Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1882-12-23

1t is good rule in receiving bank
notes to carefully examine the general
appearance of the note, the geometri-
cal lathe work, shading of the letters,
ruling engine work, vignettes and
solid print, carefully noting whether
they compare with standard work. The
ink, printing and paper must be con-
sidered. The character number ap-
pears on all bank notes issued since
1875. All national bank notes are
signed by f. E. Spinner, treasurer,
prior to 1875. All genuine notes of
the United States treasury bear check
letters, A, b, G or D, and are num-
bered consecutively, commencing with
one, thus: A is l; B is 2; G and D 4;
or number, which if divided by four,
will show the number to be even.
Genuine bank notes are usually
printed on paper of good quality.
though varying much in thickness
some being quite thin. 1t is not inn
possible for counterfeiters to procure a
good quality of paper, yet counterfeits
usually have smooth, greasy touch,
while the genuine note has not, but
will cleavc to the fingers. The paper,
though important in question, is not
infallible, and it will not do to relv
too much upon the quality. All notes
in the United States are now printed
on fiber paper, the fiber consisting of
| silk threads which are in and form
part of the substance. The gov
eminent are now also manufacturing
the note paper, having two silk threads
which extend the whole length of the
note, one red, the other blue, which
are discernible by holding the note to
the light. These the counterfeiter has
endeavored to initiate, by drawing two
| parallel lines on the surface. This will
be found in the counterfeit United
States silver certificates.
Water and sky, when done with the
ruling engine, cannot be successfully
initiated. 1t is rare to see fine Wig
uettes on counterfeit notes, yet many
very dangerous limitations have been
produced But, however perfect, a
counterfeit cannot be the same as the
original or genuine.
Then there is the geometrical lathe
work. All designs, such as circles,
ovals, squares, ETC., and upon which
the denomination is usually placed,
| composed of Il network of fine lines
crossing each other at such angles and
distances as to produce the desired
effect is called the geometrical lathe
work, and is produced by the geomet-
rical lathe, wonderful as well as
beautiful machine. The patterns pro-
duced by the lathe are of every con-
ceivable variety of form and shape.
The fine lines is the characteristic of
this description of engraving, and in the
genuine note can be traced throughout
the design, never breaking or losing it.
selfin another line, or having any irregu-
larity whatever. The line is usually
white, on black or green ground, or some
times red, but may be a black, green or
red on white. In the counterfeit engrav-
ing the design is engraved upon the plate
and fails in various ways. First, it is
impossible to produce the perfect line
as in the genuine, and the effect to the
eye will be more or less dull or sunkeE
in appearance as well as having a
scratchy look. The design will also be
darker or light in spots, rs the Liz es
are sometimes heavier and sometimes
lighter, as well as the spaces between
are sometimes wide and again near to-
gether, being irregular in size and
sometimes broken. Second, it is i'm
possible for the counterfeiter to pro-
duce two designs exactly alike. AS
the counterfeit is engraved by hand
and separately, it is impossible to pro-
duce two exactly alike. On examina-
ton Of the genuine bill the designs of
the geometrical lathe work will
show the beautiful clear raised
impression produced by the correct and
regular lines in the engraving.
Sometimes the whole face of a note
except the vignettes and dies will be
tinted. The tint is composed of fine
curved or Topped lines running across
the whole face Oh the bill.
Genuine bank notes are always printed
with great care. The plate is covered
with ink, which is then carefully
wiped of, except what remains in the
lines of the engraving. The engrav-
ing is then taken with powerful
press. Should any irregularity appear
on the note it is immediately Cancelled,
and not issued. Thus air genuine
notes have clear and beautiful i'm
preston, which is very unusual for a
counterfeit. The ink used in bank
note printing gives clear impression,
without any smutty appearance. The
green ink, and also that used for the
numbering of United States notes, is
with great difficulty produced by the
counterfeiters. The ink usually used
by them for printing counterfeits has
heavy, dull look; while the NUMBER
ing has a bricky Mila0aat-
kee Wisconsin,.