Error Note Chronicles: Board Break 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 Board Break Error.

A Board Break Error occurs when there is a faulty or partially broken impression cylinder. This impression cylinder pushes the currency paper into the intaglio portion of the printing plate that contains the ink, which is transferred to the note.

This 1988 $1 Federal Reserve Note (New York) has a Board Break Error on the right side of the front. The First Print on notes like these imparts the design to the back, and the Second Print imparts much of the design on the front. (The serial numbers, green seal and district numbers are added later.) The damage to the cylinder is reflected in the parts of the note that failed to pick up the expected ink during the Second Print. This particular note realized $1,020 in a May 2022 Heritage Auctions sale.

1988 $1 Federal Reserve Note (New York) with a Board Break Error graded PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ Click images to enlarge.

This 1977A $10 Federal Reserve Note (New York) is another example of a Board Break Error. This error, which runs most of the length of the top of the note on the back, occurred on the First Print. Occasionally, multiple Board Break Errors from the same sheet are offered at auction, which shows that an impression cylinder that is not working correctly can create the same error repeatedly.

1977A $10 Federal Reserve Note (New York) with a Board Break Error graded PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated EPQ Click images to enlarge.

Board Break Errors also show up on world banknotes. This Spain, Banco de España 1992 (ND 1996) 1,000 Pesetas has a dramatic error that left little of the portrait of Hernan Cortes besides his forehead and hat. The error runs across the entire note: The left side is supposed to say BANCO DE ESPAÑA. This particular note realized $240 at a Stack's Bowers auction in October 2021.

Spain, Banco de España 1992 (ND 1996) 1,000 Pesetas with a Board Break Error graded PMG 65 Gem 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
• Missing Print Error
• Multiple Errors
• Multiple Impression Error
• National Bank Note Errors
• Obstructed Printing Errors
• Offset Printing Error
• Overprint on Back Error
• Paper Jam Error
• The PCBLIC Error
• Printed Fold Error
• Solvent Smear Error
• Star Errors
• Stuck Digit Error
• Watermark Errors