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 Replies: 12 / Views: 484 |
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Pillar of the Community
Italy
1135 Posts |
Hi everyone, I have a chance to buy these at half face value. I know - I absolutely know - that the juice isn't worth the squeeze - but - if I wanted to waste an alarming amount of time on a Saturday, how could I remove the terrible terrible ink job on about 40 of these? *** I know it's not worth it *** Thanks! R.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7381 Posts |
Soak it in acetone. The note is only worth face, you won't make it worth more or less by soaking it in acetone. Don't leave it too long it might remove some of the ink.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6869 Posts |
You could just check if your bank would let you deposit them as-is.
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Moderator
 United States
194256 Posts |
Quote:
You could just check if your bank would let you deposit them as-is.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4703 Posts |
If you paid less than face value, you might question if these items are fake. Why would the seller not deposit at a bank?
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Pillar of the Community
 Italy
1135 Posts |
Sorry....I haven't posted in a while - I am in Rome, Italy. So no chance to check it at a US bank.
Currency exchanges won't take these here; so the seller has un-exchangeable $2 bills.
Edited by Roma2021
08/18/2026 12:55 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
27195 Posts |
These are undoubtedly genuine - quite a few for sale on ebay. Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Moderator
United States
194256 Posts |
Quote:
I am in Rome, Italy. So no chance to check it at a US bank. Oops.  Quote:
Currency exchanges won't take these here; so the seller has un-exchangeable $2 bills  |
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Moderator
United States
104906 Posts |
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Currency exchanges won't take these here; so the seller has un-exchangeable $2 bills Which would explain the half off for each note. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1810 Posts |
@Roma2021: perhaps a collector of TV memorabilia would be interested.  |
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Moderator
Australia
16956 Posts |
How easy it is to remove, depends on how it was applied -which we can't really tell. If it's some kind of indelible ink, then any solvent strong enough to remove it will likely also be strong enough to damage the underlying note.
On the other hand, if it's just a decal or sticker of some kind, it might peel right off. I once owned a very cleverly made US$1 that had been modified to have the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II instead of Washington; the portrait oval was just a sticker very lightly glued on, so you could turn it back into a normal $1 note very easily.
If it's permanent, then there is a technical issue as to it's legal tender status. Banknotes with more than 10% of their surface covered in graffiti or vandalism are deemed "unfit for reissue". Banknotes with more than 50% of their original surface damaged or otherwise obliterated are deemed "mutilated" and are no longer acceptable by banks.
It is technically a crime in the US to deliberately damage a banknote in such a way as to render it unfit for reissue; there is no exemption given for artwork (which may be why my monarchistic $1 note was not permanently altered). But it's not a crime to try to spend a note that has been damaged in that way.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
Italy
1135 Posts |
I passed on these; absolutely not worth it on any level
But thanks everyone for commenting.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4616 Posts |
18 U.S. Code § 333 - Mutilation of national bank obligations -- https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/333Quote:
Whoever mutilates, cuts, defaces, disfigures, or perforates, or unites or cements together, or does any other thing to any bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt issued by any national banking association, or Federal Reserve bank, or the Federal Reserve System, with intent to render such bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt unfit to be reissued, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both. Emphasis added... The maker doesn't INTEND for his (air quotes) beautiful artwork to make it unfit; "I'm just making it nicer, and I've left all the boring bits untouched!"... -----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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Replies: 12 / Views: 484 |
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Posted 08/18/2026 08:01 am
