What is a pick number and why is it needed? This is the second most asked question I receive, and while it seems strange to say that a banknote is pick 111 there is a good reason for this system. This pick system allows banknote collectors and dealers from all over the world to easily recognize exactly which note is being discussed, sold or traded. It is a universal system to understand a certain note that can cross any boarder or language barrier. It has a very useful place in collecting and is not just us being old, set in our ways and “picky”.
The pick # is named for the pioneer in cataloging banknotes, Albert Pick, and his name is used to differentiate each banknote. Albert Pick, born in 1922, is a retired German numismatist and an internationally acknowledged authority on the subject of paper money (update: sadly, Albert Pick passed away on November 22, 2015). He started collecting banknotes in 1930 and his own collection exceeded 180,000 notes before giving it to the Bavarian Mortgages and Exchange Bank.
As you start collecting you will find this pick system an invaluable way to not only catalog your banknotes, but to help you purchase/trade notes. Actually, the pick system goes a bit deeper than the use of the # to determine which note is which – there is also a letter code that depicts the country . So RO111 is the code for the Romanian Polymer 2000 lei banknote.
IN would depict India etc. However, as most collectors and dealers specifically name the Country that they are interested in buying the note from, the letter system is not widely used. For example if I wanted to buy the above note, I would drop the letters and just tell the supplier that I want Romania pick 111.
There are a few variations to pick numbers and I will briefly outline some alternatives – you may see a pick # that says pick 111s – the s in this instance denotes that this is the specimen note from this issue (I will explain specimen notes later) In addition you may see pick # 111a or 111b the a & b depicts certain variations to the originally issued note. Some changes can be very minor, but enough to warrant an additional letter, but not enough to warrant a new catalog #. As a rule a lot of letters after the # is for signature changes on the note, or maybe new date/year issues.
As a beginner this may not be too important, but I wanted to explain just so you will understand when you see a pick # that has letters before or after. Pick numbers may seem a little complicated at first, but as your collection grows you will begin to appreciate the value of Albert Pick’s contribution to banknote collecting.
p83a-2003/p83b-2004/p83c-2005/p83d-2007 And so on. All the same pick # but different letters based on year. Available for purchase at robertsworldmoney.com
Roberts World Money 
So where can you find the full Pick catalog of numbers?
Or how can you identify what pick number a given notes is?
Thank you for your question. There is a book called the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money. They issue a new one every year.
They have one book that covers 1368 – 1960 and one that covers banknotes from 1960 to present.
It is still the best catalog out there, but I am afraid it does have a lot of errors, but I suppose with many many thousands of notes in the catalogs you can expect to find some errors.
It does have many black and white scans of the notes which helps a little.
Just FYI – there is an online alternative now, it is not complete and does use its’ own number system (along side the pick catalog numbers) which is much more up to date (as the book is always about 2 years behind) and does carry color pictures of most banknotes Where scans are available. I like the online catalog, but as I say it is not complete with every country. However, Owen is working hard to get them all done.
I hope this helps, and if I can help further email me at robert@robertsworldmoney.com