Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1859-11-04
Prorrcss Of Ranls Note Forgcry.

We have, without exception, the best
bank-note engraving in the world, and we
have also moro counterfeit bank notes than
any other country with a paper currency.
The ingenuity Of our engravers is taxed and
tasked to produce bank-notes which the
counterfeiters cannot initiate, and yet forge
ries are exceedingly flush. For example,
as VIC learn from Pefersons' Counterfeit
Dsteetor yesterday, as many as ffty-eight
new counterfeits have been put into circula-
ton within tho last fortnight This would
appear almost incredible, but it is true.
There is not a single imitation of a bank in
this State or this city iu this tremendous
list. This is complimentary to the bank
note engravers of this city, as it indicates
that their work is so well executed that at
does not pay" to attempt to initiate it,
The Bank of England notes, which are
now very rarely initiated, are distinguished
in their execution, by the utmost simplicity
of design and work. Had the Bank Direc-
tors belonged to the Society of Friends, by
whom vain adornment is repudiated, they
could scarcely have agreed upon a more
simple and plain bank-note. Yet, with all
this simplicity and plainuess, forgery Of it
is seldom made, and, when made, is readily
detected. The protection is the simple
ity. Instead of being covered over with
many and beautiful decorations and draw
ings, gems oflandscape by DARLEY, or por-
traits of individuals, or "reminiscences of Gre
clan mythology, the note of the Bank of
England is little more than q promise to
pay, duly dated and numbered, with sigma
ture of cashier, or one of his assistants, on
right side, and the signature of an entering
clerk on the left The chief popularity is
a different ink employed on the mechanical
numbering of each note, and mathematical
exactness and harmony on the whole engra-
wing. There are few secret marks-ive
in al--consisting of dots placed with appa-
rent caelesSness on various parts Of the note,
which bank clerks and other initiated per-
sons can Immediately ascertain. We shall
be happy to point them out to the posses
sor of Bank of England note, who will
present US with the same in payment for
the lesson Above all, the paper, with its
peculiar watermark, is difficult to be made.
To initiate it would be as felonious as to
forge the handwritings on the note itself.
This paper is made by process known
only to few confidential persons in the
bank, and even were the mystery laid open
would require such costly plant of intri-
cate machinery, that persons possessed of
the pecuniary means to establish it for this
purpose, would be so far above the usual in
ducements to crime that they would scarcely
be induced to run the risk. This paper
possesses such remarkable toughness, that
ifa Bank of England note be twisted, with
a weight of two hundred and twenty-four
pounds suspended to it, the twist will sus-
tain it without yielding or breaking.
1t appears utterly improbable that coun-
terfeiting cannot be prevented here, as it is
in London and Paris. Suppose that some
bank should try the experiment of issuing
notes, the very perfection of cunning art
employed to produce the most beautiful
simplicity of design and executiOn.--FOr-
nsy,s Press.