Pretty excited about this. Can anyone provide book value range? Counterfeit pen was a heartbreaker...
Hard to tell the condition, but lets say VF+ w/Apparent would probably fetch around $75 bucks on a good day. Congrats!
Typically inflated guidebook prices like these for a Series of 1977 $50 New York district (Fr-2119B*) show around EF $95 | ChCU $195 (these examples from Paper Money Values, Amos publishing.) You'd be mighty lucky to get an informed currency collector to pay $75 if selling the note. I doubt most will pay that for the problems shown and having been circulated. Perhaps less informed buyers will overpay for the problems the note has or those on a very tight budget would collect notes with a problem that contribute to lowering the value since other collectors would ignore them for the same reasons. You can always review Heritage Auction Archives and eBay completed auctions to look up what current auctions for similar items have sold for to get an idea of values. Unless we can see scans of the note, that is both sides and all margins, no one here yet can say what the value of your note is beyond face. Corners are a huge area of concern in determining a notes grade, they get bumped and bent easily/dog-eared, easily. Please post scans of the note if you want a better idea of how far value is likely to fall from the rough estimate given. When you scan the note, place it in the center of the scan bed away from the edges and lay a dark sheet of paper behind the note so the back ground will be darker than the notes margins (avoid color paper, use black or a neutral gray), this will help define all margins of the note. While the counterfeit pen may fade from visible light and detection by quickly glancing at the note, that substance is in the paper fiber and would likely be there forever, could be detected by back lighting the note or when viewed under different spectrum of light. My point is that the problem won't just go away except perhaps for superficial review. Just some thoughts...
Don't worry about that counterfeit pen mark. Last summer I was with my grandfather and to my surprise he used a 1988A $20 note to make a purchase. I quickly bought it from the cashier but not before she went over it with the pen. Within 48 hours the pen mark was completely gone. Sure it may still be visible under a black light or something but who's going to really care about putting notes like the one you and I have under such an examination? These aren't 1922 Gold Certificates or anything, these are modern circulation finds, lol.
Believe it or not problems from circulation long ago continue to effect the value to 1922 Gold Certificates. Problem free they can fetch even more value among collectors. The problems don't go away, even if you can't readily see them, but you are sure to see a difference in value when it comes to those who know how to review and determine a notes value. The note in the OP hasn't had the same life span nor changes to circulating currency to effect its value very much for the amount of notes issued and yet outstanding in circulation. That is gold and silver certs were withdrawn and later replaced with Legal Tenders and FRNs. Limited numbers of circulated gold certs with problems carry a premium because the populations are low across all notes that still exist. FRNs haven't yet been withdrawn and sufficient numbers of these notes redeemed then destroyed to remove them from circulation, and in turn working towards elevating those notes collectible values. When that happens FRN notes in collections will take on new meanings in value. Those with the problem free examples at that time will have certainly been worth ridding one's collection of such problem notes now, because obtaining them after they no longer are meant to circulate will only increase the expense of obtaining notes later for a collection. The counterfeit pen, as mentioned earlier does/can fade, and may be undetected to the naked eye, but that doesn't mean it is "completely gone" as you said. Since you don't appear to be someone who checks their own notes for such problems with UV lamps to uncover issues not easily detected, you're not presenting yourself as being qualified to suggest the note you bought really has no trace ("completely gone") of the counterfeit pen remaining. Believe it or not, some people do run notes through more serious and rigorous checks for problems, such as back lighting and UV light to uncover hidden defects and to check whether the note is authentic or has been altered to hide problems. Such lighting can and does uncover what you think doesn't exist. Believe it or not, what appears to have disappeared today, may also return later on, particularly with regards to atmospheric conditions effecting paper articles that have been erroneously stored. Notes sent for submission to be graded may also go through these more rigorous diagnostic reviews prior to a company putting it's name on a grade. Gold certs circulated and have condition problems, yet many have been certified. Values vary depending on problems vs. problem free examples, even in TPG holders. A problem such as a counterfeit pen could well be uncovered in future analysis whether you can see it later on or not. Technology can also improve to reveal things we cannot know/see now. Just because you collect in the here-and-now and do not take a long term view, don't be so willing to suggest that it doesn't matter because it's a modern circulation find. A lot can change to affect the factors of determination of value over time, so something like this in the future depends upon knowing the potential pitfalls that lie in your collection before accepting them into your collection. The perception of value and worth you have in your collection for faults accepted now, may be a rude surprise to you if you move to sell your collection later on. It is certainly worth knowing what you are putting your money into (even face value of $50 set aside) now, at the expense to your collection later. Similarly, being informed of what you are selling to someone later will spare you the expense and potential embarrassment of learning the hard way should a buyer later question you on some aspect you didn't represent or were even aware existed but was easy for someone else to discover at that time.
