Coin and Paper Money Collecting/European Currency

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Expert: - 8/26/2011


Question
I recently went to a yard sale and found a large German Beer mug full of European currency and bills. Most of the currency is of the vintage prior to going to the Euro. However there is a considerable amount of British still in circulation. Is there a market for the other currency ie: Spanish,Italian,French,German,Danish,Swiss,Belgian and several others.

Answer
Hi David,
The Danish and Swiss currency is still spendable in those countries and exchange at a rate of 1 Danish krone to US $0.19 and 1 Swiss franc to US $1.24. The German currency is no longer spendable, but is still exchangeable in Germany, so people do buy them as legal tender. They exchange roughly at a rate of 2 Deutsche marks to US $1.
The other countries currency is obsolete. Newer notes generally do not have collector value, but older ones in excellent condition certainly do.
Thanks for the question! =)

Coin and Paper Money Collecting

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Dmitry Livshits

Expertise

My specialty is world coins from the 18th to 20th centuries, primarily non-US foreign coins and related areas such as errors and exonumia (tokens, medals, etc.). I can answer questions relating to identification, grading, selling, preservation and evaluation of such items. In addition to catalog value, I can give you the practical market value and trends for specific types of coins. I will also take questions regarding counterfeits (both modern and antique) and on how to identify them. I am NOT knowledgeable in paper money/banknotes, ancient or "shipwreck" coins. Thank you.

Experience

Collector of world coins since early childhood. Access to a variety of auction records and reference material. You can also find me on Facebook.

Education/Credentials
A.S. in Psychology (2006), B.A. in Forensic Psychology (2008), M.A. in Forensic Psychology (2011).

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