The other day, as I walked into the bank, I saw my teller smiling at me. She said "I hoped you'd come in today!" When she proceeded to take out a strap of $1000 old-style $10s. The newest date was 1953...That should give you a hint! I was only able to scrounge up $670 to exchange. So the teller let me look through them (myself, all $1000 by hand!) Here's what I got: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1-1953 Silver Certificate 4-Series 1950 Narrow Back 1-1950A C-* 1-1950B C-* 1-1950A with gutter fold on third print ONLY 20-Series 1950 Wide Back 21-Series 1950A 6-Series 1950B 12-Series 1950C ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Now, on to the scans! My "Keep" pile Silver Cert. and two of the narrow backs Gutter fold and star notes The other two narrow backs The rest!
Now, for a brief explanation of the narrow vs. wide topic, for those who don't know. In the early 1950s, the printing presses were adjusted to make the reverse slightly narrower. Rather than waiting for a new series, the presses were modified towards the end of series 1950 printing, giving the "Wide" and "Narrow" varieties. The rarer narrow backs can be identified as having back plates 1390 or higher, and having very little space between the "TEN" flag in the lower-right corner. EX: Wide: Narrow:
Much better than my haul. Let us know when you pick up the rest. Also, your depiction of the narrow vs wide is much better than most of the books (considering yours is in color).
Very nice notes! I gotta know how do you initially strike up the conversation with the teller. They have to know you are collecting them because they are more valuable than regular currency. Why would they be willing to sell them to you versus buying them off the bank themselves? Any tips for the rest of us would be great!
thank you for the lesson on narrow vs. wide. what would a 1950 narrow (like you found) be worth? one more new term for me today is "gutter fold". what is that?
I am seeing that my find of the older style $50's is being complimented with these other finds. I wonder if it is the economy or what? Yesterday there were people in selling their AGE's so they could use the money to buy better gas mileage cars. I wonder that older stuff is making it's way into the banks as people need the cash. You must be in PA somewhere to find all those district 3 notes. 3 is a bit of an unusual find in such quantity, and a bit nicer pick up too.
Book value for those series 1950 narrows that I have is $25, versus $12 for a regular note, in VF condition. Be aware that these values are ones that YOU might pay getting them from a dealer, not what a collector or dealer is willing to pay for it. A guter fold occurs when the papre wrinkles before inking, creating a "gutter" of unprinted paper. Mine was pretty minor, but some notes can have double or triple folds, all over an inch wide! Needless to say, they rarely make it out of the BEP.
