The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-08-15
BANK OF ENGLAND NOTES
How They Are Numbered and FL
nally Cremated.

nally Cremated.
All Bank of England notes are printed
In the bank itself. Six printing presses
are in constant operation, the same
machine printing the first particulars
of value, signature, etc, and then the
number of the note in consecutive or
der. The paper used is of very peculiar
texture, being at once thin, tough and
crisp; and the combination of these
qualities, together with the peculiari-
ties of the watermark, which is distrib-
uted over the whole surface Of the
paper, forms one of the principal guar
antees against imitation. The paper,
which is manufactured exclusively at
one particular mill, is made in oblong
slips, allowing just enough space for
the printing of two notes, side by side.
The edges of the paper are left un-
trimmed, but, after printing, the two
notes are divided by straight cut be-
tween them. This accounts for the
fact which many of our readers will
edge of a bank note is smooth, the
other three being comparatively
ragged. The printing presses are SO
constructed as to register each note
printed, so that the machine itself in
dictates automatically how many notes
have passed through it. The average
production of notes is fifty thousand
a day, and about the same number
are presented in the same time for pay
ment.
No note is ever issued a second time.
When once 1t finds its way back to the
bank to be exchanged for coin, it is
Immediately Cancelled, and the reader
will probably be surprised to hear that
the average life of bank note, or the
time during which it is in actual
circulation, is not more than five or
six days. The returned notes, averag-
ing, as we have stated. about fifty thou
eand day, and representing, one day
with another. about one million pounds
in value, are brought into what is
known as the Accountants Sorting
Office. Here they are examined by in
Bpectors, who reject any which may be
found to be counterfeit. In such
case the paying-in bank is debited with
the amount. The notes come in from
various banks in parcels, each parcel
accompanied by q memorandum stat
ing the number and amount of the
notes contained in it. This memoran-
dunn is marked with certain number,
and then each note in the parcel is
stamped to correspond, the stamping
machine automatically registering how
many are stamped, and consequently
drawing. immediate attention to any
deficiency in the number of notes as
compared with that stated in the men,
orandum. This done, the notes are
sorted according to number and date,
and after being defaced by punching
out the numbers indicating value, and
tearing off the corner bearing the sig
nature, are passed ON to the '.Bank-note
Library" where they are packed in
boxes and preserved for possible future
reference during period of five years.
There are one hundred and twenty
clerks employed in this one depart
ment; and SO perfect is the system of
registration that if the number of a re-
turned note be known the head of this
department, by referring to his books,
can ascertain in few minutes the date
when and the banker through whom it
was presented; and if within the period
of five years, can produce the note it.
self for inspection. As to the ''num-
Der" of bank-note, by the way, there
is sometimes a little misconception,
many people imagining that by quoting
the bare figures on the face of q note
they have done all that is requisite for
its Identification. This is not the case.
Bank-notes are not numbered
'consecutively ad infnittn1, but in
series of one to one hundred thou
sand, the different series being
distinguished as between themselves
by the date, which appears in full in
the body of the note, and is further in
dictated, to the initiated, by the letter
and numerals prefixed to the actual
number. Thus-9O75s ON the face of
mote indicates that the note in question
is No. 90755 of the series printed on
May a. 1885, which date appears in
full in the body of the note. - in like
manner indicates that the note forms
part Of series printed on February 10,
1888. In taking the number" of
note, therefore, either this prefix or the
full date, as stated in the body of the
note, should always be included.
The Library of cancelled notes
not to be COMPOUNDED with the Bank
Library proper-is situated, in the bank
vaults, and we are indebted to the
courtesy of the bank-note Librarian
tor-the following curious and interest
ing statistics respecting his stock. The
stock OF paid notes for five years-ths