I received this note today from my bank, as I decided to break my twenties into fives. There appears to be a faint "I" behind the I on the lower serial number. Is this an error and could this potentially be worth more than face value?
In that condition, probably very little value above face if indeed a legitimate error and not a bit of ink rubbed off the serial number wheel after the initial impression was made, it is also curious that it only would have effect that single character and not all of the SN slightly. Errors command more when they are more significant. Offset ink and slight smudges are all too common and pass within certain BEP tolerances before leaving the Treasury. I'd say it's worth holding for a personal novelty but is not an error note. This is just my take on it. Others may differ.
Notice that the serial number ends in 01, so this was the top note of its original pack of 100. The paper strap around the 100 notes would've fallen at just about exactly that spot, and I'm guessing that's what smeared the ink a bit. It's not too uncommon to see this effect, and I doubt it's going to be considered an error.... Still, as long as it's a circulation find at face value, it never hurts to hold on to it at least until something better comes along.
as numbers has mentioned its not uncommon. i would say about 25-35 % of the straps i use to deal with new had that same smear just at different parts of the serial number
