Expert: Ronald Fern - 11/7/2011

Question
Hi Ron,  I have a 1988 $20 bill that is normal on the back side but nonaligned on the face side.  There is no border on the left of the bill and the printing of the seals, serial numbers and other numbers are therefore printed too far right, as if the bill was in its correct position at printing time.   The various numbers and seals are printed too far right compared to a normal bill and of course there is no border on the left and too much of one on the right.  Is this a ordinary mistake or does this bill have some additional value due to the print being too far right?  Please advise.  Sincerely, Ken

Answer
Hi Ken:

Thanks for the question.

The description you gave of your note is adequate, but a photo would help. With the data you provided, I'd say at best you'd likely get an extra $5 to $10 for it from an interested collector.

Bills are printed in sheets of 32 notes and in three phases. Reverse print, obverse print, and serial numbers with seals print.  There are likely several others in your group that may have been printed with a similar error.

Here's link for you to view different types of error currency and their values.

Link: http://www.coinsite.com/html/uscurrencyerrors.asp

Here's a link with information on FRN's: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Reserve_Note

Here's a link for $20 bills: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_twenty-dollar_bill

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

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Thank You and Good Luck in your collecting.