This guide is possible a negative suggestion to many, but remember we must have both negative and positive on a battery to make our flash lights shine.  I hope this will shine a light on your interests in World Bank Notes whether you are buying, selling or both on eBay.  I have been doing both since August, 1997.  Oh my goodness that was the last century!  Well here it is, both the negative poles and positive poles.  First, and this may sound silly, look at a map and notice that North is usually at the top and South is usually at the bottom and East is usually to the right, and West is usually at the left.  That is all you really need to know when you look at a map or world globe.  Now for the Bank Note listings on eBay:

HOW WILL WORLD BUYERS FIND ME WHEN THEY HAVE TO KNOW THAT BANK NOTES (PAPER MONEY) IS UNDER COINS?
Coins should not be a catch-all for what is really Numismatics.  In order for customers to find World Bank Notes (paper money) on eBay, they must look under "coins".  How would someone interested in  buying bank notes for their art; historical; and investment value know to look  under the coin heading? Here is a more logical break-down "Numismatics" with subheadings of  Bank Notes & Coins.

Various European country catagories that eBay has today are France, Germany, Russia, Ireland, Sweded and Other.  Note that the British Commonwealth is not even listed as a catagory although it has more collectors and dealers of  bank notes than any of  the other Euporean countries combined.  Also, other important countries not listed under Europe are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Hungary, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and Yugoslavia.  Under the current eBay country listings, these countries must now be put inder the "Other" catagory.   Please note that Sweden and Ireland are two of the smallest populated countries in Europe and have a miniscule number of collectors and dealers.  However, they are lislted as a catagory when the above countries are not.

 In the eBay country categories try to find  Afghanistan; Algeria;  Egypt; Iran; Iraq; Kuwait; Lebanon; Morocco; Saudi Arabia; Syria; Tunisia;   U.A.E. just to name a few countries with large dealer and collector bases.  Where are they?  Not where they should logically be listed which is Middle East.  But you must guess that these countries are under the heading of Asia.  There you find none of the above, only Israel.  However under the category of Asia  Malaysia; Singapore; and The Philippines are not listed!  Check out how many countries are listed on the Continent of Africa.  The same goes for South America.  Then there is Central America.  Some how the Caribbean should be addressed.  All have rich collector and dealer bases. 

Next, look into the many Bank Note organizations that date back for years; the trade shows devoted to Bank Notes; the publications including catalogs and newspapers that are devoted to Bank Notes only.  For example the International Bank Note Society (I have a member number 7114) is devoted to Bank Notes; stocks and bonds; and other paper collectibles only.  The Professional Currency Dealer's Association; and the American Numismatic Association recognize coins separate from bank notes. The Standard Catalogs of WORLD PAPER MONEY which are now published in three Volumes, and the various Auction Catalogs that are issued for the many Bank Note trade shows (there are literly dozens of these catalogs issued monthly from the larger Auction Houses in the world).  There has been a Paper Money (Bank Note) Show in Memphis, TN yearly in June for 29 years.  I will be there at the 30th anniversary show this June and was at the first one.  This show is attended by customers and dealers from all over the world and is publisized in the Bank Note Reporter.  Also yearly there is an important Bank Note show in Maastract, The Netherlands and is attended by collectors and dealers from all over the globe.  Another show devoted to Paper Money is held in Chicago yearly and has been for the past 12 years. Other important shows are in Hong Kong; Singapore; and Geneva.  In the April issue of the Bank Note Reporter newspaper there are 17 Auction houses advertising their auctions and catalogs with Paper Money being offered for sale and consignment.  All use a logical listing of countries so they may be searched and found both online or in a magazine format catalog.  Now how do I know all of this?  I have been a Paper Money dealer since 1973.  I read the trade papers, catalogs, and search the web sites.  Let us vie to get some logic on eBay's categories in the Paper Money (Bank Note,  Paper Currency)  call it what you like.  Just know that China had paper money over 5,000 years ago, long before coins were introduced. 

Sincerely, flcpaper on eBay,

Frank L. Carter