Cleaning/Conserving Paper Banknotes

After reading this post the legendary banknote collector John Ford Jr. popped into my mind. He claimed that he was so talented at restoring banknotes that an untrained eye could not detect the restoration.

Lou

 

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Low Rent Conservation -
Kinda off topic - many years I was dating a bank teller who was saving silver certificates for me that customers brought in.
many of these notes were in pretty rough condition, wrinkled, wadded up, etc. I remember a $50.00 silver certificate that had a vertical crease right down the middle. The
owner probably folded the bill in half then placed it a book.

At the time my conservation technique consisted of washing the bills in a load of wash after they were dry ironing them with a medium heated iron.
At the time I thought they looked pretty good. I still have many of them.

 

The notes I've seen (and sorry I don't examples I can specifically cite right now) were manipulated to get a higher grade, with the manipulation not mentioned on the TPG holder. That's the reason it's a secretive endeavor - it amounts to fraud.

I learned about this while discussing TPGs for currency with another collector. I opined that they weren't a bad thing, because at least they allowed newbie collectors to buy with confidence. He then showed me an image of a note sold at its actual grade on eBay. (XF). He then showed me an image of the same note in a TPG holder graded high CU, without mention of restoration. All the obvious wrinkles were gone, the rounded corner was sharp again. It sold at auction for many times what it had gone for on eBay. I was completely shocked, and have no confidence in TPGs.

 

What TPG slab was the note in, before and after?

 

No slab on eBay, but good scans that showed wrinkles, a wisp of a center fold and a blunt corner. Conservatively graded by the seller as XF. Auctioned at MS63 in a PMG slab.

 

midas1 -The government used to wash circulating currency just like you did. I've seen photos of huge washing machines at the BEP, being attended to by teams of women.

P. S. No small size $50 silver certs were issued.

 

At the BEP or the Fed? Still... Money laundering at the Fed eh! LOL!

 

Texas John,
"...P. S. No small size $50 silver certs were issued..."

Thanks for the clarification. 'll dig out my old US currency and see which demoniation that $bill is, if i still have it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_fifty-dollar_bill
wikipedia:

small size note history - 1950 - "...Many minor aspects on the obverse of the $50 Federal Reserve Note were changed. Most noticeably, the treasury seal, gray word FIFTY, and the Federal Reserve Seal were made smaller; also, the Federal Reserve seal had spikes added around it . .."
Were small notes -1950- silver certificates?

That's interesting about the mint washing currency. It worked for me.

​

 

Midas, just to be clear, it wouldn't (at least it shouldn't be ) the "Mint" who was washing notes since the Mint handles coins and not paper money. Nor should it have been the BEP who print US currency but do not handled currency coming back to them.

More than likely, since the inception of the Federal Reserve banking system, it would be the Fed, at one of its branches, who deals with the currency sent back to them from the banks, for destruction of damaged notes, removal of fakes and returning those it deems acceptable for circulation.

I'm curious if there is anymore information or a source that can be provided about this washed currency scheme, especially in light of the story about how much currency was found to have trace amounts of coke clinging to them, thus un-washed.

Regardless, if the notes had been circulated, washed and returned to circulation, the chances a collector is going to select these for their collection in such an advanced circulated state, lacking original paper quality, it is not very likely as the collector should be able to detect such wear, as should a TPG if a note were submitted for grading.

 

A good reason to not lick your banknotes:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090816211843.htm

 

LOL! Or is it???

Great minds... I just put a link to a similar story in my previous post :thumb:

 

:cheers:

 

Krispy, you're correct it's the BEP washing currency. here's one link describing the process:
http://www.laundrytoday.com/index.p...-a-scrubbing&catid=17:industry-news&Itemid=35

"...At the United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing, currency is deliberately washed, on a regular basis, to make sure it will be able to withstand at least that facet of normal everyday wear and tear, which more widely includes a multitude of spills, washes, folds and crumples while in daily usage..."

iikqanddiggit - after reading your link i believe a lot of people now have a reason to lick/eat/ingest US banknotes.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/08/cocaine-money-washington-d-c.html

"...A new -- and strange -- study by the American Chemical Society has just revealed that nine out of 10 pieces -- as in 90% -- of the paper currency sampled around the United States recently contained traces of cocaine -- as in the illegal substance, which binds to the green ink..."

 

Okay....would this stop people from licking bills?

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazet...=07c0a52f-2c9b-469a-ba85-ae0fa1d27396&k=76062

Cash is a big culprit in spreading infections
Anything that is passed from hand to hand is likely to be contaminated with the germs and viruses we typically have on our skin, so money is an obvious culprit when it comes to spreading illness.
Here are some of the bacteria typically found on paper bills:

Staphylococcus aureus: A bacterium commonly found in the nose of a healthy person that can cause a range of symptoms, from minor skin infections and abscesses to potentially fatal illnesses like pneumonia, meningitis, endocartitis, toxic shock syndrome and septicemia.

Klebsiella pneumoniae: A bacterium commonly found on skin and in the mouth and intestines that can cause bacterial pneumonia. The most common transmission mode is fecal-oral. The bacterium can cause flu-like symptoms, the coughing up of blood-tinged sputum, broncho-pneumonia, bronchitis and urinary tract infection.

Streptococcus: A bacterium commonly found on skin and in the mouth, intestine and upper respiratory tract that can cause strep throat, meningitis, bacterial pneumonia, endocarditis, erysipelas and necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating infection).

Enterobacter: A species of bacteria commonly found in the human
intestinal tract that can cause opportunistic infections of the urinary tract as well as other parts of the body, and are sometimes associated with respiratory tract infections.

Pseudomonas: These bacteria can lead to urinary tract infections, sepsis, pneumonia, pharyngitis and other potentially fatal illnesses. They are rarely a cause of infection in healthy people, but can be very dangerous to those with compromised immune systems or individuals with catheters or on respirators.

What you can do: Health authorities stress the importance of washing hands thoroughly and often, especially before and after eating, after using the toilet, after handling paper money, before and after handling food, and before and after visiting hospitals.

© (c) CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc.

 

Right, but this is a standard procedure the BEP employs to maintain quality control over the currency they print. They do this prior to the money going out into circulation the first time. The BEP does not take/receive money back from circulation to wash and then return to circulation.

I'd still like some evidence of this supposed washing scheme that was mentioned earlier.

 

Cash is a big culprit in spreading infections
Anything that is passed from hand to hand is likely to be contaminated with the germs and viruses we typically have on our skin, so money is an obvious culprit when it comes to spreading illness.
Here are some of the bacteria typically found on paper bills:
*************************************************************************************
That really is disgusting, uck! OTOH, I believe silver coins and maybe copper coins don't carry most germs.

 

Metals are by their very nature antibacterial. Ever heard the phrase, 'born with a silver spoon in his mouth', that's from a time when infant mortality was lower amongst those who could afford silver spoons over wooden spoons which held germs. The poor simply couldn't afford silver-ware and children died from bacterial infections and contagious disease more often. Notice also that brass is used for door plates, fixtures, taps, handles, knobs, etc. Because bacteria cannot live long on these metal surfaces. Silver in this regard is being used in many applications from bacteria causing odor deterents in gym attire to anti-microbial drugs, ointments, bandages and much much more. There is of course conspiracy against the use of metals for antimicrobial application suggesting that it will hurt the profit of other drug makers who do not have established products that use these colloidal silvers and such... fun stuff!

 

Krispy, you really are a wealth of information and/or an expert at massaging Google or possibly both. I remember several months somebody bought an ABNCo. engraving roll on eBay
and you described in great detail how to use it and explained why the user's attempt at print making didn't work so well.

I'm impressed.

​

 

The BEP does not presently wash or clean paper money to prolong its life. The Treasury Department did at one time, however. Here is a link to a secondary source that has a picture of the machine: http://www.ehow.com/how_4842695_clean-paper-money.html

 

Thanks lettow! That's an awesome image.

This BEP note washing machine would have been in use pre-Federal Reserve era correct?

The image looks like it might have been employed around the time of the 1918 influenza epidemic. Perhaps it was in use to limit people's exposure to influenza and pneumonia type germs. I suppose it could also have been used to extend the life of paper money, but were there particular reasons to do this? Was the BEP unable to keep up with keeping paper money in circulation? People's use/distrust of paper money if too circulated/dirty? Curious about the need to wash notes if one is known beyond factors of hygiene.

And I hope no one actually follows those cleaning instructions at the bottom of that link!