Banknote Catalog Guides
Whether you are a seasoned collector or just found a stack of old bills in an attic, these five websites are the "big five" resources you need to bookmark.
1. Banknote.ws: The Ultimate Visual Encyclopedia
Best for: Quick identification and high-resolution reference.
Often referred to as the "Banknote Museum," Banknote.ws is the cleanest and most straightforward reference site available. It is organized by continent and country, following the industry-standard Pick (P) numbering system.
Why use it: If you have a note and don't know where it’s from or what year it was printed, this is the place to go. The site features high-quality scans of the front and back of nearly every banknote ever issued.
The Standout: It is incredibly fast and ad-light, making it the perfect "field guide" when you need to identify a note quickly.
2. Numista: The Collector’s Social Network
Best for: Managing your collection and swapping with others.
Numista is perhaps the most active numismatic community on the web. While it began as a coin-centric site, its banknote database has grown into a world-class resource.
Why use it: Numista allows you to create a digital "inventory" of your collection. It tells you what percentage of world currency you own and allows you to mark items as "for swap." The site then automatically matches you with collectors around the world who have the notes you want and need the notes you have.
The Standout: The community-driven catalog. If a new variant is discovered, the users update the database in real-time.
3. Numizon: The Market Expert
Best for: Checking rarity and real-world market values.
While other sites focus on the history of the note, Numizon focuses on the market. It is a sophisticated tool designed to help collectors understand the commercial side of the hobby.
Why use it: Numizon tracks auction results and price trends. If you want to know if a specific signature combination or date makes your banknote worth $5 or $500, Numizon’s detailed "cards" provide the technical breakdown and rarity index you need.
The Standout: The Sales Archive feature, which lets you see what similar notes have actually sold for on eBay and at major auction houses.
4. RealBanknotes.com: The Virtual Gallery
Best for: Community interaction and organized browsing.
RealBanknotes.com strikes a great balance between a database and a social media platform. It is a highly visual site that feels like a digital scrapbook for the global community.
Why use it: It’s a great place to "follow" other collectors and see high-quality images of rare notes you might never see in person. Like Numista, it offers collection management tools, but with a focus on the visual aesthetic of the gallery.
The Standout: The "Value" section, which uses community data to help estimate the worth of your collection based on recent user activity.
5. Colnect: The "Wiki" of Everything
Best for: Advanced searching and multi-category collectors.
Colnect is a massive, crowdsourced catalog that covers everything from banknotes and coins to stamps and phone cards. It is a powerhouse for collectors who like to dive deep into metadata.
Why use it: Colnect has the most powerful filtering system of the bunch. You can search for banknotes by theme (e.g., "birds," "trains," or "revolutionaries"), by printer (e.g., "De La Rue"), or even by the material they are printed on (paper vs. polymer).
The Standout: Their smartphone app allows you to take a photo of a note to identify it instantly against their database—a game-changer for flea market hunting.
HAPPY COLLECTING!