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 Replies: 25 / Views: 4,036 |
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New Member
United States
6 Posts |
I'm very very new to the hobby but decided I wanted to make a little piece of art to hang on my wall - a collection of 1934 series $5 bills with each of the available seal colors (green, blue, yellow, brown... plus a later red seal note). This has been fun, except I'm concerned that the very-expensive yellow seal north africa $5 silver cert I just got might be a fake. The biggest concern I have is that the engraved area - NOT the borders of the paper, but the borders of the printing - is slightly larger than all the others. I can't find any measurements of what it *should* be for these notes, but it struck me as odd that the other three are exactly the same size... but not this one. Second the printing, for example on the "The United States of America" banner is a bit duller on the yellow seal bill. It looks somehow less crisp. Not blurry, but... blurry. Paper seems similar; red blue fibers etc. Anyway, any ideas for how to know for sure? Here is a pic.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
The note should be the same size as the rest. However - if the ink is blurry, check it under a loupe, and if it doesn't have straight and defined lines, then it is a fake.
You can also get a magnet to test if the ink is magnetic. If it isn't, then oh dear... more counterfeits...
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Valued Member
United States
499 Posts |
Hard to tell from the photo but you need to remember that it is made out of rag paper which can shrink or expand depending on its environment. It is possible that in the past someone ironed the bill to get rid of a wrinkle. this would account for both the
size difference and the "blurry" look of the printing, but like I said it is impossible for me to tell just from photos.
Richard
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New Member
 United States
6 Posts |
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New Member
United States
6 Posts |
... and I just tested with a magnet - they're all magnetic, including the yellow seal. Sounds like I might have overreacted?
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Valued Member
United States
71 Posts |
doesn't look bigger in the large pic, just looks like it isn't aligned exactly the same as the one above it, which make sit look larger
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
ooooh.. Why are the cutting marks so prominent?
And doesn't look fake so far. Does it "feel" right?
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Valued Member
Guatemala
357 Posts |
I'm not a banknote guy, but I do work with rare books, and fine printing. There are several questionable areas of engraving on the gold seal, particularly the buttonhole in Lincoln's jacket. There are other areas I would question. These are definitely engraving issues, and not problems with over/under inking, or worn plates. That said, the overall work is very, very good. This really doesn't look like "modern" work.
Bear in mind, I'm new to the board, though I've been a lurker for quite some time. I buy and sell a lot of things, but I do have a major eye for paper.
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Valued Member
Guatemala
357 Posts |
As a follow up to my earlier post, take the larger image, and invert the colors, so you see a 'negative' image. Usually, when dealing with engraving issues, this will tell you more than the normal image.
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Pillar of the Community
3660 Posts |
Especially with notes prior to 1957, plate size was sometimes inconsistent to as much as 1/8".......The note is genuine.....Get yourself a $5 Hawaii note to complete a very cool set.
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New Member
United States
6 Posts |
Alright, thanks for the help everyone, sounds like I was a little TOO fussy on this one, but great news. The Hawaii notes are very expensive in good condition, I might have to wait a while for the right one to pop up. The set looks awesome in a nice float frame in my living room; depending on how much room is left when I add the Hawaii note I might even consider getting a light green/lime FRN too. At present:  |
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Pillar of the Community
3660 Posts |
You've already got the lime green type.
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New Member
United States
6 Posts |
"Green" and "Lime" seals are distinct - apparently there is a subset of the 1934 FRNs that was just printed with a different, lime-er, ink for the seal. e.g. Green:  vs. Lime:  |
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Pillar of the Community
3660 Posts |
Correct you are.....hard for me to tell without side by side comparison.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5820 Posts |
That's awesome display, a show stopper.
Thanks for sharing.
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Moderator
 United States
187582 Posts |
A nice looking display.  |
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Replies: 25 / Views: 4,036 |
Posted 12/06/2010 10:48 pm
