Ok today is the first day I started looking for paper money errors. I've been getting into coin errors but I came across this dollar bill and am wondering if the ink in the middle of the bill is some sort of error. Possibly an ink Smear? Possibly me getting too excited and thinking everything is an error?
Hi and welcome. That what you said is more than possible, it's darn likely, the way the hobby has been preoccupied with searching for errors of late. Call it a fad. We'll get over it one day, I expect. But then, maybe not. But anyway, I've seen that, and it's an inking error of some sort. But they're just collectible, they don't impart any extra value or anything like that.
Unfortunately it’s just damage. Not an inking error of any type. The ink is different than the ink used to print currency. It’s actually the edge of a bank tellers stamp.
Some tellers/banks stamp the strap that is placed around bills. For instance, a pack of 100 $1 bills would have a strap placed around them and the bank name or perhaps even the teller would be stamped on the strap. Neatness does not count, and sometimes (more often than not) the stamp (ink) lands off the strap and on the first (top) bill in the pile. And, as Collecting Nut said, that is what you most likely have.
Looks like a black ink stamp from a rubber stamp? Try this Take two fresh bills, spray hairspray on one lay the other on top and clamp it together in a vice. The hairspray will cause the ink to separate and transfer...OH look and error bill Stick to coins.
