Sell Canadian, U.S. and World Paper Money

Free banknote purchase evaluations in Kitchener, with no appointment needed

Colonial Acres Coins buys Canadian, U.S. and world paper money, from a single old bill to complete and inherited banknote collections. Bring your notes to our Kitchener store at 991 Victoria Street North during weekday buying hours. One of our experienced buyers will review them for free and explain what we can offer. You don't need to identify, sort or grade anything first.

Buying hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Get Directions to Our Kitchener Store

View Store Hours and Closed Dates

Quick answer: To sell paper money in Kitchener-Waterloo, bring your banknotes to Colonial Acres Coins, 991 Victoria Street North, Kitchener, Monday to Friday between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The evaluation is free, no appointment is needed, and you are not obligated to sell. Outside the area? Call 1-888-255-4565 or email info@colonialacres.com before mailing anything.

What to Know Before Selling Your Paper Money

  • We buy Canadian, U.S. and world banknotes, including single notes, sets, albums and complete collections.
  • Free purchase evaluations are available at our Kitchener store, and you are never required to accept an offer.
  • No appointment is needed. We have six buying stations and up to eight appraisers on hand daily.
  • You do not need to identify, sort or grade your banknotes before you visit.
  • Leave notes in their albums, sleeves and holders.
  • Do not wash, iron, flatten, laminate, tape or repair old banknotes. Doing so can permanently lower their collector value.
  • Some older $1, $2, $25, $500 and $1,000 Canadian bills are no longer legal tender, but they still have face value and may be worth more to collectors.
  • Please call ahead if you plan to mail notes, are bringing a very large estate, or need help with mobility.

No Appointment Necessary

991 Victoria Street North
Kitchener, ON N2B 3C7

Toll free: 1-888-255-4565
Local: 519-579-9302

info@colonialacres.com

Not sure what you have? That's fine. Bring it as it is.

What Paper Money Does Colonial Acres Buy?

We consider a wide range of Canadian, U.S. and world banknotes. What we offer depends on each note's rarity, condition, variety and current collector demand. Not every note will receive an offer above face value, and our buyers will tell you plainly when a note is a common one.

Canadian Paper Money

  • Dominion of Canada notes
  • Chartered banknotes issued by Canadian banks
  • Bank of Canada notes, 1935 to today
  • $1, $2, $25, $500 and $1,000 notes
  • Replacement (asterisk) notes and error notes
  • Notes with unusual serial numbers
  • Complete and partial sets

U.S. Paper Money

  • Large-size notes (issued before 1929)
  • Silver Certificates (blue seal)
  • United States Notes (red seal)
  • Older Federal Reserve Notes
  • Star (replacement) notes and error notes
  • Organized U.S. currency collections

World Paper Money

  • Older and historic world banknotes
  • Obsolete and pre-euro currencies
  • Commemorative notes
  • Country sets and collectible series
  • Mixed world accumulations

Collections and Estates

  • Inherited banknote collections
  • Albums, binders and boxed accumulations
  • Mixed coin and paper money collections
  • Large estates (please call ahead)

Collections often mix Canadian, U.S. and world notes, or banknotes with coins. There is no need to separate them. If you also have coins, see Sell Coins to Colonial Acres.

Bring In Your Paper Money

Are Old Canadian $1, $2, $25, $500 and $1,000 Bills Still Worth Anything?

Yes. Since January 1, 2021, the $1, $2, $25, $500 and $1,000 notes from every Bank of Canada series have no longer been legal tender. They have not lost their face value, though, according to the Bank of Canada. Stores may refuse them, but you can still redeem them at face value through a financial institution or the Bank of Canada.

Before you cash them in, have them looked at. Many older notes are worth more to collectors than their face value, depending on series, condition and serial number. The Bank of Canada itself notes that $25 and $500 notes can be worth significantly more than face value, and suggests getting evaluations from money dealers who serve collectors (Bank of Canada redemption guidance).

Option

What you receive

Best for

Redeem at a bank or the Bank of Canada

Face value only

Common, heavily worn notes after an evaluation

Sell to Colonial Acres

A purchase offer based on collector value

Notes with collector interest, sets and collections

Auction consignment

Market price at auction, less fees

Rare or high-grade notes (Consign with Us)

Older $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 Bank of Canada notes are still legal tender. Some of them may also be worth more than face value to collectors.

Canadian Banknote Series We Commonly See

Most Canadian collections contain notes from several eras. Here is a quick guide to what you may have, listed from oldest to newest:

Series

Years

How to recognize it

Provincial notes

Late 1700s to early 1900s

Issued for the most part to pay for public works, and often contained a date of redemption and interest.

Merchant scrip

1800s to early 1900s

Issued by private institutions due to a temporary shortage of currency.

Chartered banknotes

Before 1935 (some later)

Issued by private Canadian banks, such as the Bank of Montreal or Bank of Nova Scotia. The bank's name appears on the note.

Province of Canada notes

1848 to 1866

Primarily issued to raise funds for government expenditures.

Dominion of Canada notes

1870 to 1925

Government-issued before the Bank of Canada existed. Look for "Dominion of Canada."

First Series

1935

The first Bank of Canada notes, with separate English and French versions.

Municipal Depression scrip

Mid-1930s

Issued to provide relief payments for the unemployed, and often denominated in beds, meals or hours worked.

Bilingual Series

1937

The first bilingual Bank of Canada notes, mostly featuring King George VI.

Canadian Landscape Series

1954

Queen Elizabeth II with Canadian landscapes on the back. Includes the "Devil's Face" portrait variety.

Centennial $1

1967

Commemorative $1 note, issued both with serial numbers and with "1867–1967" printed in place of a serial number.

Scenes of Canada

1969 to 1979

Multicoloured notes with Canadian scenes on the back.

Birds of Canada

1986 to 1991

Canadian birds on the back. Includes Canada's last $2 note (the series has no $1).

Canadian Journey

2001 to 2006

The last paper series, with holographic stripes on higher denominations.

Frontier (polymer)

2011 to 2013

The first polymer series, with clear windows.

2017 Commemorative $10

2017

Issued to commemorate Canada's 150th anniversary.

Vertical $10 (polymer)

2018

Vertical design featuring Viola Desmond.

Remember: Age alone doesn't make a banknote valuable. A common, worn 1954 note may be worth close to face value, while a crisp modern note with a rare serial number can attract collector interest.

How Selling Paper Money to Colonial Acres Works

1. Bring your banknotes to our Kitchener store.

Visit during weekday buying hours, with no appointment needed. Bring the notes as they are, including albums, sleeves, envelopes, labels and any inventory list.

2. An experienced buyer reviews them.

We check each note for authenticity, series, condition, signatures, serial numbers, replacement status, genuine printing errors and completeness. We then compare what we see with current collector demand.

3. Review your offer and decide.

We explain which notes we would like to buy, what we can offer and why. You can ask questions, accept, or take your notes home. There is no obligation to sell.

What Affects the Value of a Banknote?

Two notes that look alike can have very different values. These are the main factors our buyers consider:

  • Condition: folds, creases, tears, stains, writing, pinholes, trimming and repairs all matter. Crisp, uncirculated notes are generally the most sought after.
  • Rarity: how many were printed and how many survive today. Old does not automatically mean rare.
  • Series, signatures and variety: different signature combinations, printings and design varieties can change collector interest.
  • Serial numbers: replacement notes (such as asterisk notes), very low numbers, solid numbers, ladders and radars can attract interest.
  • Genuine errors: misprints, misaligned cuts and missing ink from the printing process can be collectible. Damage that happened after a note entered circulation is not an error.
  • Collector demand: interest in particular issues changes over time.
  • Completeness: an intact set or a well-organized collection can be easier to evaluate, and is sometimes more desirable.

What is a free purchase evaluation?

A free purchase evaluation is a no-cost review of your banknotes for the purpose of selling them to Colonial Acres. We tell you what we are interested in buying and what we can offer.

It is not a written appraisal. Unfortunately, we are not offering written insurance or estate appraisals at this time.

How to Prepare Paper Money for Evaluation

You don't need to catalogue anything. A little care just protects your notes on the way in.

Do

✓  Leave notes in their albums, sleeves or holders.

✓  Keep existing groupings and sets together.

✓  Bring labels, envelopes, receipts and any written notes or inventory.

✓  Carry loose notes flat, for example in an envelope inside a book or folder.

✓  Call ahead before bringing a very large collection or estate.

Please don't

✕  Wash, iron, press or flatten notes

✕  Laminate, tape or glue tears

✕  Erase marks or write on notes

✕  Trim worn or uneven edges

✕  Remove notes from holders unnecessarily

✕  Throw away notes that look worn or common

Why it matters: cleaning, pressing or repairing paper money permanently alters it and can reduce its collector value. Experienced buyers can usually spot these changes. Leave every note exactly as you found it.

Inherited a Paper Money Collection?

Many banknote collections come to us from family members and executors who are not collectors. That is completely normal. You don't need to research or value anything first.

If you can, keep albums and binders intact, keep envelopes with their original contents, and save any handwritten labels or notes. Those details often show how the original collector organized the collection. Please don't remove or discard notes because they look common or worn. If the estate also includes coins, jewellery or silverware, bring it all together. See Sell to Colonial Acres for everything we buy.

Get Directions to Our Kitchener Store

Selling Paper Money From Elsewhere in Canada

Not near Kitchener? Mail-in evaluations are available by prior arrangement for customers across Canada.

Please contact us before you send anything. Call 1-888-255-4565 or email info@colonialacres.com with a short description or a list of your notes. Our team will confirm whether a mail-in evaluation is suitable and give you instructions for packing, tracking, insurance and returning any notes we don't purchase.

Contact Us About a Mail-In Evaluation

Frequently Asked Questions About Selling Paper Money

Where can I sell old Canadian banknotes in Kitchener-Waterloo?

You can sell them at Colonial Acres Coins, 991 Victoria Street North, Kitchener, Ontario. We offer free purchase evaluations Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and no appointment is needed.

Do I need an appointment to sell paper money?

No. Bring your banknotes during weekday buying hours. We have six buying stations and up to eight appraisers on hand daily. Please call ahead only if you are mailing notes, bringing a very large estate or need help with mobility.

Is the purchase evaluation free?

Yes. In-store purchase evaluations are free for anyone thinking of selling to Colonial Acres. Our buyer explains what we would like to purchase and what we can offer, and you are not required to accept.

Are old Canadian $1 and $2 bills still worth anything?

Yes. They stopped being legal tender on January 1, 2021, but they keep their face value and can be redeemed through a bank or the Bank of Canada. Some are worth more to collectors, so have them evaluated before you cash them in.

Are old Canadian bills worth more than face value?

Some are. Value depends on rarity, condition, series, signatures, serial number and collector demand, not age alone. Many common circulated notes are worth only face value, and our buyers will tell you which is which.

What kinds of Canadian paper money do you buy?

We consider Dominion of Canada notes, chartered banknotes, Bank of Canada notes from 1935 onward, replacement and error notes, notes with unusual serial numbers, and complete or partial collections.

Do you buy U.S. paper money and world banknotes?

Yes. We consider select U.S. notes, including large-size notes, Silver Certificates, United States Notes and star notes. We also consider world banknotes such as older, obsolete and commemorative issues. You don't need to sort them first.

Should I clean or flatten old banknotes before selling them?

No. Washing, ironing, pressing, taping or repairing a banknote can permanently damage it and lower its collector value. Leave notes exactly as they are, ideally in their existing holders.

Can you value my banknotes from photos?

Photos help us understand the type and size of a collection and plan the next step. A final offer normally requires seeing the actual notes, because photos can hide condition details, repairs and authenticity issues.

Can I mail my paper money to Colonial Acres?

Yes, by prior arrangement. Contact us at 1-888-255-4565 or info@colonialacres.com before shipping. We will give you instructions for packing, tracking and insurance.

Do you buy damaged or torn banknotes?

It depends on the note. Rare notes can still interest collectors in lower grades, while common damaged notes are usually worth face value at most. Bring them in as they are, and don't try to repair them.

What if I decide not to sell?

That's fine. You are under no obligation, and you can take all of your notes home.

Purchase evaluations and offers are subject to physical examination, authenticity, condition, current market conditions and Colonial Acres' current buying needs. Photographs and descriptions can help decide the next step but may not be enough for a final offer. Mail-in evaluations are by prior arrangement only. Auction consignment is a separate service and may involve fees or additional terms.

Ready to Have Your Paper Money Reviewed?

Bring your Canadian, U.S. or world banknotes to our Kitchener store, as they are. One of our experienced buyers will review them for free and explain your options.

Colonial Acres Coins
991 Victoria Street North, Kitchener, Ontario N2B 3C7
Toll free 1-888-255-4565 · Local 519-579-9302 · info@colonialacres.com
Buying hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET

Get Directions to Colonial Acres

Contact Our Buying Team

Reviewed by the Colonial Acres Coins buying team · Last reviewed: October 2026
This page describes our current process for buying Canadian, U.S. and world paper money. Meet our team · Our history