Hey Guys, I have an 88A 5 dollar bank note with a bunch of crease marks. What is the best way to flatten it out somewhat? Thanks!
Basically don't it's like cleaning a coin. IF you want to flatten it out put it in a good currency holder and weight it down with a bunch of books. Personally, I'd leave it like it is.
To add to Clembo's remarks. Put the note in a mylar currency holder making sure none of the corners are folded over. Leave for 10 to 20 years. The evidence of the folds will never go away, but every year the note will keep improving it's eye appeal. There are quick fix methods out there, but my method has absolutely no risk and as I plan to keep everything for years to come, I get to see the notes continuously improving. You can use the heavy book if you want to, but if you use a brand new mylar holder, I find that the book is unnecessary.
I just put them in holders straight and over time they flatten. WIth new notes of very minimal value if any over face, I put them in a book.
i had 2 $2 notes a few years back that were wrinkled like i have never seen. like somone balled them up real tight and left them like that for a long time. I stuff them in the back of a book, which was at the bottom of a pile of other books. While searching one day, i happned on this book, which i had forgotten contained the 2 notes. The creases were still there, and the notes felt crisp. They felt almost 2 crisp, like if i folded one, it would crack. I just put them back, and returned the bok to its position. i dont think the creases will ever go away, but they 'might' minimize based on eye apeal as someone mentioned.
People have done it and I dont suggest it. Would you iron a coin? Greg, THINK like a collector here dude! The note is what it is. .....and you'd still be able to see where it was wrinkled might even be more pronounced.
Great point Clembo. Now i see there is a difference between lederhosen and a dollar. Thanks for the information!
"pressing" the note tends to blot the inks out as well. You squeeze something...it pushes out somewhere else.
Never Never do anything to the notes. Original condition notes are always the best. If you flatten it, washed or treat it, it is no longer original. The value of your note dive if you decided to sell it to someone. If you send it to an Auction house to sell it away, your note may not be accepted by the auctioneer unless the note is rare. Never do anything to your banknotes. Just leave it as it is. Never keep your notes in a book. There are cases where people find banknotes inside book when they bought a book from a second-hand book shop. You will never remember that you kept a banknote inside a book. An iron is never a good to flatten a note. In some case, the heat will start sticking the banknote serial numbers onto your iron. Think before you flatten your note. Most experienced collectors and banknote dealers will be able to detect a flatten note.
The downside of using a book is that paper is made using various acids (Sulferic Acid was a common one). Putting a note between the pages of a book has the risk of making the paper brittle, causing it to yellow, and in extreme cases, actually causing the ink to fade.
that sounds like what has happened to the 2 notes i mentioned above. and actually, the 2 notes were places between 2 acid free pieces of plastic. but even still, the effects you described are pretty close to what i am seeing. Good thing they werent worth anything over face!
Many notes are worked with different techniques to remove creases and folds, much like many coins are "worked" on. Many of these notes make it into Uncirculated grading holders.
You all will cringe at this..... Back in my young, not a collector, days, I used to iron my tips received waitering to reduce their bulk before heading to the bank. Also, see323 is right, I lost a red seal $5 (date no longer remembered) by using it as a book mark...(again, younger not a collector days). Live and learn