1935-A $1 Silver Certificate EXPERIMENTAL 'S'. This is advertised and I can see that on the 35-A they have a red S but on the 1928 series they don't have any red S's but they are called Experimental bills. So how do you know its an experimental bill and what were they experimenting with these bills for and why? Seems like all the block letters are pretty well to the end of the alphabet like Y and Z. Need some help here. Thank you in advance.
Yes, that's it. The BEP was considering changing the paper currency was printed on. So, they indicated the ordinary paper with an "R" and the experimental paper with an "S". There wasn't a conclusive decision, so the paper wasn't changed. These letters aren't block letters, but, letters stamped apart from the serial number.
I learn something new everyday. Any one know what the different types of paper were? Which was which? How to tell the papers apart without the R or S stamped on them? Were they put into circulation? and if so, why? to determine relative wearability and longevity? Questions, always Questions, when you're learning something new everyday.
https://cccoinandcurrency.com/100/c...00/1935-1-s-experimental-note-fr-1610-ssc-179 "...recent information has come up that the "R" really stands for Rayon and these are the experimental notes, while "S" means Silk. During WW 2 a large amount of silk was needed to make parachutes. So it would be likely that this was a wartime experiment to replace the silk threads used in US currency. The notes both R & S were delivered June 20th 1944 and issued into circulation to test there comparable durability."
I've been taken to school by @Legomaster1 Thanks for the 411. Come to think of it, do the kids of today even know the 411 reference?
It is important to know the serial number ranges for these types of notes. Some less than scrupulous people have been known to just stamp an R or S on any 1935A $1 silver certificate. If your experimental note is not in the following range, then it is forged: Red S – S73884001C – S75068000C Red R – S70884001C – S72068000C
Got it. Thanks but the person selling these experimental bill are showing the 1928 series but there is no R or S or anything on these bills to designate it as an experimental bill. I dont know if I can mention dealers names on these threads but here is a URL. https://www.ebay.com/itm/FR-1601-1-...555018&algo=PL.SIM&ao=1&asc=57921&meid=926c54.
There are other $1 Experimental notes. The example you’ve provided a link for is correct. From the uspapermoney.info website; “The first group of experimental notes were printed in Series 1928A and 1928B. There were three batches of notes printed, two on different test papers and one on regular paper as a control group. The notes on special paper were numbered X 00000001 B through X 10728000 B and Y 00000001 B through Y 10248000 B; the control group on regular paper was numbered Z 00000001 B through Z 10248000 B. Note that these serial numbers are well above the ranges used on any other notes from the 1928 series.” You can read about them here, just scroll down. http://www.uspapermoney.info/serials/all___s.html
Stevelyn, thank you for the explanation and the URL. Really was helpful. Also all else who replied, Thank you. Now I need to absorb all the stuff about the serial numbers from the website. And guess what? I'm starting another currency thread about another subject.
"In an effort to improve the wear resistance of currency, Crane and Company furnished the bureau with an experimental lot of paper which was used in printing 1,184,000 $1 silver certificates. For purposes of comparison, an equal number of notes were produced under similar conditions using regular distinctive paper. As a means of differentiation between the two types, the letter "R" was overprinted in red adjacent to the seal for currency produced on regular paper and the letter "S" was used in the same manner to designate the special paper. Both lots of currency were delivered to the Office of the Treasurer of the United States in the latter part of June 1944 for distribution." SOURCE: Annual Report of the Director Bureau of Engraving and Printing Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1944
There were tests done by Crane and Company on three different types of paper in FY42 but those experiments had nothing to do with the R and S notes. Tested were (1) 100% cotton paper with nylon fibers, (2) 50% cotton/50% linen paper with nylon fibers, and (3) 50% cotton/50% linen with flax fibers. The 50/50 with flax proved best and the paper changed to this configuration. Prior to this the paper was 75/25 with silk fibers. These tests were done internally and no notes using the experimental papers were issued to the public. SOURCE: A Report of the Activities of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing During the Period of World War II.
