The Silver Certificate Store

Before buying any silver certificates online, it is important that you take the time to learn about paper money in general. A smart buyer is an educated buyer!

One book that I recommend all silver certificate collectors invest in is Paper Money of the United States, from Colonial Times to the Present, written by Arthur and Ira Friedberg, 18th edition.  This is a wonderful illustrated reference book about paper money that was first published in 1953.  You can find this book under the 'Paper Money Publications' category on this website.

I think one of the most critical areas a paper currency buyer needs to learn about is what the grading terms.  This is one of the main factors that determines that value of a certificate.  The actual condition of a note could change the value from a few dollars to thousands of dollars.

When it comes to actually buying a note online, from an auction site such as eBay, here are the most critical things you need to look for:

1.  High-Quality Photos Or Scans

You need to be able to clearly see the certificate that you are purchasing, faults and all.  The seller of the note should provide a full view scan of both the front and reverse side of the certificate.  Ideally, you would want to see a close-up shot of the currency.  If the note has flaws of any sort such as writing or ink marks, you want to be able to see them!

2.  Detailed Description

Some of the information that a seller should provide in the description of the certificate are:
a. Denomination
b. Year
c. Series
d. Condition
e. Any other information about the note that is not obvious from the picture

3.  Payment Information

Each seller will offer different payment methods.  Always read the item's description before bidding to find out what payment methods are accepted by the seller.  This is very important! Ideally, you want to be able to pay through Paypal.  Paypal offers a quick, easy, and secure method of checkout on eBay.  Plus, they offer buyer protection that covers the full purchase price of all eligible eBay items, at no cost.  Also, Paypal will transfer payment funding immediately.  Thus, the seller can ship the item sold right away, without having to wait for the payment to clear.

4.  Return Policy

This is critical.  Most reputable sellers will offer a 100% money-back guarantee.  Do not bid unless this option is offered.  You might purchase a note that turns out to be different than what was described by the seller in the description.  Sometimes, with photos, things are not always as they might appear and a seller's description is subjective to his own opinions.

5.  Seller Feedback

Always check the seller's detailed feedback rating before purchasing a silver certificate. Ideally, you want to see a rating score of 100% and not less than 98%.  A seller's overall feedback can give you some idea of how trustworthy he or she is.  eBay does have buyer protection policies, but it's best to always buy from a reputable, honest seller.

6.  Shipping Costs

Shipping costs can vary from seller to seller.  Many sellers will offer free shipping in order to attract buyers.  This is nice but expect to pay something for shipping.  An honest seller will charge the actual cost to ship the item, adding a little extra to cover the cost of envelopes, labels, and the time and effort involved in shipping the item.  Be careful because you will encounter a few sellers who will tack on an exorbitant 'shipping and handling' fee in order to try and make up the selling fees charged by eBay.