Coin and Paper Money Collecting/Misprinted $20 U.S. Bill

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Expert: - 9/27/2010


Question

Scan 1.jpeg
I have a 1996 circulated $20 bill that is in fair to good condition. It has the right
border and 3/4's of the zero from the back of a $20 bill printed over the left
border on the front of the bill.  I have attached a photo of the front of the bill,
the back side is normal. I'm just curious what the value of this bill would be.
Thank you for your assistance.

Answer
Hi Joe:

Thanks for your question.

This is a minor offset printing error. The condition of the bill and the amount of the error, along with the denomination make it likely to be worth about $35 to $50 to an interested collector. Most collectors concentrate on the best quality and lower denomination bills, like one's and five's in crisp uncirculated condition.

Bills are printed in sheets of 36 notes and in three phases. Obverse print, reverse print, and serial numbers with seal print. It is likely one or more sheets were improperly fed during the back phase of printing. The wet ink from the back printing transferred onto the front of the previously printed sheet(s). The sheet(s) went through the final printing operation into the serial numbers and seal print. The sheet, with the error(s), went unnoticed during the cutting and final inspection phase. There may have been several others with a similar error like yours to "escape" into circulation.

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

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 error notes on eBay from time to time to see if your error is listed what this type of error note brings.

Always try and get at least two opinions and try and deal with PNG dealers if possible. If you should decide to sell your bills to a dealer, remember they will offer about 50% to 60% of the retail value. Here's a link to find one in your area: http://www.pngdealers.com/dealersearch.php

Please remember to go to the experts site to rate this answer. 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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