OFFSET PRINTING ERRORS

Paper Money Errors: The Offset Printing
By Benjamin C. Simpson, YN

Few paper money mistakes are more captivating than the offset. It is easy to understand why this error type is so popular; their impressive appearance and affordability make them a perfect entry point for currency collectors.

Offset printings are roughly analogous to clashed dies for coins. When the impression cylinder is mistakenly rolled over a wet printing plate without a sheet of notes intervening, the ink design on the plate is transferred to the impression cylinder itself. This blunder causes the subsequent sheets of notes to be printed with its usual design on one face (transferred from the plate) and a mirror image of that design on the other face (erroneously transferred from the impression cylinder). A reflection has been produced on the opposite side of the note. On all small-size U.S. currency, there are multiple printing stages. Offset errors most commonly occur in the first printing, when most major design elements are produced.

Each time the impression cylinder encounters a wet printing plate, 10-12 error sheets are created. Offsets will rapidly decrease in boldness after the first sheet is printed. Collectors pay heavy premiums for offsets from the first or second sheets, due to their clarity and eye-appeal. Here is an exceptionally vivid face-to-back 1935E $1 silver certificate, whose offset printing is as bold as the face printing. Offset errors on U.S. Silver Certificate notes are rare.

For more information about the Combined Organizations of Numismatic Error Collectors of America, see:
https://conecaonline.org/

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web