My personal experience with the catalogue "The counterfeit municipal banknotes of the Civil War", by Amadeo Amorós Tari: a before and after in collecting

Introduction

As a new collector of local banknotes , one of the biggest challenges I've faced from the start has been distinguishing between authentic pieces, genuine issues, modern reproductions, fantasy banknotes, and outright forgeries. I speak from personal experience, from what I've learned, and from the mistakes almost everyone makes when starting out. In this context, having access to the catalog "Fake Municipal Banknotes of the Civil War" by Amadeo Amorós Tari has been a real advantage for me and, even more so, a turning point in the market itself.

This article is not intended to be a technical review of the catalog, but a personal reflection from the point of view of a collector who is starting out, who is learning and who is lucky enough to be able to consult a work that is marking a before and after.

Getting started with local banknotes: a complex field for the novice collector

Local banknotes are a fascinating field, but also particularly complex for beginners. Unlike other areas of numismatics or more standardized notaphily, here we find:

• Highly localized emissions.
• Limited accessible historical documentation.
• Wide variety of designs, values ​​and supports.
• Abundance of counterfeit material circulating in the market.

When you're starting out, it's easy to make mistakes, overpay, or add pieces to your collection that shouldn't be considered authentic local banknotes.

The catalogue "The counterfeit municipal banknotes of the Civil War", by Amadeo Amorós Tari: a key tool for learning and avoiding mistakes

Being able to consult Amadeo's catalog has made a huge difference to me. Not only because it compiles and organizes information that was previously scattered, but also because it establishes clear criteria for what is and is not a local banknote.

From my personal experience as a beginner collector, Amadeo's catalogue of local banknotes offers:

• Safety when evaluating a piece.
• Historical and geographical context.
• Clear references for comparison.
• A common framework of knowledge.

This is especially important when one is still forming their own opinion.

A turning point in the local banknote market and auctions

Beyond my personal experience, I believe that the publication of Amadeo's local banknote catalog marks a turning point in the market .

Since its publication, something very significant and easily verifiable has become apparent: many auctions have begun to remove lots of counterfeit or fantasy banknotes that were previously offered without question. As a collector who frequently reviews auctions, this change is obvious. This simply did not happen systematically before the existence of a solid reference work.

The catalogue has contributed to:

• Raise the bar.
• Reduce the presence of dubious material in auctions.
• To professionalize the sector.
• Protect both new and veteran collectors.

A fundamental support for those of us starting out in collecting local banknotes

For those of us who are just starting out with local banknotes, having these kinds of tools not only prevents mistakes, but also accelerates learning and builds confidence.

But also, in my experience, this catalog is essential from a commercial point of view . As a retailer, having the catalog "Counterfeit Municipal Banknotes of the Civil War," by Amadeo Amorós Tari, is a fundamental guarantee against making serious mistakes.

In a market where counterfeit and fantasy banknotes have circulated relatively normally for years, buying without a solid documentary basis poses a real risk: acquiring counterfeit pieces, reselling them unknowingly, and jeopardizing one's reputation as a merchant .

In my specific case, as someone who is still training in this field and who also buys and sells tickets professionally, Amadeo's catalog allows me to:

• Learn in a structured way.
• Compare information before buying.
• Avoid purchasing counterfeit or fantasy bills.
• Protect my reputation as a trader.
• To better understand the true value of the pieces.
• Enjoy collecting and buying and selling with greater peace of mind.

A dedication that turns the catalog into a collector's item

There is also a personal aspect that is very important to me and that I want to highlight. I have been fortunate enough to have Amadeo Amorós Tari dedicate this catalogue to me , and he did so practically without knowing me, a gesture that made me especially happy.

That dedication makes the book not only an essential reference tool, but also another piece in my personal collection of dedicated catalogs , something I especially value as a collector.

These kinds of details further strengthen the bond with study, research, and respect for those who dedicate time and effort to properly documenting our field.

An essential work for collectors of local banknotes

In conclusion, from the perspective of a collector starting out in the world of local banknotes, the catalogue "The counterfeit municipal banknotes of the Civil War" by Amadeo Amorós Tari is not only a reference work, but a reference that is directly influencing the market and the way we buy, sell and evaluate these pieces.

Its publication has helped to separate the authentic from the fictitious, has improved the quality of auctions, and has provided a solid foundation for those of us who want to learn and collect rigorously.

For me, being able to consult this catalog is a real stroke of luck and one of those tools that make the difference between collecting blindly or doing it with knowledge.