Collection PL

United States 1929 - Uncut Pair of $5 Type 2 National Bank Notes with 1944 Bank Letter – The Thomas County National Bank of Colby, Kansas Charter 13076 W.D. Ferguson Provenance (Friedberg 1800-1)

Sets of this kind are virtually unknown. While individual Colby $5 notes appear occasionally in collections, none are recorded as uncut pairs with verified period letters. The Ferguson correspondence elevates this artifact from numismatic rarity to documentary history, capturing a moment when local banking, personal gratitude, and American currency art intersected on the same page. Read more →

United States 1929 - 5 Dollars Type 1 National Bank Note - The Thomas County National Bank of Colby, Kansas Charter 13076 (Friedberg 1800-1)

Circulated five-dollar note from The Thomas County National Bank of Colby, Kansas (Charter 13076), Series of 1929 Type 1. This example represents the true working currency of the Great Plains during the Depression years-money that passed through farms, shops, and local hands in northwest Kansas at a time when the nation’s economy was in flux. Read more →

United States 1996 - 100 Dollars Federal Reserve Note Chicago District Insufficient Inking Error (Friedberg 2175-G)

This 1996 100 Dollars Federal Reserve Note from the Chicago District (Friedberg 2175-G, AGB Block) presents one of the most striking examples of an Insufficient Inking Error recorded on a modern U.S. high-denomination note. The entire reverse is drastically under-inked: the normally bold depiction of Independence Hall appears as a pale, incomplete impression, with architectural outlines faintly visible but lacking depth and saturation. The obverse, however, was printed correctly, confirming that the error occurred exclusively during the second intaglio printing pass used for the back design. Read more →

United States 1996 - 50 Dollars Federal Reserve Note Chicago District Insufficient Inking Error (Friedberg 2126-G)

This 1996 50 Dollars Federal Reserve Note from the Chicago District (Friedberg 2126-G, AGB Block) demonstrates a dramatic Insufficient Inking Error affecting the left side of the obverse. The portrait of Ulysses S. Grant remains fully defined, yet the surrounding text, borders, and background show substantial ink loss, fading into near blankness. The mechanical cause was an uneven ink transfer during the intaglio stage-either due to low ink viscosity or an improperly adjusted wiping mechanism-which prevented adequate pigment from being carried into the recessed lines of the plate. Read more →

United States 1993 - 20 Dollars Federal Reserve Note New York District Insufficient Inking Error (Friedberg 2079-B)

The combination of an exceptional printing anomaly and PMG’s 67 EPQ Superb Gem Uncirculated grade makes this note an outstanding study specimen for modern U.S. error specialists. It offers a pristine example of both technical imperfection and production precision: a flawless sheet that escaped destruction despite its striking defect. The result is a note that simultaneously showcases the artistry of late 20th-century U.S. engraving and the fallibility of industrial-scale printing technology. Read more →

United States 1950A - 10 Dollars Federal Reserve Note Chicago District Butterfly Fold Error (Friedberg 2011-G)

This note is certified PMG 64 EPQ Choice Uncirculated, reflecting exceptional paper quality and strong originality. Despite the physical deformation caused by the fold, the note retains full embossing, bright ink, and crisp texture throughout. The obverse features Alexander Hamilton, while the reverse displays the Treasury Building in deep green ink. Both sides demonstrate how a physical obstruction in the printing process could distort an otherwise perfectly executed design. Read more →

United States 1988A - 10 Dollars Federal Reserve Note Philadelphia District Insufficient Inking on Face Error (Friedberg 2028-C)

Insufficient Inking Errors occur when the BEP intaglio press fails to deliver a consistent charge of ink to the printing plate. On multi-color notes like this one, such failures most commonly affect the black face impression, where detailed engraved lines require precise ink density to reproduce depth and tone. When the ink film thins prematurely, sections of the plate transfer only partial images, leaving light gray ghosting instead of crisp intaglio relief. Read more →

United States 1995 - 5 Dollars Federal Reserve Note San Francisco District Insufficient Ink on Face Error (Friedberg 1985-L)

Although the PCGS label describes the note as “Underinking on Face,” the more technically precise classification per Bureau of Engraving and Printing standards is 'Insufficient Inking Error.' In such cases, the wiping cylinder or inking roller fails to properly recharge with fresh ink between sheets, leaving sections of the design starved of pigment. The engraved lines, especially in high-relief portrait zones, appear flat and lack their usual depth and sheen. Read more →

United States 1985 - 5 Dollars Federal Reserve Note Cleveland District Insufficient Inking on Back Error (Friedberg 1978-D)

This form of printing error occurs when the intaglio press cylinder is inadequately charged with ink before an impression cycle. As the inking roller rotates across the engraved plate, insufficient pigment causes a gradual fade from full saturation to near blankness, often affecting only one side of the sheet. The result is an unintentional 'gradient' effect across the note. Unlike plate wiping streaks or press roller skips, an Insufficient Inking Error affects the entire engraved recess, eliminating both texture and detail. Read more →

United States 1988A - 1 Dollar Federal Reserve Note Chicago District Insufficient Inking Error (Friedberg 1915-G)

This 1988A 1 Dollar Federal Reserve Note from the Chicago District (Friedberg 1915-G, GE Block) displays a dramatic Insufficient Inking Error that left much of the upper design on the obverse faint or missing. The portrait of George Washington remains clear and fully struck, but the border engraving, serial zone, and areas above the central vignette show patchy or absent ink transfer. This occurred during the intaglio face printing pass when the plate failed to receive an even ink layer or when the wiping cylinder overcleaned the plate prior to impression. Read more →

United States 1993 - 20 Dollars Federal Reserve Note Chicago District Printed Tear Error (Friedberg 2080-G)

This 1993 20 Dollars Federal Reserve Note from the Chicago District (Friedberg 2080-G, GA Block) represents one of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing’s most visually dynamic mechanical failures-a genuine Printed Tear Error, preserved in fully original condition. The note exhibits two sharply folded and partially torn corners that became creased before entering the final printing pass. When the sheet was fed into the intaglio press, the torn and folded segments prevented ink from transferring to those areas, leaving distinctive blank voids and offset impressions once unfolded. Read more →

United States 1929 - 20 Dollars Type 1 National Bank Note - The First National Bank of Youngstown, Ohio Charter 3 (Fr. 1802-1)

Low-charter national. The First National Bank of Youngstown operated under Charter 3, a single-digit charter number issued in the opening days of the National Banking era. Early charters are coveted because they document the very first adopters of the 1863 National Banking system and their numbers stayed with the bank through every redesign and consolidation. Read more →