The E-Sylum:  Volume 2, Number 45, November 7, 1999, Article 6

CASE OF THE MISSING SERIAL NUMBERS  

   Having displayed an exhibit of printing errors on one dollar 
   notes at the P.A.N. show last week, I was naturally curious 
   when I noticed an ad which showed a U.S. dollar bill that 
   did NOT have any serial numbers.  Even more curious was 
   the fact that the Treasury Seal WAS present, an impossibility 
   since both the seal and the serial numbers are printed together 
   in the overprinting process.   The company is a new internet 
   firm called BuyerWeb, so I went to their web site and emailed 
   them my question:  

   "Is there a reason why the dollar bill atop the stack of cash in 
    your latest ads does not have the serial numbers printed on it? 
    Just curious... "  

   The response came one business day later: "Thanks for your 
   interest in our recent ad campaign. In response to your question, 
   it's my understanding that U.S. currency can not be reproduced 
   photographically without certain alterations.  Otherwise, it could 
   be considered counterfeiting.  

   Congratulations on your clever observation. The ad was 
   produced by our agency and no one here noticed the missing 
   serial numbers until you pointed it out."  

   I don't think erasing the serial numbers is one of the "certain 
   alterations" called for by the Treasury, but it's the thought that 
   counts... 

  Wayne Homren, Editor

	coinbooks.org Web

The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization 
promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org.

To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor 
at this address: whomren@coinlibrary.com

To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum