What Society of Paper Money Collectors does

The Society of Paper Money Collectors (SPMC), founded in 1961 and incorporated in 1964 under District of Columbia law as a nonprofit organization, is a U.S.-based membership society that promotes the study and appreciation of paper money and related financial history. Its primary constituents are individual paper money collectors (beginner through advanced numismatists interested in U.S. National Bank Notes, Obsolete Notes, Colonial Notes, Confederate Notes, World Notes, and fractional currency), with secondary constituencies of academic researchers and professional currency dealers. The society is affiliated with the American Numismatic Association (ANA).

SPMC's core products are organized around a portfolio of specialized web-based research platforms and a flagship bi-monthly publication. The Paper Money journal has been published since 1962, with 2,500+ articles indexed and each issue available as a PDF. The Huntoon-Shiva Encyclopedia of U.S. National Bank Notes contains 1,500+ pages across 144 chapters covering notes issued 1863-1935. The Banks & Bankers Database compiles records on all 14,348 National Banks chartered 1863-1935 and 65,000+ bankers (Presidents, Cashiers, VPs, and Assistant Cashiers) drawn from OCC reports 1867-1935, supported by a public National Bank Lookup website and a crowdsourced Bank Note History Wiki. The Obsoletes Database Project catalogs 2,452 locations, 6,998 issuers, 24,899 designs, and 12,035 U.S. Obsolete Notes, built with member contributions and state-expert oversight. Auxiliary offerings include downloadable Excel summary data, research grants of $100-$2,500, a dealer directory, awards programs (including Hall of Fame, Nathan Gold, Founders, President's, Wismer, and literary awards), and educational content via the Collecting Paper Money public website.

SPMC's revenue model is dominated by recurring membership dues: Regular membership at $39/year (US), $45 (Canada/Mexico), $60 (other); Junior membership ($39/year for ages 12-17); and Life membership at $800 (US), $900 (Canada/Mexico), $1,000 (other). Distribution occurs primarily through the SPMC website (self-serve), an online dealer directory, mail-order journal sales, and physical presence at major numismatic events including the FUN convention, International Paper Money Show, Raleigh Money Expo, and Central States conventions. The society maintains no disclosed revenue figures, no headcount data, and operates via volunteer-elected officers with mailing-address offices in Gainesville, GA and Minneapolis, MN.

Name

Society of Paper Money Collectors

Legal name

Society of Paper Money Collectors, Inc.

Website

https://spmc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Society of Paper Money Collectors is a U.S. nonprofit membership society, founded in 1961 and incorporated in the District of Columbia, that serves paper money collectors, academic researchers, and dealers through specialized historical databases, a bi-monthly journal, research grants, awards programs, and event participation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenwood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues are the primary revenue source. Regular membership is $39/year in the US, $45 for Canada/Mexico, $60 for other countries. Life membership is $800 US, $900 Canada/Mexico, $1000 other countries. Renewals can be done online or by check/money order.
2. Research Grants: SPMC provides grants for research projects leading to publications including journal articles, books, monographs, and academic theses/dissertations. Grant amounts typically range from $100 to $2500.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Society of Paper Money Collectors (SPMC) is a nonprofit membership organization that promotes the study and appreciation of U.S. paper money and related financial history. It publishes the bimonthly Paper Money journal, maintains specialized historical databases (Banks & Bankers, Obsoletes, Huntoon-Shiva Encyclopedia), provides research grants, runs a member dealer directory, and sponsors exhibits, lectures, and an annual awards program.

Product overview

The Society of Paper Money Collectors (SPMC) offers a suite of products and services centered on paper money education, research, and community. The primary offerings include the Paper Money Journal (bi-monthly publication since 1962), the Collecting Paper Money public website for new collectors, the Huntoon-Shiva Encyclopedia of U.S. National Bank Notes (1,500+ pages), and the Paper Money Articles Index (2,500+ articles). SPMC operates several interconnected database products: the Banks & Bankers Database covering 14,348 National Banks and 65,000+ bankers, the public National Bank Lookup Website, the Bank Note History Wiki for crowdsourced content, and the Obsoletes Database Project cataloging U.S. Obsolete Notes. Additional offerings include National Bank Summary Data (downloadable spreadsheets), Research Grants for numismatic research, a Dealer Directory, and Awards Programs including Hall of Fame and literary awards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Paper Money Journal SPMC's official bi-monthly journal covering paper money collecting, numismatic research, and financial history. Published since 1962 with each issue available as a PDF document; included with membership.
• Collecting Paper Money Website A public website designed to introduce new collectors to paper money collecting and serve as a resource for existing collectors.
• Huntoon-Shiva Encyclopedia of U.S. National Bank Notes A comprehensive encyclopedia covering every aspect of U.S. National Bank Notes issued from 1863 to 1935, containing over 1,500 pages in 144 chapters.
• Paper Money Articles Index An index providing links to all 2,500+ articles that have appeared in Paper Money Journal since the first issue in 1962, with each article available as a separate PDF document.
• National Bank Lookup Website A public search website providing lookup of National Banks by Charter# or Town, with bank and banker information available for all 14,348 National Banks chartered between 1863 and 1935.
• Banks & Bankers Database A comprehensive database containing historical data on all 14,348 National Banks chartered 1863-1935 and information on 65,000+ bankers from OCC reports 1867-1935.
• Bank Note History Wiki A crowdsourced, searchable content website containing detailed Bank Histories and Banker Biographies for bank note signers, linked to the Banks & Bankers Database.
• Obsoletes Database Project SPMC's online census and catalog of U.S. Obsolete Notes, built with member contributions and state expert oversight. Covers 2,452 locations, 6,998 issuers, 24,899 designs, and 12,035 notes.
• National Bank & National Bank Note Summary Data Downloadable Excel spreadsheets containing data related to National Banks and National Bank Notes.
• Dealer Directory An online directory connecting collectors with member paper money dealers for buying and selling transactions.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Numismatic Association (ANA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPMC is affiliated with the ANA. The Annual Meeting of SPMC is held at the International Paper Money Show, and SPMC participates in ANA events including having a table at FUN convention and the ANA Treasure Trivia Program for youth outreach.
• Raleigh Coin ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPMC partners with the Raleigh Coin Club to promote the Raleigh Money Expo, one of the premier numismatic events in the Southeast attracting collectors, investors, and history enthusiasts.
• National Currency FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-publishes The Encyclopedia of U.S. National Bank Notes jointly with SPMC. The National Currency Foundation owns the copyright to this encyclopedia.
• Professional Currency Dealers Association (PCDA)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferenced as one national organization of currency dealers that members may contact. Many PCDA members are paper money dealers in the SPMC Dealer Directory, though SPMC explicitly states this is not an endorsement.
• Heritage AuctionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHeritage Auctions is referenced as a source of note images and auction data in the Obsoletes Database Project. SPMC displays featured notes from Heritage auctions.
• Stack's Bowers GalleriesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFeatured advertiser in the Paper Money journal and referenced as an auctioneer partner of the ANA World's Fair of Money. SPMC receives consignment submissions for paper money auctions.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Stack's Bowers Galleries: Major numismatic auction house and featured advertiser in SPMC's Paper Money journal. Operates as a transaction layer for paper money collectors and is referenced as an auctioneer partner of ANA's World's Fair of Money.
• Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC): Major third-party coin and currency grading service whose authentication and price guide content intersect with paper money collecting. Operates at greater scale within the broader hobby ecosystem SPMC serves.
• Heritage Auctions: The largest U.S. auction house for paper money and a featured advertiser in SPMC's Paper Money journal. Heritage supplies note images and auction data to SPMC's Obsoletes Database and is a central commercial counterpart in the same hobby ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Society for U.S. Commemorative Coins: Hobby society for collectors of U.S. commemorative coins, organized as a nonprofit with membership dues, publications, and educational outreach. Structurally analogous to SPMC within a different niche of U.S. numismatics.
• Professional Currency Dealers Association (PCDA): National organization of currency dealers referenced by SPMC as a sister organization. PCDA members appear in the SPMC Dealer Directory, and both organizations serve the paper money community through events, networking, and education.
• National Currency Foundation: Co-publisher with SPMC of the Huntoon-Shiva Encyclopedia of U.S. National Bank Notes. Operates as a parallel nonprofit in the U.S. paper money education and research space with overlapping mission.
• American Numismatic Association (ANA): The largest U.S. numismatic membership organization; SPMC is explicitly affiliated with ANA and holds its annual events in conjunction with ANA conventions like FUN. Both are nonprofit membership societies serving collectors with publications, awards, and educational resources.
• Liberty Seated Collectors Club: Specialty U.S. coin collecting society with a similar nonprofit membership model, periodic journal, and member-driven research focus. Comparable in scale and operating structure to SPMC.
• Early American Coppers (EAC): Hobby society for collectors of early U.S. copper coinage, organized as a nonprofit with membership dues, a journal, conventions, and recognition programs. Closely parallels SPMC's structure and member-driven research model within an adjacent numismatic specialty.
• Colonial Coin Collectors Club (C4): A specialized numismatic hobby society focused on colonial-era U.S. coinage. Operates with a similar nonprofit membership model, journal publication, and awards programs targeting a niche collecting segment adjacent to SPMC's Colonial Notes focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SPMC_1961
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/society-of-paper-money-collectors-i-nc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Society of Paper Money Collectors