Error Note Chronicles: Inverted Overprint Errors

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 Inverted Overprint Error.

US Banknotes are created in sheet form and require more than one printing. Certain elements in a banknote design, such as serial numbers and seals, are added to sheets of banknotes through a separate printing process and referred to as an overprint. When sheets are oriented incorrectly during the overprint printing process, the result is an Inverted Overprint Error.

1976 $2 Federal Reserve Note (Richmond) graded PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ with an Inverted Overprint Error. Click images to enlarge.

This 1976 $2 Federal Reserve Note (Richmond) is the more common type of Inverted Overprint Error, where the overprint is on the correct side of the note. As you can see, the serial numbers and seals, which are part of the third printing, appear to be printed upside-down. The back of the note appears normal. This particular note realized $2,760 at a Heritage Auctions sale in January 2021.

All inverted overprints prior to Series 1981A are of the Type I variation with nicely centered fronts and backs. Type II inverted overprints started with Series 1981A because of a change during that series in the cutting stages. That adjustment produced a front and back misalignment. In this 1993 $10 Federal Reserve Note (New York), a portion of the adjacent note can be seen on the front. In other examples, the design of the adjacent note can be seen on both sides of the note. This note is being offered as part of a Heritage Auctions sale ending July 27, 2021.

1993 $10 Federal Reserve Note (New York) graded PMG 40 Extremely Fine EPQ with an Inverted Overprint Error. Click images to enlarge.

Another kind of inverted overprint error not only has the overprint upside-down, but also on the wrong side of the note. This type of back-facing inverted overprint can be seen on this 50 Cents Third Issue Fractional Currency, which was used in the 1860s. Graded PMG 25 Very Fine, this particular note realized $600 in a Heritage Auctions sale in January 2021.

50 Cents Third Issue Fractional Currency graded PMG 25 Very Fine with an Inverted Overprint on Back Error. Click images to enlarge.

The third printing on this 1985 $1 Federal Reserve Note (San Francisco) is inverted and on the wrong side as well. The front of the note is conspicuously missing the seals and serial numbers. Graded PMG Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ, it realized $1,800 at a Heritage Auctions sale in January 2021.

1985 $1 Federal Reserve Note (San Francisco) graded PMG Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ with an Inverted Overprint on Back Error. 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. The Del Monte note has an Obstructed Printing Error, in which a banana sticker found its way onto the note between and second and third printings, resulting in part of the green Treasury seal and the right serial number appearing on top of the sticker.

Collectors and dealers who have error notes can submit them to PMG for certification under the Economy Special grading tier or higher 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.

Related Links:

• Error Is Human: Part I
• Error Is Human: Part II
• PMG-certified “Del Monte” Error Note Sets a Record with $396,000 Sale
• Counterfeit Detection: Inverted Overprint Error