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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;clayirving, post: 1347176, member: 18867&quot;]I really like subtle engraving variations and, today, I read about a variation that I didn&#039;t know about.</p><p><br /></p><p>On 05 Mar 1930 Alvin W. Hall, Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, sent the following letter to Walter E. Hope, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury:</p><p><br /></p><p>[TABLE=&quot;class: outer_border&quot;]</p><p>[TR]</p><p>[TD]<span style="color: #000000"><font face="Veranda"><font face="courier new">March 5, 1930</font></font></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><font face="Veranda"><font face="courier new"><br /></font></font></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><font face="Veranda"><font face="courier new"><br /></font></font></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><font face="Veranda"><font face="courier new"><br /></font></font></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><font face="Veranda"><font face="courier new">For Mr. Hope [Assistant Secretary of the Treasury]</font></font></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><font face="Veranda"><font face="courier new"><br /></font></font></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><font face="Veranda"><font face="courier new"><br /></font></font></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><font face="Veranda"><font face="courier new">The portrait of Alexander Hamilton, appearing on $10 bills, is not wearing as long as it should. In other words, it is not possible to get a large number of impressions from the plates made from the present master die. Through the years it has been in use, it has shown some wear.</font></font></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><font face="Veranda"><font face="courier new"><br /></font></font></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><font face="Veranda"><font face="courier new">Within the past few weeks a roll was taken down from the master die, and a portrait laid down from this roll. This protrait was re-engraved by one of our best men.</font></font></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><font face="Veranda"><font face="courier new"><br /></font></font></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><font face="Veranda"><font face="courier new">I am attaching hereto a face impression of the $10 bill made from the die now in use, and one taken from the die after having been re-engraved. While the difference between the two is not noticeable to the naked eye, there are, of course, some changes in the line construction, which could be found through the use of a glass. With your approval all $10 plates hereafter will be made bearing the new portrait. Each plate will be marked as to make a distinction between the new and old portrait. On plates bearing the new portrait, it is planned to add a line in the ornamental engraving surrounding the numeral in the upper right-hand corner. This mark of distinction I have noted with a pencil mark.</font></font></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><font face="Veranda"><font face="courier new"><br /></font></font></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><font face="Veranda"><font face="courier new"><br /></font></font></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><font face="Veranda"><font face="courier new">A. W. Hall [Director, Bureau of Engraving and Printing]</font></font></span>[/TD]</p><p>[/TR]</p><p>[/TABLE]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>This is the difference between the old and new plates:</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://www.panix.com/~clay/currency/1928B-10.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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