Collecting Checks

Do you want to collect paper currency that is attractive, available, and affordable? Have you considered collecting checks? There are certainly many available, and they are very inexpensive. I have included several examples in this article that might get you thinking about them.

I was at a show a number of years ago, and after two days, I hadn’t found anything that appealed to me. I had already put together several various sets—$1s, $2s, $5s, nationals, and so forth. My problem was that the notes I needed were either rare, i.e., unavailable, or just not to be found at that particular show.

I stopped at the table of a dealer I knew, looking for a note to trip my trigger. Then I saw something I hadn’t thought of before, but it looked interesting: checks.

I’m sure you can find some expensive checks if you look hard enough, but the most important element was there—attractiveness. Let me describe a few to show you what I mean.

First, there was a check from Butte Garage Works of Butte, Montana, drawn on the Metals Bank & Trust Company of Butte, dated August 1935. That’s old and interesting! But the sweet spot of the check was the illustration of a long black limousine with tires mounted on the running board. It knocked my socks off—and it was affordable at $15.00.
I then sat down and started seriously looking at checks. The next one I found was just as entertaining: a check from the Polar Ice and Fuel Company, made out for $2,114.00. It featured a polar bear standing on its hind feet, looking quite imposing. The check was dated October 6, 1933.

Another check, for $8.40, was written from the office of Glencoe Mills, W.E. and J.H. Holt Prop Company Shops, North Carolina, on December 7, 1883. The illustration was two-pronged, with a charging buffalo on the lower left and a vintage, big-wheeled locomotive hauling cars across the bottom. What a great scene!

As you can see, they can be very entertaining. It’s fun looking through a group of them because the variety is endless, and prices are certainly not abusive. One of my concerns was my budget, as I was a career police officer and not overpaid.

Some checks are quite artistic in design, which allows you to tailor your collection. Do you like wildlife, farm scenes, or interesting buildings? The possibilities are endless. You also don’t have to hunt for a particular illustration. You simply determine what to select based on interest, price, and general condition.

While checks won’t be uncirculated, they’re usually in acceptable shape and generally don’t have a lot of wear. Though they can be hard to read, as some people’s handwriting can be quite sloppy!

You can also find great autographs. I once saw a check signed by Bob Hope! Checks signed by famous people don’t need to be fancy; the autograph alone is enough.

All in all, this is a type of collecting that can keep the fun alive at a show, especially when it doesn’t yield something else to bring you joy.

You may also like:

The Demise of Checks is at Hand

Note of the Month: Traveler’s checks played their part

Collecting Vignettes and Holiday Bargains