Blog
Notes from the ledger
Identity first, then the hammers. No invented prices, no market advice.
How Much Is a $2 Bill Worth?
Most $2 bills are still two dollars. Red seals, series letters, stars, and large-size notes are different items. Identify the note before you price it.
How Much Is Pokémon Red Worth?
Loose, complete, and sealed are different items. So are Red, Blue, and a later reprint. Identify the copy before you price it.
How to Tell if a Comic Book Is Valuable
Age is not a key. Title, issue, printing, and sold comps are. A checklist for the book in the long box.
1896 Educational Series Silver Certificates: The Story Behind America’s Most Famous Paper Money
"History Instructing Youth" and the rest of the 1896 Educational Series — how to identify the $1, $2, and $5, and why the tape still matters.
The Collector's Guide to Vintage NES Games: What Actually Drives Value in 2026
Print run, condition, variants, and the tape — not nostalgia — decide what an NES cartridge is worth.
The Complete Guide to Vintage Video Game Collecting
Rarity is production and survival, not nostalgia. A framework for NES, Zelda variants, and the systems the market still prices late.
How Much Is a 1934 Silver Certificate Worth?
A 1934 date is not a price. Denomination, series letter, stars, Hawaii issues, and condition all move the tape.
How to Tell if a Silver Certificate Is Rare
Age is not rarity. Series, stars, seals, and comparable sales are. A checklist for the Silver Certificate in your hand.
The Known Variants of The Legend of Zelda (NES): A Collector's Reference
Circle vs oval Seal of Quality, 5-screw vs 3-screw, and why two Zelda copies can sit on completely different rungs of the tape.
Martha Washington on U.S. Currency: The Story Behind the Silver Certificate
How to tell the 1886, 1891, and 1896 Martha Washington notes apart — and why the portrait is only the start of identification.
USA Silver Certificates: History, Types, and What Your Old Silver Certificate Is Worth
From 1878 through the 1960s, Silver Certificates were a claim on Treasury silver. Today they are collectible paper — identify the series before you price it.