Where can I sell old paper money?
Options for Selling
Local coin shops often buy paper money, but they pay wholesale prices. Specialized paper money dealers may offer more if they have a market for your note. Online marketplaces like eBay or Heritage Auctions reach a wide audience but charge fees.
For rare or high-grade notes, consigning to a major auction house (e.g., Heritage, Stack's Bowers) can yield the highest prices. For common notes, a local dealer or eBay may be simpler.
- Local coin shop: Quick, but lower offers.
- Paper money dealer: Better for specialized notes.
- eBay: Large audience, but fees and risks.
- Auction house: Best for rare notes, but slower.
- Facebook groups: Collector-to-collector sales.
Getting the Best Price
Before selling, research recent sold prices on eBay or auction archives. Consider getting the note graded by a third-party service like PMG or PCGS Banknote; this can increase buyer confidence and value.
Be wary of unsolicited offers. If a note is potentially valuable, get multiple appraisals. Never clean or repair a note—it can reduce value significantly.
Common mistakes
- Selling to the first buyer without comparing offers.
- Cleaning or pressing a note to improve its appearance—this is considered alteration and lowers value.
- Assuming all old bills are valuable; many are common and worth only face value or slightly more.
