prefix size errors or not

News: Registration is free here at the CPMF!

Are notes with smaller letters in the prefix considered an error.  AHZ notes have two small and one big in the7.00 range

Could you post a scan please?

Could you post a scan please?

I think this is what RadarJourney is talking about. I have also seen this on AHY notes. Left serial number is at the top.

{http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/6889/50serialfonts.jpg}

I picked up a couple of $50 AHY notes with apparent size differences in the middle digit of the left serial number.  When I found the first note, AHY 3763602, I thought the middle 3 looked diminutive and of a different style.  Then I found AHY 9959894 and it likewise featured a lighter, smaller 9 in the middle.  This prompts me to believe that it's not an error or a variety.  It's just a problem with the numbering devices where the middle digit is not quite "forward" enough to receive a normal layer of ink to impart to the notes that it is printing.  These machines are not exact devices... there's all kinds of variation that can occur.  So I wouldn't get too excited unless there's an obvious error like a missing digit.

{http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/8348/ahyerror.jpg:http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/8348/ahyerror.th.jpg}

Here is a good example of what RADARjourney posted about.

I have AHZ 6298783 (81/81).  The first two letters of the prefix on the left side look much smaller than their counterparts on the right side.  My close-up scan does not show it too well, but when the diminuitive digits are examined closely, they don't appear to be the result of a lack of ink.  They look fully-printed.  The H looks particularly weird with the right side being noticeably shorter than the left side.

{http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/5365/7wp3.jpg:http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/5365/7wp3.th.jpg}

(If the above image does not show, try this: http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/5365/7wp3.jpg )

they don't appear to be the result of a lack of ink.  They look fully-printed. 

So does that mean that they are indeed different typesets and therefore either a variety?

I have only seen this happen in the polymer series and that to only in the $50 denomination with the BABN prefixes. Where this happens I have noticed that it mostly affects  the A's, sometimes the H's and infrequently the M's

Here are some close up shots of the left side and the right side prefixes from the same note. I have been cataloging this condition in the notes that I seen but as of yet have not seen any pattern emege. I am considering the following possibiities:

If it happens at the same position number pairs it would seem to indicate a defective numbering wheel used for that position.

If it is something that happens in every position number but for a selected range of notes within the ream then it is possible that the numbering wheel may be wearing off.

Open to other suggestions and data.

Left side prefix
{http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/9858/yk39.jpg:http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/9858/yk39.th.jpg}

Right side prefix
{http://img541.imageshack.us/img541/8540/w78e.jpg:http://img541.imageshack.us/img541/8540/w78e.th.jpg}

I have been cataloging these conditions and although I do not have a large enough sample to draw any conclusions there is a compelling finding. The following image shows that the stem of A is shortened. This is the left prefix/serial number on the note.

The two prefix/serial numbers shown are from notes with Plate number 74/74.

There are three $50 notes with AME prefix in my database with 74/74 number combination and all three have been catalogued as having this condition. In total I have notes with 34 different plate numbers with AME prefix and only two plate numbers have been recorded as exhibiting this condition 74/74 and 96/96.

Interestingly enough the three  AMD 96/96 in my database also have the right leg of the "A" shorter. I have a 74/74 in AMD but it was in my database before I started recording the short A stem.

Maybe this is purely random but something tells me otherwise.

{http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/8759/6gl5.jpg:http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/8759/6gl5.th.jpg}

It would seem to me that there is a defective numbering machine corresponding to this position.

Similar conditions seem to exist in other prefixes with different plate numbers. Is it possible that AMD and AME were printed with the same numbering machine arrangement vis-a-vis plate numbers?

I believe that a topic related to numbering machine issues was discussed in an article in the CPMS (not by me).

Here is the image showing the three  notes all with 74/74 plate number. This time the image is showing both the left and the right prefix/number from these three notes.

Notice how all the three notes show the short right leg of A on the left prefix/number and the normal A on the right prefix/number.

{http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/4643/uwk5.jpg:http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/4643/uwk5.th.jpg}

Notice how all the three notes show the short right leg of A on the left prefix/number and the normal A on the right prefix/number.

I think if these errors existed on coins people would have all sorts of names for these types of issues but as far as I am concerned from a bank note collectors point of view I do not see it as having any significance...only my opinion of course...any we know what that is worth