What Are These Lines On My Dollar Bill?

Hope these are high enough resolution.

Curious indeed. Are they graphite? Maybe someone was bored in class one day and drew a bunch of lines in pencil. They don't look exactly parallel but it's hard to tell from the photos.

Okay, I changed my mind because there are lines under the portrait but not on the right edge....so ...hmmmmm...

It's a puzzler. I think you're going to need a microscope to see if those lines are over or under the printing. I thought for sure they were over but maybe not. Maybe something got on the paper before it was printed.

Your pics are fine. I just can't tell if the lines are over or under the printing. Such faint lines are making me think that they were not caused by some machine.

It isn't a typical currency error.

If those lines were on the paper stock before printing -- is it still an error?

Are there similar lines on the back of the note, under the O of dollar?

Thanks for the additional pics. My huasband worked in the printing industry for a decade or so. He designs embedded electronic controls so he's familiar with a lot of the machinery. Anyway, I showed him the pics and it was the pic that has the close-up of the series date that convinced him that the lines are most definitely UNDER the printing. Also, he said it cannot be grease from a roll machine because the grease would have caused the ink to smear.

So -- the sheet that had that bill printed on it, already had some ink lines.

I can't begin to think where they came from.

Is it an error note? It doesn't fall into any of the categories I usually see. And, an argument can be made that there was no error made, just a 'dirty' sheet used for printing that note. Still, it got by the optic scanner...and it isn't up to BEP standards (using a marked up/dirty sheet of paper).

I don't suppose that helps put the subject to rest.

I hope you keep the note and someday learn something that explains this. I'm at a loss.

I don't think there is anyone who would validate it as an error note. It seems to be outside the norm for what would be certified and I don't think that they will do any sort of diagnostic or investigation on your behalf. I really don't think they spend a lot of time on such things.

This thread has had over 300 viewers -- so I don't think you can expect anybody else to chime in either.

It is possible that you could get some information from published currency experts -- if they are will to look at your photos. Maybe the BEP could offer some information.

It's sort of bugging that I can't find any information on anything that looks like this. But then that makes me think that I've been wrong and it isn't any sort of pre-printing error.

It's been kind of fun trying to figure it out, though.

Yeah, that sounds possible... But then it's kind of odd that only half the bill has the marks.