Hello all, My sister-in-law came across this interesting $20 bill. It's mis-cut to the point of showing a bit of the adjacent note, but also cut wider than the standard width ($1 bill shown for comparison). Unfortunately, it was folded into forths at some point, but is otherwise in nice, slightly circulated shape. Anyway, I don't know much about this type of thing, so I figured I'd run it past the experts. Any info that you can provide about scarcity, value, advice, or other interesting tidbits would be much appreciated! Edit- In looking at the picture after posting, I noticed the star after the serial number. Is this a star note? Or is that something else?
From the way I see it, the note appears to be hand cut. Were there any $20 sheets made for 2017-A? It is most definitely a star note and that would only continue to add to its value if it turns out to be a genuine error.
They haven't sold star sheets in years, so it has to be a genuine BEP error. There are basically two ways this could happen. Either there's a small fold in the note that allowed the extra width to fit in a standard-size strap, or else a whole strap was cut extra-wide when a guillotine cutter got out of alignment. I'm guessing the former scenario is more likely. I can't see any fold in the photo, but it could be hidden by the lighting....
Yes it’s a star note and that’s a bonus. However it appears to me the cut is not from the BEP. Place another $20.00 note on top of it to check for the correct size.
You can trim it off with a paper cutter if you're concerned it doesn't look normal. Seriously, nice error note.
Were there any $20 sheets made for 2017? Right now I am seriously doubting this note's authenticity as an error. All of the margins are wrong, it has the look of being carelessly cut by scissors. If it were a genuine cutting error they would be at least be somewhat straight. I can't see a way that this would happen at the BEP.
Yup. That's what I am saying. Anyone can take an uncut sheet and a pair of scissors and make lots of "errors".
Just to play devil's advocate, are we sure this couldn't be a counterfeit? I dont' know, just throwing that out there.
I know you're an expert on paper. What would you say caused this to happen? I can't conceivably imagine how the note was cut in this way considering that the cutting machine cuts perfect rectangles.
There have actually been stories in the local news lately about some "very realistic" counterfeit $20 bills going around this area (Evansville, IN). My sister-in-law found it in the deposits from her business and assumed that it must be one of those. I gave it a look over and, although my knowledge in this area is very limited, it seemed identical to a legitimate example. Kinda weird though. If someone were creating and trying to pass off counterfeit notes, then why would they make them star notes? And wouldn't they take extra care to make sure that they were cut correctly? In any case, here are some additional pictures. We really appreciate the feedback received so far, and look forward to any additional revalations!
What a coincidence, I just so happen to be collecting free presumed counterfeit 2017A $20 star notes, let me know when you are ready to write down the address of where to send it.
All the BEP cutting errors I have seen have been nice straight right-angle cuts. If there is no fold in the note. I don't understand how this could happen unless it was hand cut from a sheet.
It’s not cut from a sheet, we’ve already established that. It has a security strip and a watermark so I’m confident it’s not a counterfeit. I have a friend that used to work at the BEP. I’ll show him the pictures and ask for his input.
@Cherd can you post photos of the bill in the dark with a flashlight shining across the surface of the bill?
