Is This Normal For $1 Devil's Face?

47P7: Then it's settled! Come to winnipeg in the summer when we have our Folklarama festival.... We'll go to the Chillian pavillion watch some song and dance numbers... have some brews and nice red wines!!




1) What are these things you call stamps? (did I just show my age?)
2) I haven't as of yet seen banknotes where there are noticeably different colours from one to the other... (but I have a feeling I'm still very novice in collecting compared to both you and pacific)
3) Haven't seen fading colours either.. but next time I'm at a big show I will approach Don Olmstead and ask him to show me a few if he has any on hand...
4) For real printing errors I remember one guy that was sitting at the Geoffrey Bell table (at the Winnipeg RCNA) I believe his name was Dereck... he showed me a $50 note that was an "ink smear" that make King's head look a lot more like Mikhal Gorbachev's infamous birthmark..

With respect to your note that you posted... I stand to what I have been told... unless it's UNC... be very cautious as it could have been doctored...

I will admit your note has a LOT of detail in it.. and it doesn't look like it has been washed out.. but I am neither a dealer or forger so I'm not exactly wise in the ways on how people doctor notes up so well....

Better question may be what kind of value would be derrived for such a note? That may also determine the amount of work a "note doctor" may take... for instance if such a result could be achieved using a fine tipped sharpie with a bit of chemical in the inkwell and 6 hrs of work.. and the note would command a $300 price tag.. I personally would consider this very inticing..

So far though... I love this dialogue and I'm very happy you have joined this forum 47P7.. the comments you have made and coins you have shared are just amazing... so thank you!

AG, thank you.
please be cautious about here say comments. Some are made for personal reasons. One reason could be that the person making comment does not have an item like it.
As far as the Sharpie is concerned? Think about it. There is not a single writing instrument intricate enough to permanently alter a banknote in such a fashion to make it look like these 5 dollar notes. Even if you assume for a second that it would be available, for the color and ink properties to be exact is nearly impossible. Such a modification would be instantly visible.
I have heard different versions of how these bills became blue. However, none of these version considered asking experts in printing. It was always what these people thought it is. Nobody so far had anything conclusive. That is why, some time back, I consulted retired and then still with us, "experienced printing old timers" whom I still knew from my business life. That is about the closest to reality and facts I have heard.
I will try and ask the "Canadian Banknote Company",(a division of the American banknote company I believe) who I believe printed these note, for their opinion. If it is not them, I will find out who the printer was.
The theory of a note to be UNC to determine a "doctor's" work is a bit odd, as most doctored or fake notes look well used. I have never actually seen a doctored note. Have any of you guys? With doctored, I mean NOT a fake note. Just a altered note to make it "more expensive" for collectors.

AG, I was NOT in the printing business as such. My company specialized in servicing the electrical requirements of Printers from the West coast to the middle of Canada and part of the US. we knew printing presses and associated equipment inside out. We installed the equipment, new or used, repaired it and did whatever was needed to keep it running, 24/7, including warranty work for all printing equipment manufacturers. This was from 1970 to 1994 when I sold the Company to my key employees.

321557989361 seller rock_ka , 221577039655 seller ragdollwilly, and it really is time to put this thread to bed unless someone can show us a certified example in a HOLDER from a major GRADING service. Every goofy one of these notes is low grade ugly and played with in my professional opinion. The Javex kid!

Last post for a few days about "blue" !!
Ok Javex Kid,
You can have your opinion and others can have theirs.
But, this subject is not closed yet. Not until we know what caused the blue.
It bugs me. But yes, we put it to bed for now. But only until I get an answer from the Printing company which printed these bills!!!
Whatever their answer will be. It will be posted here as part of this thread

A while ago spoke with a Person in a higher upâ€"decision making position at the Printing Company. And, they are very seriously interested in helping to find out the cause of this issue. The Lady made it clear that they will do whatever they can to help us out.
My Pictures are going out with an email to them in a few minutes.
Was told they will get back to me in a couple of days.
So, stop wasting your money on Javex ( I hope you use the type that does not remove colors or fades lolololololo)
Gosh, why did I not think of that one 2 days ago? Must be getting old(er) or not taking my vitamins.

Pacific, I suggest you try this and take photos before, during and after the bleaching job!
Since you insist on it, I really think YOU should try it and proof everyone else wrong!
I will be the first one to say "You win"! However, until you proof your suggestions,
I prefer to wait and see what the original printer of this note has to say. (I did actually contact them)
Would you not agree that they are the best qualified source to comment and shed light on the issue?
I do not have that book, as I am normally not into Paper.
would it be possible for you to copy that section in the book and PM it to me? I am very interested to see that.

I challenged you to prove your Javex theory before.
It would put this post to bed once and for all if you are right.
AND more, we all would recognize that you were right and that you actually were willing to prove what you believed. I am sure other posters would be interested.
If I would have another $1 1954, I would try your Javex theory, just to see what happens to the note. And I would post before and after pictures to let everyone know what happened.
I might just go and buy one. Just for the fun of it.
For me, this subject is closed now until someone has something positive to report about the "odd" color $1 1954 notes, being either Javexed or otherwise chemically altered or be it a printing issue.