The Coolest Error Notes: Part 3

Welcome to the final article in the coolest paper money error notes series. In earlier articles, I showcased some of the most impressive errors. Part 1 tackled double third printing, Hawaii overprint errors, radical offset errors, and a couple of unique errors you had to see to believe. For Part 2, I covered mismatched charter numbers on National Bank notes, double printing errors, wild mismatched serial number errors, over-ink errors, and some unusual obstruction error notes. Check out the October and November 2025 issues of Bank Note Reporter to read those articles.

In Part 3, the overview of bank note errors continues. Thanks to Stack's Bowers and Heritage Auctions for the photographs contained, and to paper money error expert Richard Merlau for his input.

Essentially an error note in two pieces, the following three notes all contain a detached piece of currency that retains some of the original printing. These are visually stunning and valued between $7,000 and $10,000 each.

Fr. 1980-B $5 1988A FRN. This is a double error: a fold-over misprint and a detached obstruction piece. Approximately half of the back was printed on the face at a right angle. A large segment of the note's face also split from the back at a junction to the left of the portrait. It doesn't get more spectacular than this!

Fr. 1975-H $5 1977A FRN. This note contains currency stock that affixed itself to the right side of the obverse. This extra piece of currency stock covered approximately 40% of the note and received the overprinting of the serial number, the Treasury seal, and two district "8" indicators. Error note authors Fred Bart and Stephen Sullivan both assigned this bill the highest level of rarity: rarity-9.

Fr. 2074-F $20 1981A FRN. This is a case where an extra piece of paper was affixed to the sheet. The reverse print was undertaken with the extra paper attached. It was only after it left the BEP that the extra piece, with the design, became detached and left a spectacular error.

Fr. 1911-L $1 1981 FRN. The Heritage Auction's catalog description for these notes succinctly states, "This is a pair of notes which should not exist." They are each from the same series and plate position and bear the same serial number. How this occurred cannot be explained, as serial numbers are sequential. The only differences are the highlighted plate numbers on the right, D471 (left) and D466 (right). Another question that comes to mind is how someone spotted the duplicate serial number? This pair sold for $8,337.50 in a May 2003 Heritage auction.

Fr. 2071-E $20 1974 FRN. A second pair of duplicate serial number notes. While the $1 pair above have different plate numbers, these $20s contain the same plate number, B161. The sheet was printed twice with the same serial number. This pair sold for an astonishing $36,000 in an October 2021 Heritage Auctions' sale.

A gutter fold error occurs when a fold becomes embedded within the paper prior to printing. When the paper is later unfolded, a gap will appear in the design. This white space can be prominent and is one of the most common currency errors. While gutter fold errors are common, the examples shown in this article are not.

Fr. 233 $1 1899 silver certificate (left) and Fr. 727 $1 1914 Federal Reserve bank note (right).

Fr. 1985J $5 1995 FRN (left). The zigzag nature of the gutter fold is amazing. The pre-printed paper fold is very unusual and positioned well. The last three digits of the right serial number have been separated. Fr. 1985-J $5 1995 FRN (right). A huge gutter fold is positioned sublimely. The district seal and most of the left serial number were printed in the white part of the fold.

Fr. 1909-G 1977 $1 FRN (left). A double error. There was an obstruction that caused half the face to be blank. The second error is a gutter fold through the blank paper that bisects the Treasury seal. Fr. 2173-G 1990 $100 FRN (right). The broad horizontal gutter fold bisects the district and Treasury seal. Franklin's image is intact, indicating that the gutter fold was separated between the second and third printing.

Triple error Fr. 1909-L $1 1977 FRN. A dramatic error featuring a huge open gutter fold, a cutting error, and a large fold over. Revealed is a large portion of both face printings on what is now the back of the note.

Misalignments are not rare, but many of them can be quite dramatic. For the misalignment error specialist, getting a note with a shifted third printing in which the seal is moved into the portrait is like hitting the bullseye.

Fr. 2086-F $20 1999 FRN. Smack dab in the middle of Jackson's face on this note is the serial number and Federal Reserve seal.

Fr. 1915-G $1 1988A FRN. The Treasury seal and left serial number shifted into the portrait, covering part of Washington's face. The Chicago district seal and left serial number are positioned in the margin, so they straddle both notes.

Fr. 1928-E $1 2003 FRN. Not only is the district seal shifted into the portrait, but it is skewed upwards about 30 degrees. Note the cool placement of the left serial number through the "ONE DOLLAR" at the bottom center with the district "5" in the bottom margin.

Fr. 1907-G 1969D $1 FRN. This error note received the first and second print correctly. However, before the application of the seals and serial numbers, the sheet was folded before the application of the third printing. It remained that way through cutting and packaging, resulting in this dramatic fold-over printing error. The "G" district seal in the white space between the margins really pops.

Fr. 2083-F 1996 $20 FRN. A triple error! This note has a fold-over, a miscut, and a printing error. Missing the majority of the face print, only the top left serial number, seal, and "F6" district indicator are present. Additionally, this piece has a fold-over and cutting error, which shows most of the absent printing.

Fr. 36 1917 $1 legal tender note. A significant portion of the top left corner of this $1 legal tender note was folded over before the addition of the third print, causing large portions of the Treasury seal and left serial number to be printed on the back.

Fr. 85 $5 1907 legal tender note. This "Woodchopper" note has a massive, printed fold that covers almost the left half of the note. The left side of the note folded over when printing the red serial number and "V DOLLARS," resulting in the number and ornament being placed on the back. This was sold for $10,575 at a September 2016 Heritage auction.

This concludes the three-part series on the coolest error notes. There are surely others that could qualify for this series, but space limits what can be included.

For those who want to read more about error notes, I recommend "US Error Note Encyclopedia" by Stephen M. Sullivan and “United States Paper Money Errors: A Comprehensive Catalog & Price Guide” by Dr. Frederick J. Bart.

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The Coolest Error Notes - Part 1

The Coolest Error Notes: Part 2