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Coin and Paper Money Collecting/Printing error on a US$10 bill

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Expert: - 2/5/2010


Question

Printing error -US cur
I would like to find out the value of a US$10 bill whose ink in its front face is missing but has a small trace of it at the bottom left, however, the federal reserve seal, the department of treasury seal and serial numbers are still intact? (see attached image)

Would it add more value if the $10 bill with serial number A87299210B is included with the misprinted bill with serial number A87299211B to confirm its authenticity?

Answer
Hi Michael:

Thanks for your question.

Condition would be the prime factor in determining the value of your piece. The extra note with the consecutive serial number could add to the overall value, but would not authenticate it. Based in your photo, you have a bill that missed the first printing. Bills are printed in sheets of 32 notes and in three phases. Obverse print, reverse print, and serial numbers with seals print. It is likely the entire sheet missed the face printing, unless part of a separation sheet or part of a blank sheet mis-fed as the print operation was happening. Your sheet with the face printing missing went unnoticed through the back printing and on to the final printing where the serial numbers and seals were applied.  There are likely others in your group that may have been printed with a similar error.

Generally speaking, an individual bill in crisp uncirculated condition like yours would have a value of approximately $300 to $500 to an interested error collector. When you add the extra normal bill in sequence, the value could rise about $100 to the $450 to $600 range. You'd likely get a better price by having the bill professionally graded and put up for sale in a major auction.

Here's a link for currency grading: http://www.cganotes.com/

Currency auction link: http://currency.ha.com/c/index.zx

Here's a link with information on FRN's: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Reserve_Note
Here's a link for $10 bills: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_ten-dollar_bill

Here's link for you to view different types of error currency and their values.
Link: 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 what this type of error brings.

If you live near a coin shop, I'd suggest you let them look at the note. Most dealers will offer an opinion as to the authenticity and value at no charge.

If you should decide to sell your bill to a dealer, remember they will offer about 50% to 60% of the retail value. You should always get two or more estimates, and try and deal with PNG (Professional Numismatists Guild) dealers when possible. I'll list the link for you to check dealers near you.

To find a PNG dealer, see Link: http://www.pngdealers.com/dealersearch.php

Please remember to go to the experts site to rate this answer. And check the nomination box on the rating page below any comments you may have.

Thank You and Good Luck in your collecting.

Ronald Fern

Expertise

I can answer most all questions relating to US coins, tokens, and currency. I'm not strong on world coins or ancients. Primary field of expertise is errors and varieties. Over 55 years experience in coin collecting. Part time dealer since 1976. Employed by McDonnell Douglas/Boeing for over 34 years as an Industrial Engineer/Technical Specialist before retiring in 2002.

Experience

Worked weekends for "Lonesome" John in the late 1960's to mid 1970's processing error coins, packaging, and preparing orders. Worked with John Devine and Fred Weinberg on several California Error A Rama's in the early 1970's. Served as display judge at annual Error-A-Rama coin shows. Opened and operated mail order coin business DBA "CAL ERRORS" in 1976. Contributer to Alan Herbert's "Official Price Guide To Mint Errors" and Fivaz/Stanton "Cherrypickers' Guide". Worked Saturdays at Huntington Beach Coin Exchange 1980-1999. Had table and sold coins at a number of coin and gun shows in So CA, AZ and NV. Sell coins, tokens and currency currently at my space in the Pomona Antique Center. Past "Errorscope" Editor. Presently CONECA Examiner.

Organizations
ANA, CONECA, CWTS, NLG

Publications
Errorscope, Numismatic News, Civil War Token Journal, Error and Variety News

Education/Credentials
AA Degree LBCC pre Engineering, 1964 BS Degree CSULB Ind Technology, 1968

Awards and Honors
1st Place EAR Trophy for Civil War Token Errors, NLG Author of Year Award for best monthly coin column "Error News and Views" in small Numismatic paper, owned and published by Ray Anthony.

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