Error Note Chronicles: Solvent Smear Error

Paper Money Guaranty® (PMG®) is the world’s leading authority on banknote errors, a popular segment of numismatics. In Error Note Chronicles, we take an in-depth look at different errors. This month’s topic is the Solvent Smear Error.

A Solvent Smear Error occurs when the solvent that is used to clean the printing plates is not removed and becomes involved in the printing process. This 1995 $1 Federal Reserve Note has a dramatic Solvent Smear Error that affected the left half of the back of the note. (This note is part of a World Banknote Auctions sale in February 2023, with an estimate of $300 to $500.)

1995 $1 Federal Reserve Note (Minneapolis) with a Solvent Smear Error graded PMG 67 Superb Gem Unc EPQ Click images to enlarge.

A Solvent Smear Error can impact various stages of printing. This 1990 $20 Federal Reserve Note has a Solvent Smear Error that affects most of the front of the note. Sheets of Federal Reserve Notes are set aside between printings to dry, so the subsequent printing stage that involved the seals and serial numbers was not affected by the error.

1990 $20 Federal Reserve Note (San Francisco) with a Solvent Smear Error graded PMG 65 Gem Uncirculated EPQ Click images to enlarge.

Solvent Smear Errors can also be found on world banknotes. This Greece, Bank of Greece 1984 5,000 Drachmes has a Solvent Smear Error that affected the right-half of the front of the note, including the Church of Agioi Apostoloi in Kalamata at the bottom. Like the similar Ink Smear Error, Solvent Smear Errors are appealing because they can impact a large portion of the note.

Greece, Bank of Greece 1984 5,000 Drachmes with a Solvent Smear Error graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated EPQ Click images to enlarge.

PMG, an independent member of the Certified Collectibles Group® (CCG®), has certified many exciting error notes, including the famous “Del Monte” error note that realized $396,000 in a January 2021 sale.

Collectors and dealers with error notes can submit them to PMG for certification under an applicable grading tier with “error” or the specific error noted under the Variety/Pedigree column on the submission form. There is no additional fee for this service.

For more information about submitting to PMG, visit PMGnotes.com.

Other Error Note Chronicles columns:

• Cutting Error
• Doubled Print Error
• Dual Denomination Error
• Gutter Fold Error
• Ink Smear Error
• Insufficient Inking
• Inverted Back
• Inverted Overprint Errors
• Misalignment Errors
• Mismatched Prefix Error
• Mismatched Serial Number Error
• National Bank Note Errors
• Obstructed Printing Errors
• Offset Printing Error
• Overprint on Back Error
• Paper Jam Error
• The PCBLIC Error
• Printed Fold Error
• Stuck Digit Error