My brother found this in the "till" yesterday at work. I realize this isn't in the best of shape, and it's old. But.. can anyone give me an explaination as to why the lettering and the seal on the obverse are yellow? It's a '63 A.
Interesting note...I have no idea why the seals are that color. I assumed it was just damaged or something went wrong with the printing. But, I notice something else that seems odd about it. According to my sources serial number A05582253A should have been a note from series 1963A, not 1963. The last note printed in the 1963 series should have been A04480000A. Yet, the signatures and date match that of a series 1963. So, this note is somewhat interesting.
The discoloration on the seal and the numbers can be caused by an application of bleach or alkali to the note. Lou
i agree with the chemical aplication to alter the color appearance of the note i would keep it. Although it is damaged due to the discoloration, it is cool
Agree with the last three posts - and just to make sure you know - the seals started out red and the bleach turns the ink yellowish orange.
What would make you say such a thing? This is just a heavily worn note that has been through the wash at some distant time. People come to this site looking for answers. Imagine if StartingOut takes the note into a coin shop and says the folks at CoinTalk said it was Microwaved - the dealer is going to think we don't know what we are talking about. When someone is specifically looking for help I try not to comment unless I am certain. If I'm not - but take a stab at it, I make sure I put a ton of verbiage in to say I am making a wild guess not based on anything I could prove.
Wow!! A lot has happened since I was here last. I didn't think about the bleach, but it makes sense. Between that and the cigarette burn in the head, it makes for a nice conversation piece, but nothing more. I'll probably keep it and send it down to my grandchildren someday. Hmmm.. should I tell them how it turned yellow? Nahh.. let them find out for themselves. I just thought of something. If it went through the wash.. how come the reverse didn't turn a different color too? That's still very green. I can understand the seal with bleach, but not the reverse. It should have faded out also, right? Thanks everybody.
Oh no, I have heard things like if you stick money in a microwave the center will blow out making a burnt hole. I do imagine it was bleached, causing the yellow seals though.
I would definately keep it. You don't find those in circulation very often. Most red seal notes (yeah, I know) have either been shredded or put away. Yes
I would keep it. Yes it's only worth $5. Yes it will probably only be worth $5 for many years to come. BUT, this note has one thing that all those other notes in the coin shop don't have. You found it. There is nothing cooler than showing somebody the treasures that you found versus bought. I have a half dollar proof collection that I'm working on that consists of only proofs found in circulation. From 1957 to present, I'm only missing about 10 years (yes that includes a couple franklins, 1964, SMS's, and 40% bicentennials. I also have a few commemorative proofs and 90% silver proofs.
