So here's another find by one of my kids last night. This time it was my son (happy 21st B-day to him today btw) who is a cashier at a store. I don't have the note in hand and I haven't seen it with my own eyes. I told him to send me pics on a dark background and I'd ask the pros, lol. I couldn't find anything to compare this to, but still new to the paper currency thing so other than another insufficient ink error, which this looks nothing like the examples of, I don't know what to call this. It just looks like it fades away in stages. Any help identifying what happened either as an error or damage would be appreciated.
Cool. Never seen one like that.Then again, I'm no expert. Maybe @SteveInTampa might know about this??
At first glance, it looks like a legitimate insufficient inking error. Many are faked. Have you tried smelling it to detect the use of chemicals ? Does the surface where the ink is missing feel abraded at all ?
My son found it working as a cashier last night. The pics are ones he sent me. Today is his birthday and I'll see him later tonight after I get home from work. Hopefully he still has it... I looked at several dozen insufficient inking notes online and didn't come across any that looked like this.
I found several like these that came close but don't show a step down fading of the ink like the one I posted. The second note comes closest but it's more of a gradual fading.
That second one looks bizarre how mostly just the center of the note is missing ink. Honestly I don't know a lot about the printing process yet but to my reasoning it seems out of place lol
With the different stages of fading like this? Edit: sorry I misread your post. I thought you said you had one graded like this.
Interesting to say the least. Let us know what you think when you have it in hand. Your son has a keen eye, good luck.
Just by looking at the pictures I would say insufficient inking. But really need it in hand for a good inspection.
With the note in hand it smells like money, no chemical smell that I can detect. The surface feels smoother in areas with less ink with the smoothest portion being the left side with little to no ink. The paper texture also looks consistent with my loupe on both sides of the note. Edit: Added some close-ups with the macro camera on my phone, couldn't get a decent shot through the loupe, lol.
Based on what you have observed I vote legitimate insufficient inking error. I would send it in for authentication and grading.
I must be doing something wrong, I look for currency errors and never find anything like this but my kids just pull them out of nowhere, lol.
Thanks for the additional information @YankeeDime. I agree with member @Jersey magic man and would submit the note for grading and authentication.