Is it real or not?

News: Registration is free here at the CPMF!

Bell http://www.icollector.com/1862-Niagara-Disctrict-Bank-4_i9548674 in his July 15th auction has a 1862 $4 note from the Niagara District Bank.

{http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/6659/niagdistrict530120606f.jpg:http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/6659/niagdistrict530120606f.th.jpg}
{http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7533/niagdistrict530120606b.jpg:http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7533/niagdistrict530120606b.th.jpg}

This seems to be a new note to the census with serial number 11728/A.
{http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/2154/niagaradistrictcensus.jpg:http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/2154/niagaradistrictcensus.th.jpg}


The census only has 2 genuine notes with serial numbers 11765/A and and 16888/A.

As you can see the census also shows 2 counterfeits. Here is the one with serial number 9831/A.

{http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/6161/niagaradistrictcounterf.jpg:http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/6161/niagaradistrictcounterf.th.jpg}
{http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7640/niagaradistrictcounterff.jpg:http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7640/niagaradistrictcounterff.th.jpg}

Unfortunately the scans are low resolution, but to me these two notes don't look that different. Also note that the census makes a comment that the genuine and counterfeit appear to be as such from the photographs. Charlton mentions that the counterfeits have "scratchy engraving and engraved signatures." The signatures on the new Bell note look like they are hand signed?

So is the Bell note (new to the census) real or not? Is there a definitive way to tell the counterfeits from the genuine?

[edit] Bernie please use the ImageShack app found on the bottom of the posting page. Using thumbnails makes it easier to read. Cheers! [/edit]

It is genuine.

Thanks Bob.

Since it is new to the census do you know its provenance?
Since I used the 1997 register, is it in the newly released register book?

Is there a definitive way to tell the genuine from the counterfeit?

The note was off the market for many, many years and only surfaced when consigned to the RCNA Sale this month.  It was therefore not recorded when the note register was published last fall.
It is quite easy to spot the counterfeits, on which the facial expression of Wm. Hamilton Merritt shows a combination of surprise and a sharp, stabbing pain.  Plus the inferior engraving and engraved signatures.

I did notice that Merritt seems to be looking more at you on the counterfeit, whereas he is looking more to the right on the genuine.
 

Well, it just went for $15,000 plus ~3,000 buyers fee, about 3 times its low estimate. A number of people must have thought it was genuine.

It's not a case of bidders having "thought" it is genuine.  It is genuine, period.

Bob, I just wish that the auction houses would have higher resolution scans online. Sitting at home, knowing that there are counterfeits, never having seen the real thing, and only being given low resolution scans makes one skeptical.

Given that many people (myself included) bid live from home these days, I would think that auction realizations could be significantly higher if the home bidder had high resolution scans. If Heritage can do it, why not the rest?

Any good stories from the RCNA convention?

Don't be shy about requesting additional scans from auction houses. The folks they know the more information available will lead to more bids, and that's what it's all about for them. I request scans all the time for better resolution and/or larger dimension, and have never been turned down

alvin5454 said: "Don't be shy about requesting additional scans from auction houses. The folks they know the more information available will lead to more bids, and that's what it's all about for them. I request scans all the time for better resolution and/or larger dimension, and have never been turned down"

I have also requested higher resolution scans but have been turned down quite often or totally ignored. I still say why not default to higher resolution scans. Also many auction houses do not include scans of the backs. Many times, the back tells a different story regarding the grade of a note.

Make sure to request scans weeks in advance as the closer the auction date comes the less time the auctioneers will have to answer everyone's request.