About Me
Hi, my name is Milan, and welcome to my blog about collectible banknotes!
How It All Began
I started collecting banknotes in 2020, during the COVID pandemic — completely by accident. While browsing the internet, I came across pictures of old banknotes from the Straits Settlements, which immediately caught my attention with their beauty and historical value. At that moment, I had no idea I had discovered something that would fascinate me for years to come (or maybe even decades?).
I’ve always been drawn to collecting, but I never stuck with anything for long — maybe I just hadn’t found something that truly captured my interest. Something that would awaken not only the desire to collect but also the curiosity to learn more. At home, I found an old stamp collection. Although I tried to revive and expand it, stamps never really spoke to me. They felt too small and… well, simply not my cup of tea. I had a similar “problem” with coins (sorry to all the passionate numismatists 😊). Collecting Prague groschen, which all look so similar — worn and handled by countless people — just wasn’t for me.
Why Banknotes?
Banknotes satisfy my sense of aesthetics. They are visually engaging, artistically crafted, and don’t take up much space. There’s always something new to collect — you can never truly reach a point where your collection is “complete.”
But banknotes are more than just beautiful pieces of paper. They are witnesses of history, telling stories about their time that often go far beyond what first meets the eye. Each banknote carries its own story, historical context, and unique details.
What Fascinates Me Most
One category that I find especially intriguing — and emotionally powerful — is prisoner-of-war camp money. These notes may not be visually impressive, but their historical and emotional value takes my breath away. They are silent witnesses of difficult times, and their stories deserve to be told.
The Bigger Picture
Although I primarily collect banknotes, I also gather other “paper treasures” that relate to them and help tell their story:
📮 Postcards – sharing themes with banknotes, reflecting the era and atmosphere
📰 Old articles and documents – about new currency introductions or historical events
🎫 Stocks and bonds – often featuring similar designs or motifs
✉️ Stamps – showing the same imagery as found on banknotes
📜 Other paper artifacts – anything that helps me better understand the context and the times
These complementary materials help me create a more complete picture of banknotes and their history. For example, postcards from periods of currency reform or old newspaper articles about the introduction of a new currency provide fascinating insights into how people perceived these changes.
My Collection
Since 2020, I’ve found a hobby I truly enjoy and love dedicating my free time to. I focus mainly on Czech, Slovak, and German banknotes, aiming to describe their history and interesting features in detail. My goal is to complete at least some historical periods of Czech banknotes — though it’s quite a challenging journey, both in terms of time and money. Still, for certain periods, I’m willing to invest more, as their historical value is priceless to me.
Want to know what’s in my collection?
Curious what I’m currently looking for?
Would you like to support my work?
I always welcome ideas, questions, and feedback! If you have a suggestion for an interesting topic, want to share your own story, or simply have a question — don’t hesitate to reach out.
➡️ Contact me
I look forward to exploring the fascinating world of banknotes and paper treasures together!