How come the catalogue value of most notes and coins are so high, yet you can get them at half price at coin stores or ebay?
I'm looking for a bundle of $1 and $2 notes uncirculated for a friend.
You can buy them on ebay, yet are selling for half price of catalogue value.
Obviously, I'm not expecting it as investment, but just don't want to over pay from the start.
Condition is a huge factor here as are things like consecutive serial numbers, unique signature combinations and so on. There is no "single price" for this sort of thing.
Catalogue prices are better viewed as a benchmark of the relative price of all items against each other.
There is no single rule as to what makes "collectable" coins/notes. With the general exception that issues by the RAM or NPA that are/were released as collector issues are a bad investment.
"Bundles" on $1 and $2 notes have seen minimal appreciation and will continue to do so. I doubt you will see the value of any collector issues that have even kept pace with inflation By and larges those that want them already have them.
I think the catalogue value assumes best quality? PCGS/NCS 70 or whatever ratings they use.
Coin stores and eBay probably sell stuff that's ungraded or lower quality.
As long as it's not like 5% of the catalogue price (might be fake if that cheap).