Collector Series

Thomas De La Rue created “official presentation sets of specimen banknotes from around the world” for The Franklin Mint, a private company that mailed the sets every six weeks to subscribers from 1978 to 1979.

Each set of notes with matching serial numbers originally cost $14 and came in an envelope with a numbered and dated certificate of authenticity and an index card describing the notes in detail. Based upon serial numbers observed, at least 10,440 sets were produced, and a complete collection comprises 16 sets with a total of 73 notes from 16 issuing authorities.

Rarely available in the original small brown storage box, the notes are usually sold by country set, but are sometimes sold individually. Do not mistake these numismatic products for the specimen varieties listed separately, which the security printer created for its note-issuing clients.