misprinted $20

i just tried it, with some stamps here it looks like the images would possibly be in reverse... told you i kept confusing myself!!!

 

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Well,

Cuz it ain't supposed to happen and rarely does.

Quality control at the BEP is pretty good and, of course, an error like this would be much easier to spot than a slightly clashed die on a coin for instance.

These notes should NEVER reach circulation so I guess that's the best argument for it being a dramatic error.

 

:thumb: thanks clembo... didnt mean to be so argumentative!

 

Hey Guy's I am out of town at the moment (Ft. Detrick, Marland) Military base working with some
Scientist's here.....Do not have any of my reference books with me so I am not quite sure what to think.

Gatzdon brings up some valid points here...as the BEP does use the dry method,transfers are seldom and faint...but that note is from 1990. When was the wet method put on hold?

I thought there was a time frame in the 90's when the Gov went back to wet method for a short time..but I could be mistaken. I must say it is an "uncommon piece" and it should demand a premium by all means.

We could use a better quality photo as well and such a note should be sent off for assessment!

Let me know what you guy's think..I will not be home until Friday midnight!!


Regards,

RickieB

 

As far as I know, the wet intaglio printing has not been used since large notes were printed. I would question the source if someone said the BEP tried switching back to the wet method in the 90's because it just does not work at the speeds and volume that hte BEP produces. The wet intaglio printing method requires a drying time of 24 hours with spacers between EACH AND EVERY page.

As I mentioned before, it takes in excess of 20 tons to transfer an image from the plate to the paper. Ink just does not transfer from paper to paper without a significant amount of pressure. When it does, it only leaves a ghostlike image, extremely faint, and only the parts of the design that are most raised and thickest.

I don't know if I'm repeating myself, but OP's error occurred because a folded page was fed through the printing press. Where the paper was missing, the ink was transferred to the impression cylinder. Each subsequent page received an image from the impression cylinder (now a reversed image on the back side of the page), getting fainter with each page that passes through. It's my understanding that it takes about 20 to 50 notes for the image to fade away (but I do recall seeing an auction in the 90's with almost 100 consecutive notes that someone got from an ATM, most of the notes at the tail end could barely show the offset).

 

Howdy Gatzdon...

I am not sure at the moment where i read something about a return to the wet method..but I will research it and post what I find later. I recall something about a brief return due to some mechanical issues or something like that...any how...I'll look it up later. As I mentioned, you have some valid points!

RickieB

 

We weren't arguing we were discussing.

 

misprinted 20

Regarding my 20, this it what I found on anouther site.

If a sheet fails to enter the printing press, the inked plates will transfer their image to the impression cylinder. The next 6 or 7 sheets will receive the impression from the cylinder while the other side of the note is being printed. The result is an offset printing in reverse on the already printed side. approximate value range: $200 - $300

 

nice find!

 

I found a note in circulation that was just like it. Mine was a One dollar Bill and had about 75% of the front visible on the back. I listed it on ebay and stated that I didnt know what type of error it was for sure, but I thought it might be a Bleed Through. Anyhow, it got bid up to $80.

 

I did a quick lookup and it appeared that the BEP went from the wet to dry method in the late 50's and the change was staggered as they didn't replace all the equipment at once.

I wonder if they experimented with Wet Intaglio printing when they spent $50 million on the failed web press experiment.

 

ouch! that failed web press experiment is one of my favorites

I dont kow exactly how many i have (i think its about 40 or so, not counting a ton of dups), but i started out trying to collect all 241 ( i think thats all the runs and plate combos), but i ran out of money lol. I think the rarest one i own is only 1 of 11 known.