Frank S. asks:Â What’s a “Double Denomination” error note? What does that even mean?
Though they are rare, Double Denomination notes are known to exist and are considered the King of paper money errors. United States paper money is printed three times. The notes are printed on sheets of 12, 16, or 32 subjects, depending on the era and denomination. First the back is printed and the sheets are allowed to dry in a room separated from notes being printed in other steps of the process. The second printing is the face and the third printing is the Treasury seal and serial numbers.
To make this error. A sheet or sheets would have missed the first printing, gone through the 2nd printing, dried, flipped and taken through the 2nd printing again. Only about 55 notes have been reported with double denominations. We say “about” because some have been reported but not seen. The only double denominations known so far are:
- $5/$10 1928B and 1934D
- $10/$1 1950A
- $10/$5 1928A
- $20/$10 1974