Turning Mistakes in to Treasures – A Closer Look at Paper Money Errors
Lately, error coins have been making headlines in the numismatic community. Len recently wrote about coinage errors… now, I’d like to take you to the other side of the coin (so to speak) – paper money errors!
Yes, paper money can also slip through the rigorous quality control methods at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. From minor misprints to eye-catching error types – let’s take a look at four of the more notable paper money errors.
Seeing double?
Not a side-by-side duplication, a Double Denomination error happens when the face and back of a single note each feature a different denomination. For instance, you’re holding a $10 bill in your hand, but turn it over… and it’s a $1!
This happens because the faces and backs are printed separately. So, on occasion, a sheet will run through the press having one denomination printed on its back. Then, somehow that same sheet runs through with an entirely different denomination printed on the back!
Facing the chopping block
Cutting errors happen at the very end of the production process. When printed sheets are trimmed into individual bills, the equipment must be aligned precisely. If it’s off in the slightest – or, if the machinery malfunctions – notes can be cut too small, too large, or with portions of another bill attached.
Some of these paper money errors are minor, resulting in uneven borders. Still others can be dramatic and easily spotted, even showing parts of two or more notes! Among paper money errors, cutting mistakes are popular due to their visibility.
Engraver error
Here’s a throwback to classic U.S. currency – an Engraving Error shown on a 1907 “Woodchopper” $5 Legal Tender Note! On the back, you can plainly see where the “u” in public is printed as a “c”. We’re uncertain as to the how or why this happened… but it was traced to a very small number of back plates, which makes them limited in supply.
Something’s out of whack!
When sheets are fed off-register on one side, but not the other, a Faulty Alignment error occurs. This will show one side of the note centered properly, while the other side is not.
Because portions of U.S. paper money are printed during different passes, there’s room for error (notes) there, too. We’ve seen Insufficient Inking errors, Multiple Printings, Overprint Errors and more. Missing Printings (where an entire impression is missing from a note) can be dramatic. These are either completely blank, missing the note’s design elements, or missing the serial numbers, seals and district numbers. Do you collect error notes? Have you ever come across one? I’d love to hear about it – drop a comment below!
