Handling collectible
foreign money

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When inspecting collectible money, use only clean, dry hands. Oil, grime and moisture can very easily be transferred from fingertips to paper currency.

Use a gentle but firm grip between your fingertips. You may drop the bill if you hold it too gently, and it may become soiled if it falls in the wrong place. If there is no currency holder, you may temporarily rest the bill on the palm of your hand while you are viewing it. However, it is better to rest it on a clean and dry, flat surface.

Make sure that there is absolutely no electric fan or breeze blowing, as this may take the bill out of your hands.

Food and beverage should be kept far away from collectible money, because both of these will cause permanent stains. Currency cannot be washed or cleaned without significantly reducing its collectible value; even pure water can damage paper money beyond repair.

In public places, such as a coin shop or paper money show, devote your full attention while handling the currency. Free up available hands and arms, and check out one bill at a time. Avoid "balancing acts", holding things with your arms against your body, and trying to do two things at once. You will also want to avoid sudden movements because they can cause accidents that may crush and wrinkle the bill.

At busy coin shows, if it is necessary to remove a bill from its holder for inspection, hand it over to the seller to put it back in the holder. There is much less activity on the other side of the table or booth.

Although currency printed on polymer plastic may resist some environmental hazards, they should be treated with the same care as currency printed on paper.


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