Expert: Ronald Fern - 11/3/2009

Question
I recently came across a 20 dollar bill but the watermark is not a picture of Andrew Jackson. The facial features displayed in the watermark are radically different in comparison to other bills when you view it from the back of the bill. I cannot make out who the picture is of, but it's definitely not Andrew Jackson. In what situations have they distributed bills with misprinted watermarks and who did they accidentally print? Also would it be of any value?

Answer
Hi Marge:

There's a strong chance you may have a counterfeit bill. I've provided a link where the different things to look for are outlined in detail. The mismatch in the watermark portrait can mean a lower denomination bill was used to make a "new" twenty. Counterfeiters will bleach a bill and reprint a larger denomination over it, so make sure the portraits match. New $5 bills have a “5” watermark instead of Abraham Lincoln’s portrait.

Link: http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/DA/NewsReleases/2009/091009counterfeit.ht...

If you live close to a coin shop, you may want to take the note there for them to check out. It's impossible for me to give you an exact opinion on what you have without a photo or actually viewing your note.

Here's link for you to view different types of error currency and their values: http://www.coinsite.com/html/uscurrencyerrors.asp

You may want to check US currency listings under errors on eBay from time to time to see if your note is ever listed, and what this type of error brings. I've checked both the eBay listings, and the Internet. There are no references of errors where the watermark portrait does not match the bill for which it was intended. This adds to the possibility it is a counterfeit note.

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Thank You and Good Luck in your collecting.