Error Note Chronicles: Offset Printing 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 Offset Printing Error.

Banknotes are printed one side at a time, with a sheet of paper placed between the printing plate (with the ink) and the impression cylinder. The ink from the printing plate is not supposed to touch the impression cylinder, but it can if they come in contact with each other with no paper between the two of them.

When this happens, the impression cylinder ends up with ink intended for the banknotes. The next time that paper touches the impression cylinder, the wayward ink can transfer to the notes. It shows up as an inverse (mirror) image on the wrong side of the note.

Take a look at this 1974 $1 Federal Reserve Note (Philadelphia) with an Offset Printing Error. PMG has encapsulated the note with the back of the note toward the front of the PMG holder in order to display the error. You can see that there are inverse elements of the design from the front of the note, including George Washington's portrait and the words ONE DOLLAR at the bottom.

1974 $1 Federal Reserve Note (Philadelphia) with an Offset Printing Error (Offset Printing of Front to Back) graded PMG 40 Extremely Fine. Click images to enlarge.

The design typically associated with the back of the note was printed first. Then the additional ink (with the inverse design of the front) was added, inadvertently, during a later printing. This is called "Offset Printing of Front to Back." (This note is part of a Heritage sale ending March 1, 2022.)

The error can also occur with the front of the note, and the error does not have to involve the entire design. The 1957 $1 Silver Certificate shown below is also an Offset Printing Error — in this case, a "Partial Offset Printing of Back to Front." (This particular note is being offered in a Heritage sale ending February 22, 2022.)

1957 $1 Silver Certificate with an Offset Printing Error (Partial Offset Printing of Back to Front) graded PMG 45 Choice Extremely Fine EPQ Click images to enlarge.

An impressive subset of this error is the Matte Offset Printing Error. The ink that ends up on the wrong side of the note shows up in a crosshatched pattern, as can be seen on this 2006 $1 Federal Reserve Note (New York). This particular note sold for $2,640 at a September 2020 sale by Heritage Auctions.

2006 $1 Federal Reserve Note (New York) with an Offset Printing Error (Matte Offset Printing of Front to Back) graded PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ. Realized: $2,640 in September 2020 Click images to enlarge.

Offset Printing Errors can occur on world banknotes as well. This Bangladesh 2003 500 Taka with an Offset Printing Error realized $109 at a Heritage Auctions sale in October 2020.

Bangladesh, Bangladesh Bank 2003 500 Taka with an Offet Printing Error graded PMG 40 Extremely Fine. Realized: $109 in October 2020 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 who have 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.

Related Links:

• Error Note Chronicles: Insufficient Inking
• Error Note Chronicles: Inverted Back
• Error Note Chronicles: Printed Fold Error
• Error Note Chronicles: The PCBLIC Error
• Error Note Chronicles: Misalignment Errors
• Error Note Chronicles: Obstructed Printing Errors
• Error Note Chronicles: Inverted Overprint Errors
• Error Is Human: Part I
• Error Is Human: Part II