Feb. 16, 2001, The Benson Collection Part 1, Sale 8
Lot 2633
Fr. 868a 1914 $5.00
Federal Reserve Bank Note, "King of Errors" Rare Double Denomination $15.00.
This is the first of our "King of Errors" lots. This note has a 1914 $5.00
face with a 1914 $10.00 back. Only 7 notes known for all districts these rare
notes seldom come up for auction. Listed in US Error Note Encyclopedia
by Steve Sullivan as Very Fine, we give it perhaps a more conservative grade.
Fine.
To make one of these "King of Errors" the error itself is
lucky not to have been found. During the time period when these error notes
were printed (circa 1918) we need to understand the printing process.
In
the printing process during those days, our paper money was printed in three
steps. The first of these steps is to print the back of the note, which is
known as the first print. After the back is printed and allowed to dry for 24
hours, the face is printed (second print). This again is allowed to dry for
another 24 hours. The third and final printing job is the overprint, which
places the Treasury Seal and Serial Numbers. Next the sheets would be sent to
the cutting department where the separate the sheets would be cut into
individual notes.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing, at that time,
was using a "wet" process in printing the paper money. That is to say, the
sheets of paper were damped to allow the paper to be easily printed and for a
sharper image. Our paper money is and was printed in the intaglio method, by
which an engraver engraves a negative image into a metal plate. (Now skipping a
few steps.) A plate printer has been issued a back plate. Each back plate would
have impressions of 4 back designs as 4 notes were printed at one time on a
signal sheet. He would set up his spider press; adjusting the amount of
pressure it would take to make an impression of the plate. Next he would ink
the plate with firm, yet soft grease like ink, rubbing off any excess that did
not fill the grooves of the designs. Then he would place the plate down on the
press face up. His lady assistant would hand him a sheet of moistened paper
that he would place on top of the plate. Using the arms of the press, the paper
would be forced down into the recesses of the plate making a perfect positive
image of the plate. The plate printer would remove the newly printed sheet and
hand the sheet to his assistant who would then place it in a safe place and
allow to dry for 24 hours. All that work to print only the back design. The
same process would be used for the face of the note. A machine would print then
be used for the third print. During any of these steps, if a note was located
that was made in error it would be immediately destroyed.
Estimated Value
$7,500-10,000.
Lot 2634
Fr. 765 1918 $2.00 Federal
Reserve Bank Note, "King of Errors" Rare Double Denomination $3.00. "Queer
as a $3.00 bill?" Sure! And this proves the government even made them! This
$3.00 has the face of 1918 $2.00 and the back of 1918 $1.00. But under the laws
of our nation, it would be treated as a $2.00.
Listed as 1 of 5 known
under this Friedberg number, this rare note is lucky to have survived the
ravages of time. Three other notes are known from this sheet ranging in grade
from Fine to Extra Fine. This note has no pinholes or tears. Very Fine.
Estimated Value $10,000-15,000.
Lot 2635
Fr. 1530, 1928-E, $5.00
Untied States Note, Inverted Face (Back). This note is the only $5.00
United States Note invert reported and hence unique.
An Inverted Face
error is a note that has its face and overprint positioned upside down relative
to its back. This error is often referred to as an Inverted Back because the
face of the note is usually examined first and the error is not noticed until
the note is turned over displaying the back upside down. Because a note's back
is printed first, the error occurs with the face printing process and is
therefore more adequately called an Inverted Face.
Taken from US
Error Note Encyclopedia by Stephen M. Sullivan. Fine.
Estimated
Value $1,000-1,500.
Lot 2636
Fr. 2050-D, 1928, $20.00
Federal Reserve Note, Inverted Face (Back). This is the finest known invert
for any of the 1928 or 1934 series of Federal Reserve Notes. Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $2,000-3,000.
Lot 2637
Fr. 1962-B, 1950-A, $5.00
Federal Reserve Note, Major Misalignment. Fresh and original. Nice error
that will sure to please the winner of this lot. Choice Uncirculated.
Estimated Value $500-800.
Lot 2638
Fr. 2011-L, 1950-A, $10.00
Federal Reserve Note, Major Misalignment. One of the great examples of this
type of error that one could ask. Extremely Fine to About Uncirculated.
Estimated Value $500-1,000.
Lot 2639
Fr. 2029-E, 1988-A, $10.00
Federal Reserve Note, Major Misalignment. The note is just off a little.
Gem Uncirculated.
Estimated Value $600-1,000.
Lot 2640
Fr. 2030-B*, 1990, $10.00
Federal Reserve Note, Minor Cutting Error on a Star Note. While not very
dramatic, this cutting error does show the design of the next note on the
bottom. Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $75-150.
Lot 2641
Fr. 2125-B, 1993, $50.00
Federal Reserve Note, Misalignment of Face. Moderately skewed and very
scarce on a $50.00. Almost Uncirculated.
Estimated Value $450-650.
Lot 2642
Misaligned Faces to Backs
Group. (1) Fr. 1611, 1935-B, $1.00 Silver Certificate, Almost
Uncirculated (1) Fr. 1613, 1935-D, $1.00 Silver Certificate, Very
Fine (2) Fr. 1613, 1935-E, $1.00 Silver Certificate, Almost
Uncirculated and Very Fine (1) Fr. 1977-E, 1981, $5.00 Federal
Reserve Note, Extra Fine. Total number of notes: 5.
Estimated Value
$250-450.
Lot 2643
Fr. 1614, 1935-E, $1.00
Silver Certificate, Full Face to Back offset - Super Dark. This is one of
the darkest and most dramatic 100% face to back offset we have ever seen.
Gem Uncirculated.
Estimated Value $150-300.
Lot 2644
Fr. 1614, 1935-E, $1.00
Silver Certificate, Face to Back offset - Dark. Circulated example of this
60% face to back offset. Fine.
Estimated Value $50-75.
Lot 2645
Fr. 1903-G, 1969, $1.00
Federal Reserve Note, Face to Back offset with Ink Spots. This note should
have ever left the B.E.P. The face has a red "rejection" mark denoting that
something was wrong with the note and that it should be replaced. The back have
a nice medium full face to back offset along with some blotchy extra ink.
Gem Uncirculated.
Estimated Value $150-300.
Lot 2646
Fr. 1908-F, 1974, $1.00
Federal Reserve Note, 95% Face to Back Offset. Very dark note with the
lower left corner not offset. Gem Uncirculated.
Estimated Value
$75-150.
Lot 2647
Fr. 2024-D, 1977-A, $10.00
Federal Reserve Note, Double Error Note. Not only does this lovely note
have a nice gutter fold, but a nice face to back offset too. Very Rare.
Almost Uncirculated.
Estimated Value $250-500.
Lot 2648
Fr. 2059-B, 1950-A, $20.00
Federal Reserve Note, Face to Back Offset on a Star Note! This is by far
the darkest and most remarkable 100% face to back offset on a star note no
less, we have ever encountered! And, for an added bonus, there are two small
ink smears on the back. Very hard to estimate. Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $1,000-2,000.
Lot 2649
Fr. 2071-B, 1974, $20.00
Federal Reserve Note, Face to Back Offset on a Star Note! Not as dark as
the other Star $20.00 offset, but still as impressive! Gem Uncirculated.
Estimated Value $500-1,000.
Lot 2650
Fr. 2167-E*, 1974, $100.00
Federal Reserve Note, Star Note with 95% Face to Back Offset! Star Notes
make up less than 5% of all notes printed in a given series. Only 256,000 were
printed for this district and out of those, how many are 95% dark offset
errors? Not many! This ultra rare note is the first we have seen in many years
of working in the paper money field. Extremely Fine.
Estimated
Value $1,250-2,500.
Lot 2651
Fr. 1908-G, 1974, $1.00
Federal Reserve Note, 100% Dark Back to Face Offset. Extraordinary! Super
dark back to face offset in finest of condition! Gem Uncirculated.
Estimated Value $350-700.
Lot 2652
Fr. 2023-G, 1977, $10.00
Federal Reserve Note, 95% Back to Face Offset. Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $75-125.
Lot 2653
Fr. 2073-L, 1981, $20.00
Federal Reserve Note, 100% Back to Face Offset. Very pretty note with just
a light almost ghost like image of the back on the face. Gem Uncirculated.
Estimated Value $150-300.
Lot 2654
Back to Face Partial
Offset Group. (2) Fr. 1905-B, 1969-B, $1.00 Federal Reserve Notes,
Choice Uncirculated; (3) Fr. 2073-L, 1981, $20.00 Federal Reserve Notes,
all notes are consecutive, Gem Uncirculated (1) Fr. 2075-F, 1993, $20.00
Federal Reserve Note, Extra Fine. Total number of notes in lot: 6.
Estimated Value $150-300.
Lot 2655
Fr. 1914-G, 1988, $1.00
Federal Reserve Note, Double Printed Second Print. An absolutely
spectacular double impression of the entire face printing, including two
distinct plate letter and number impressions. This is the kind of error that
every collector wants and only a few can obtain. Gem Uncirculated.
Estimated Value $2,500-3,500.
Lot 2656
Fr. 1613, 1935-E, $1.00
Silver Certificate, Gutter Fold Star Note. Delightful little gutter fold on
this star note. Very Fine.
Estimated Value $75-150.