What's the value

It is very common for unscrupulous people to manufacture error notes. These include missing serial numbers, missing treasury seals, missing ink, board breaks, front to back and back to front offset ink transfers, and just about everything else you could think of (except maybe gutter folds). I have quite a collection of these fakes. If you send these in to TPGs they will be returned uncertified with a note saying they have been "altered". I believe they use the term altered as apposed to counterfeit due to the fact that if it was counterfeit they would have to confiscate the note.

By far the most easily altered error note is the front to back ink transfer. Using a scanner and a printer these can be easily made by the hundreds. And since a legitimate error note brings a substantial premium, it is a profitable endeavor.

If you have an ink transfer note (using a 10X loop) look at the engraving of the transferred image. The lines should be as sharp and continuous as on an unaltered note. Transfers on altered notes tend to be blurry, have broken no-continuous lines, and will appear closer to a line of dots.

Although you really need to have one in hand to appreciate the difference, be very wary of purchasing error notes that cannot be returned for a full refund. You would also be surprised by the number of dealers who are not knowledgeable in this area and unwittingly pass an altered note on as authentic.

Be safe, buy certified error notes.

 

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That is a off set printing error, that Bill you have is in neck of the wood of about $200.00 to $250.00 in mint state. Your look about fine 20, making your about $75.00 to $100.00.

 

Well, tome it looks like offset. Offset can be caused in several way. 1.) Too much ink on the paper causing the over saturation to transfer on the bill on top. However, if this was the case, there would be more than one bill...it should be offset on the whole sheet. 2.) Someone could have set something on the stack causing ink transfer. This is more the likely cause. 3.) the ink was still wet when it went to cutting. The pressure of the clamp that hold the paper from moving added too much pressure and made the transfer. As for copy machine....you can't send a single bill through a copy machine and hope to see offset....doesn't work that way. I recommend sending it out. Nice find!

 

A true offset transfer should show a weave pattern. An offset transfer is made by the cloth on the bed of the press.

 

Please, please, please will people stop saying that offset transfers are made by too much ink or contact with other wet sheets. That is not how they are made.

They are made when a sheet or portion of a sheet is missing. The image from the plate contacts the cloth bed of the press and the plate image is made on it. The next sheet that comes through will pick up the image in reverse on the bottom of the sheet.

When offset transfers are found in packs there will be several in a row getting progressively lighter as the ink come off the bed of the press.

 

@lettow is correct.



From Fred Bart’s Paper Money Errors guide (page 144)

 

Would you be kind enough to discuss the cloth bed of the press in little more detail? It is my understanding that there is a cork layer beneath the cloth, and when it breaks it creates a board break. Is that correct?