| Author |
 Replies: 20 / Views: 7,157 |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3546 Posts |
Hi, This is my first currency I have ever collected from Hawaii. Please tell me the grade and if this note appears to be authentic. I also noticed that the white margins do not seem to be equal in size around the perimeter of the bill. Is this normal and/or acceptable? Finally, what is that small one (1") inch long horizontal line on the top outer edge of the obverse? Thank you   |
|
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
Choice XF45 or AU50
Nice, looks authentic to me but a bit bright.
The borders are normal to be off center.Best if they are not but OK.
The line is a line for sheet alignment in printing I would guess.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Any pinholes? I would grade it VF+, some hard creases and wrinkles with a little dirt but an overall nice note. Older notes are sometimes found slightly uncentered and it can affect the grade in the CU range. I believe that the line is a positioning mark(top of the sheet?). Now you have to get a matching North Africa note to complete a WWII Emergency note pair  |
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
3546 Posts |
It does not have any pinholes whatsoever but it does have some wrinkle lines that the scanner did not pick up. These three wrinkle lines are about 1/8" wide running from a point at about 9 o'clock on the frame surrounding Washington's right ear upwards to the word 'UNITED'. I hope this newly attached photo sufficiently illustrates this effect. These faint wrinkle marks look as if the bill got wet once and then slightly warped. How can one remove something like this? stream, pressure, stretching.... I'm just guessing and wondering if these slight undulations would really drop the grade of this note at all. By the way the two little scratch marks near Washington's right cheek on this new photo are not actually on the bill itself but on the clear plastic cover protecting this bill. Please comment on what the grade would be with this new info. and if this wave effect is normal for this type of paper-like substrate in possibly moist environments.  |
|
Valued Member
Guatemala
357 Posts |
I'd personally give it a VF. There is a legitimate, although uncomfortable treatment that might raise it a solid grade due to the wrinkle lines. Find two very thick and heavy encyclopedias. Stick the bill in the middle or lower part of one of them.
Place both encyclopedias under the posts of your bed, ideally using a thin piece of wood or plastic to help distribute the weight. Forget the two books for 6 months or so. That should wipe out the wrinkles, but it will still leave evidence of the fold lines, though even they will be 'better'. Patience is the key to this particular route. Never, never, never take a shortcut, like using ironing or steam on the note. People will know you did it, and it will ruin the note.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1397 Posts |
That's my method of choice for smoothing notes as well JMerrick (only I use pennies for weight), but I have heard people cry foul even for using this method. They state that ANY method of altering the condition of a note is bad. Personally I see nothing wrong with it.
*edited for spelling*
Edited by Nickelman
05/04/2011 10:33 am
|
|
Valued Member
Guatemala
357 Posts |
I never said you had to admit to the long term weight approach. It's just not possible to prove it was ever done, and it's a very good way of salvaging a bill that really should grade better. It won't alter circulation damage, but it can do wonders for damage caused by humidity, or some careless handling.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1397 Posts |
I liken it to some of the debates I read in the coin forum where someone will ask a question like, "is it OK to clean a coin with soap and water to get the dirt off?" The answers are like "NO! Never clean a coin it may damage it and lower the value." Really? Damage a coin that has been circulated for 80 years by washing the dirt off?  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5604 Posts |
Nice bill, I would agree with the do not clean a coin, be it 80 years old or not, there is a very noticeable difference between circulated wear and a cleaned coin, forensically speaking, one is because the coin was carried around, the other is a deliberate act which shows up once looked at........A cleaned coin can be detected by an experienced person very easily....
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1397 Posts |
And therein lies my point about pressing notes. People feel the same way you do about altering the condition of a note. It's not the same level of passion as the whole cleaning coin issue, but it is an issue to some. I don't subscribe to it as I said earlier, just as I believe "cleaning" a coin involves more than just a little soapy H2O.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3546 Posts |
CRUDE BUT EFFECTIVE OK guys here's an update after taking the bed frame pressure idea and extrapolating it into a more controlled environment. I have attached photos of my vice grip pressing down upon two wooden 8" - 2 x 4s which are squeezing a 1.5" thick paper-bound text book which contains the Hawaiian note. Compare these recent photos with the original one taken only a couple of weeks ago. I really tightened the vice up as much as I could and it appears to have even diminished the previously very obvious center fold crease. Assuming the entire bill looks like these new photos what do you think the grade would be on this bill now? My camera's focus capabilities will not allow me to take a full length photo while simultaneously displaying the applicable details. Thanks for the ideas to ignite my endeavor.    |
|
Valued Member
United States
486 Posts |
I sort of like the way it looks, and if no one can tell it's been pressed has it been pressed ?  . The Bill Collector |
|
Valued Member
Guatemala
357 Posts |
I'd have to see more pics to say, but I wouldn't rule out a solid XF or an AU, though, to be safe with the wavy effect you had, I'd give it longer than two weeks of high pressure. Time is as important as pressure, when you're pressing a note.
Edited by JMerrick
05/11/2011 11:29 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1285 Posts |
Nice job.
FWIW -- The fold running through the portrait is permanent (forehead area) (Break in paper) and nothing can be done.
This should be an education for everyone to see these subtle difference when dealing with older notes.
Thanks for sharing.
edit in blue
Edited by Ceylon62
05/12/2011 08:06 am
|
|
Valued Member
United States
97 Posts |
spray it with sizing. amazing results the corners become nice and crisp!
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1397 Posts |
For those who are going to ask what sizing is... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SizingI would recommend to NOT use anything on a collectible note. If anyone felt the need to experiment, do so on some old worthless $1 note. |
| |
Replies: 20 / Views: 7,157 |
Posted 05/04/2011 12:03 am
