Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-11-29
Detecting COunterfeits.


and solid print, carefully noting
whether they compare with standard
work. The ink, printing and paper
must be considered. The charter
number appears on all bank notes is
sued since 1875. All national bank
notes are signed F. E. Spinner, Treas
urer, prior to 1875. All genuine
notes of the United States Treasury
bear check letters, A, B. G, or d, and
are numbered consecutively, commenc-
ing thus; A is / B is 2; c 3; and
d is 4 or a number, which if divided
by 4, 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 i'm
possible for counterfeiters to procure
a good quality of paper, yet counter
feits usually have a smooth, greasy
touch, while the genuine has not, but
will cleave to the fingers. The paper
though important in question, is not
infalliable, and it will not do to rely
too much upon the quality. All
notes in the United States are now
printed on fibre paper, the fibre con-
sisting of silk threads which are in
and form part of the substance.
The government are now also manu-
featuring note paper, having two silk
threads which extend the whole length
of the note, one red and the other
blue, which are discernible by hold.
ing the note to the light. These the
counterfeiter has endeavored to imi
tate, by drawing two parallel lines Oh
on the surface. This will be found in
the counterfeit United States silver
certificates.
Water and sky, when done with
the ruling engine, cannot he success
fully initiated. 1t is rare to see fine
.Iyignettes on counterfeit notes, yet
many very dangerous limitations have
been produced. But, however per-
feet, 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 a net work 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 geome-
trical lathe, wonderful as well as a
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 break
ing or losing itself in another line, OF
having any irregularity whatever
The line is usually white, on black OF
| green ground, or sometimes red, but
may be a black, green or red on
white. In the counterfeit engraving
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
sunken in appearance as well as hav,
ing scratchy look. The design will
also be darker or light in spots, as
the lines are sometimes heavier and
sometimes lighter, as well as the
spaces between are sometimes wide
: and again near together, being ir.
regular in size and sometimes broken
Second it is impossible for the coun-
terfeter to produce two designs ex'
! actly alike. As the counterfeit j:
1 engraved by hand and separately, il
5 is impossible to produce two exactly
alike. On examination of the genu
r inc bill, the designs of the geometri
: cal lathe work will show the beauti
ful clear raised impression produced
by the correct and regular lines il
: the engraving. Sometimes the whole
face of a note except the vignette'
. and dies will be tinted. The tint il
composed of fine curved or loopet
K lines running across the whole face o
p the bill.
Genuine bank notes are always
printed with great care. The plat,
e is covered with ink, which is ther
@ carefully wiped of, except what re
mains in the lines of the engraving
The engraving is then taken with {
9 powerful press. Should any irregu
:, iarity appear OH the note it is imme
e diately cancelled and not issued
: Thus all genuine notes have cleaI
and beautiful impression, which il
very unusual for counterfeit. TIL,
h ink used in bank note printing give
:. q clear impression, without any smut
y ty appearance. The green ink, anc
a also that used for the numbering o
IS United States notes, is with great diff
O. ficulty produced by the counterfeit
|, ers. The ink usually used by then
" for printing counterfeits has heav,
le dull look while the numbering has
T. bricky rance.-Milwaukee Wis