I have not run across any mention about the heavy concentration of blue paper threads on some Black Eagles. It's not apparent on all bills but it does exist on many. There are two areas, one to the right of the large blue "1" on the face, and the other is to the left of the blue seal. They are a 3/4" wide strip running vertically, top to bottom, the entire height of the note. They are even more noticable on the reverse side, having less printing and more open area in this location. Supersize many of the bills on eBay and you will see them. The one I keep in my collection has this. Does anyone know what created this in the manufacturing process?
Security features Crane&Co.: "Over the decades, the consistent drive of our technology has been in the durability, printability, aesthetics and anti-counterfeiting features of banknote papers. Since first embedding silk threads in banknote paper in 1844, Crane has been a leader in developing paper-based counterfeit deterrents, such as advanced security threads, watermarks, planchettes, security fibers, special additives, and fluorescent and phosphorescent elements." "What is money made of? Currency paper is composed of 25 percent linen and 75 percent cotton. Red and blue synthetic fibers of various lengths are distributed evenly throughout the paper. Before World War I these fibers were made of silk." secretservice.gov: know your money "Genuine currency paper has tiny red and blue fibers embedded throughout. Often counterfeiters try to simulate these fibers by printing tiny red and blue lines on their paper. Close inspection reveals, however, that on the counterfeit note the lines are printed on the surface, not embedded in the paper. It is illegal to reproduce the distinctive paper used in the manufacturing of United States currency. "
What I was questioning was why these fibers appear in this pattern and not dispersed through out the paper. Were they pressure sprayed onto the paper while drying to embed them? They certainly don't appear to be mixed into the pulp. They are not random enough. I thought Crane just added the fibers into the mix to accomplish it. Yet some bills don't show this tendancy. I was wondering what produced this, as opposed to why they are there. Then again, for security reason, they may not want this knowledge shared with the general public. But if anyone knows, I am interested.
I will suggest that the random 'pattern' of where these concentrations appear, appear in areas of the unprinted note, for the most part, but do deviate to some areas of printed design. Therefore, are easily spotted when someone glanced at these notes and upon seeing the security feature present had a highly probably authentic note. If the threads were buried under printed elements of the note, they would need to stop and use a magnifying glass to see if embedded fibers were present under more heavily concentrated areas of printed design elements. Simply, the fibers appear where they don't get covered up by printing (as much) and the fibers themselves don't interfere so much with the seals, portraits and vignettes, etc. I'm suggesting that they intentionally laid down a trail of fibers in empty regions on the paper where they knew design elements would not be printed, rather than muddying up the face of the President by putting fibers in that region, as an example. The nearer you get to modern times, the smaller the threads have become, almost requiring a magnifying glass to find them present in the paper, and being less evident to the naked eye, they then appear distributed more widely throughout the paper, less distracting to the notes printed designs. It may be the case that the earlier uses of the silk fibers, say in 19th century US currency, were cruder, larger bits of fiber, first devised to be applied to the wet paper pulp sheets during production when the wet pulp was going to be taken off the screens and placed on a press to wring out the water from the wet pulp to dry. With modern paper pulp mixing machinery perfecting the process, allowing total control over the recipe and precision paper making, along with industrial scale paper making machinery producing huge rolls of banknote papers, the technology to reduce the size of the threads and distribute them more evenly, without effecting the final result of the printed note, may explain the progression of thread technology relative to inclusion and their size plus effectiveness. You are right indeed to wonder about secrecy, Crane & Co. keeps the paper recipe under strict confidence for security reasons.
Thanks for the example Clay. As I was saying, and your example helps illustration, the unprinted areas of the note show where the threads are more heavily present, and evident to someone looking for them, as well as remaining more-or-less out of the way of printed design elements.
Krispy, your five dollar note shows this pattern distinctively. I just noticed this last night when grading a replacement note I received. Here it is under my nose with other large size notes as well. Your explanation is quite logical, and I should have given it more thought. And it's always a plus when clayirving posts one of his notes. He is Mr Quality. Thanks to you both.
Exactly--except that it's really the other way around. Shortly after the BEP started using this localized fiber paper, they reworked many of the currency designs in order to create open spaces in the areas where the fibers were concentrated. This is why the Series 1886 Silver Certificates and Series 1890 Coin Notes were all replaced by Series 1891 versions: In each case, the main difference is a much more open back design that allows the fibers to be more easily inspected. (And as with most redesigns done to enhance security, the newer designs are widely considered to be less artistic than their predecessors.)
Some great information here. I can see I need to enhance my paper currency library more than I have. I have plenty of information to identify, grade and value a note. I also have basic information about what appears on a note and why. What I need is information on the how, what and why of the formation process. I know some of this may be sensitive, but since it pertains to the large size notes, perhaps its antiquated and not a security concern any longer. Any suggested reading materials on this subject?
