Still waiting for the notes I won in the Heritage auction to come in so I thought I'd post a couple non-Heritage finds I picked up over the past week. First is a red seal star note. Second is what appears to be an error as one of the two serial numbers is completely missing. I picked up a pair of 1928D deuces and this is one of them. Other one is nothing special and not worth posting. Does anyone familiar with errors know what something like this is worth or whether it is easy or possible to fake something like this? I looked at the serial number under 10X and 60X magnification (kids old Intel QX3 usb Microscope still comes in handy!) and can't see any trace of red ink in that area or any damage to the paper fibers that one would expect to see if the number was erased. Forgot the reverse of the $5. I guess it's sorta important in this case:
dursin... I like all stars to say the least, that $5 is pretty nice, where did you find it? Was it/Is it raw? All the solid stars, Gold, Green, Blue, Red and Brown are so much nicer than the stars of today! SGR
Way to look Lou! Lets see what he comes back with! What is that back plate #..looks like 990?? Mule stars are indeed rare!! The micro back should be 938 while the macro should be 939 according to the CC of USPM 7th Edition SGR
Both notes came from eBay and both are ungraded (aka raw). Yes, the $5 is a mule...you can tell from the scans that it has micro back plate #890. Well, I guess if you look really close. This makes it easier...
WOW!! Send in Dursin...great find and I hope you got a good deal!! Nice job Lou!!! SGR Dursin..for the $2 Note the missing SN is vexing me..usually the 3rd Overpringing errors are missing both SN#'s...I would have it checked out! Cant find anything about 1 SN missing and 1 present!
SGR, I just can't make out the first number of the back plate but it looks like 390 or 290 (maybe). Lou
Send in which one? I'm not a huge fan of TPG's, but was considering sending in the $2 as that may help authenticate it as an error...though after literally examining it with a microscope, I don't really have any doubt that it is. As for the $5, I'm not sure getting it graded would add much value. What do you think it would grade at? My best guess would be in the Fine 12-15 range, though I'm not entirely sure that the spots on it wouldn't knock it down to a VG 10.
Thank you SGR! Guess I'm learning a thing or two from you and the others here at Coin Talk. dursin, that's a very nice 5 dollar note and so is your error 2 dollar red seal and yes it is a error. Lou
Both of them.....send em both in! The missing SN on the $2 if you are sure it looks like no paper damage, send it in! That $5 will be better than the $5 1928C F !! WHo cares about the spots...scarce note, someone wants it for sure! SGR
I agree with SGR, send them both in to a TPG. The 2 dollar red seal is called a OBSTRUCTED PRINTING error. A piece of stray material came between the note and the printing press. It could be anything from masking tape, tissue paper, cellophane, fiber threads, cloth or cardboard. There are 3 type of conditions for errors of this type minor, moderate or major. A minor error would be missing the lest say the prefix letter and 2 numbers. Then a moderate error could be missing the suffix and prefix letters and all the numbers, just like your note. The major error note can be missing the suffix prefix letters all the numbers and part of the number two printed on the note or even more. There is also a obstructed printing with the retained fragment which is worth even more that the other errors. Your note would be considered a moderate error. A 1950-A 5 dollar FRN with an moderate obstructed printing error list for: F 100.00, EF 200.00 and CU 350.00. Remember you have a 1928 2 dollar red seal note so the price that I listed could be higher due to the scarcity or collector demand of the type of note. Hope this info helps dursin. Lou
A Mule is a note that has a micro size plate # on one side and a Macro # on the other side. Micro's measure .6mm in height and Macros measure 1 mm. SGR
U.S. bank notes have plate numbers on the obverse and reverse of the note. A mule happens when the plate numbers from the obverse and reverse are different sizes. The sizes are called macro (large) and micro (small) and these type of notes are considered errors. Lou
Just did a little research and the Obstructed error note is rated among the rarest and most valuable errors!! Nice job Lou!!!:high5: :high5: :thumb: Send that puppy in!! SGR
Please , do not be... I am thrilled that you know!! You had a great eye on that $5 Lou... Nice job!! SGR (RickieB)
If I had a great eye I would have been able to figure out why your CHCU note came back VF 35 and believe me I have looked and looked and looked some more at your note. There's only one thing I can figure out and I'll wait till the end of your contest to see if I'm right. Lou
I had read something similar in a book on errors that I found at the bookstore last week. If I remember correctly, an entire missing serial number would have ranked as a major obstruction. Not entirely sure though and would have to go back and look as I didn't buy the book...was just trying to determine how high to go on that $2 which fortunately didn't get that high at all since it was sold as a regular pair of 1928 $2 bills. I also remember reading somewhere that one of the causes of this type of errors were some sort of paper tab that was attached to the separator sheets used back when notes were printed using a 'wet' printing process. They could fall off and obstruct one of the later overprints. Also hard to put a value on it, though I have heard that small size legal tender errors are somewhat more scarce than the other types.
