in San Francisco, much like other types of scrip notes (merchant scrip etc.).

If one looks carefully enough walking the streets of San Francisco, brass plaques outside of doors declaring “By Appointment to his Imperial Majesty, Emperor Norton I of the United States” can still be seen. These plaques depicted restaurants where the Emperor could spend his self-issued currency.

Emperor Norton I issued his Imperial Treasury Bond Certificates in denominations ranging from 50 cents to $10. These bond certificates were printed on standard banknote paper, were hand dated, hand signed and serial numbered. Although the print quality was low, these quickly became popular souvenirs with tourists. They were sold along side Emperor Norton I postcards and dolls. In fact, these notes are still very popular with collectors and ranked #100 on the list of 100 Greatest American Currency Notes.

Essentially what the Emperor had done is establish his own currency, backed by no guarantee or standard (reportedly, no one ever tried to redeem the bonds for their fictitious 7% interest) and it was widely accepted in a large city. A 1933 issue of The Numismatist even ran a story on these exceedingly popular notes.

Emperor Norton I may not have been a legitimate political ruler, but the people loved him (it is reported that all police officers would salute him on the street) and his legacy continues to live on. In 1980 the City of San Francisco even held ceremonies to honor Emperor Norton I on the 100th anniversary of his death.

These Imperial Treasury Bond Certificates are physical remnants of the story of one of America’s most interesting, eccentric and lesser known figures. Exceedingly rare, these bonds represent a magnanimous American.