The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-01-18
Detecting Oounterfeits.

1t is a good rule in receiving bank
notes to carefully examine the general
appearance OF the note, the geometrical
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 considered. The
charter number appears on all bank
notes issued since 1875. All national
bank notes are signed by T. E. Spinner,
Treasurer, prior to 1875. All genuine
notes OF the United States Treasury bear
check letters. A. B, G, or d, and are
numbered consecutively, commencing
with l, thus: a is l. B. is 2; q and
ID 4; or a number, which is divided by
4, will show the number to be even.
Genuine bank notes are usually print
ed on paper of good quality, though
varying much in thickness-some being
quite thin. 1t is not impossible for
counterfeiters to procure a good quality
of paper, vet counterfeits usually have a
smooth greasy touch, while the genuine
note has not, but will cleave to the fing-
ers. The paper, though important in
question, is not infallible, 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 consist
ing of silk threads which are in and form
part of the substance. The govern
ment are now also manufacturing the
ncte 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 UnitedStates
silver certificates.
Water and sky, when done with the
ruling engine, cannot be successfully
initiated. 1t is rare to see fine yignettes
on counterfeit notes, yet many very
dangerous limitations have been pro-
duced. But, however perfect, a counter
felt cannot be the same as the original
or genuine.
Then there is the geometrical lathe
work. All designs, such as circles, ov-
ais, squares, etc, and upon which the
denomination is usually placed, COM
posed of network OF fine lines crossing
each other at such angles and distances
as to produce the desired effect is called
the geometrical lathe, wonderful as
well as beautiful machine. The patterns
produced by the lathe are of every con-
ceiyable variety of form and shape. The
fine lines is the characteristic Of this
description of engraving and in the gen.
uiue note can be traced throughout the
design, never breaking or losing Itself
in another line, or having any Irregular
ity Whatever. The line is usually white,
on black or 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, ii is
impossible to produce the perfect line as
in the genuine, and the effect to the eve
will be more or less dull or sunken in
appearance as well as having a scratchy
look. The design viii 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 II
regular in size and sometimes broken.
Second, it is impossible for the counter
feiter to produce 2 designs exactly alike.
As the counterfeit is engraved by hand
and separately it is impossible to produce
| 2 exactly alike. On examination of the gen
uine bill the designs of the oeomctrical
| lathe work will show the beautiful clear
raised impression produced by the cor
rect and regular lines in the engraving.
Sometimes the whole face of note eX-
cept the vignettes and dies will be tint
ed. The tint is composed of fine curved
or looped lines running across the whole
face of the bill.
Genuine bank notes are always print
ed with great care. The plate is cover
ed with ink, which is then carefully
wiped oil, except what remains in the
lines of the engraving. The engraving
is then taken with a powerful press
Should any irregularity appear on the
note it is Immediately cancelled, and not
issued. Thus ali genuine notes have q
clear and beautiful impression, which is
very unusual for counterfeit. The ink
used in bank-note printing gives clear
impression, without any smutty appear
ance. 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 num-
bering has bricky appearance
| lOdukee Wisconsin,.