What question would you ask?

I you had a chance to tour the BEP, what one or two questions would you like to have answered? Pretend that the person giving the tour could answer any question related to US Paper money that would not compromise security. Honestly, I will have to give this some thought myself. I would be interested to hear what questions you have that are unanswered.

Best Regards ~ Darryl

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

A couple years ago, the BEP had an exhibit at the FUN Show in Orlando. On display was an uncut sheet of $500,000 Bearer Bonds and an uncut sheet of $100,000 Gold Certificates with the likeness of Woodrow Wilson on the front. I got to the exhibit too late to get my photo taken holding them, so my questions would be...........

Are these Bearer Bonds and Gold Certificates here?

Is it possible to have my photo taken with them?

Chris

 

I could probably come up with a top ten list. If given the chance to only ask 1 or 2 questions I would focus on what is relevant today. My two questions would be:

Take the new $100 note for example -

1. Describe the process to determined what security features will be added or changed to a redesigned note?

2. If the engravers are involved in the process of redesign, how much experimentation is done by them in the process of selecting new design characteristics? (for example: the enhanced depth of the ink on the shoulder, what was their part and what was the process like to achieve the end result?)

These questions would give me a better understanding of how the BEP functions as it relates to issuing new notes. I know this is one small aspect of the BEP, but I think it is a very important function that insures the integrity of the US currency.

 

Double Denomination Error

In the Memphis,Tenn. June17-20th.,2010 Heritage Auction there is a Double Denomination Large Size 1914 FRN. FR 964 with a $20 front and a $10 back (PCGS About New 50).
what I would ask the BEP employee how could this unintentionally happen on a press set up for a FR. 964.Is it possible to use the $20 front & the $10 Back in the same press or would the sheet have to be physically removed and walked over to a press making $10 Large Size Note and inserted intentionally.
Heritage calls it the" King of Errors "a Boston 1914 FRN cut from a sheet of 4 Notes.

 

Do you have a extra 100,000 note you could spare...LOL

 

That "Billion Dollar Collection" moves around the country. And yes you can get your picture with them as I did and it's my screen saver on my comp now
They are so awesome!!

 

And of course he'd say "sure let me get my scissors out ,have a great day "
...LOL

 

Hey Duke ,I'd love to see the picture(screen saver) how about posting it !

 

The backs and faces of the notes aren't printed by the same press--they're printed in separate operations several days apart, so that the back has time to dry thoroughly before the face is printed. So to get an error like this, you just have to have a half-finished $10 sheet accidentally end up in a pile of half-finished $20 sheets. Maybe somebody picked up a sheet to inspect it and then mistakenly returned it to the wrong stack....

(Much later, in the 1990s, the web-press $1's were an experiment with printing both sides of the notes at the same time. It didn't work so well.)

 

Question #1 - Can I have that? (would be asked repeatedly)

Question #2 - in 1934-35 How could you tell the difference between real notes and the fakes that were circulated by Robert V. Miller and his crew?

 

Good luck with the first question

As far as the second, I know the SS keeps counterfeits for samples. It would be interesting to hear if the BEP has any and if they work with the SS during investigations into fakes. I am sure there are some good stories to be had!

Thanks for your suggestion!

 

Thanks Numbers that explaines it ,it more then likely was an honest mistake by an inspector.I wonder why Heritage says "cut from a sheet of 4" that would mean that the entire sheet would be errors not just 4 notes I guess.

 

I was always curious about how they came up with the dimensions of the current paper money. Also, what's the overall cost to make one sheet of paper money, I suppose you could ask for specfics on each bill.

 

SS has at least one $10 series 1928 made by Lustig. (pic can be found here) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/zoom/html/2012094368.html
They even have the printing press used by the Count.

I've been working on a report about Lustig and it should be done soon.

I'll change my first question to How exactly do you insert the plastic security threads and apply the watermark?

 

Got any free samples? How about factory seconds?

 

Thanks, I was just going to ask what a "BDC" was.

 

The four notes *are* the entire sheet. That was how nearly all large-size notes were printed....

For the cost figures, see this FRB document. To summarize:

$1 and $2: 4.8 cents per note
$5 - $50: 7.8 to 8.5 cents per note
New $100: 11.8 cents per note

The higher-denomination notes tend to cost more because of the fancier security features.

 

While on the subject of sheets.... Why does the Canadian sheet have 40 notes and the U.S. sheets (currently) have 32?

 

Canadians are 40/32 smarter than Americans?

The US is currently bringing new presses up to speed that will print 50 notes per sheet.

 

Thanks.

Next year Canada is switching over to the polymer banknotes... a whole different process.