Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-08-11
ISSUING BANK NOTES.
EXHAUSTIVE MEANS ARE TAKEN TO
PREVENT FORGERY.

2 Notes of the Bank Of England Are Rarei
Of Scotland Proceeds with a New Issue
Great skill and Ingenuity.
Although coins are often connterfeited
/ as the police records show, It Is rare thai
an attempt is made, In this country at least
to forge bank note. The invariabie Gus
tom Of the Bank Of England never to refs
sue notes is strong safeguard against
forgery, as detection would be speedy, but
even III Scotland, where they circulate veal
In and year out until they become grimy
and greasy, eounterfeits are seldom if ever
heard of This immunity is no doubt
mainly due to the difficulty OF reproducing
an exact facsimile, even with all the ad-
vance which has been made in recent years
In photo processes, and to the fact that the
banks having daily exchanges the notes are
quickly returned to the issuing bank.
Those who produce bank notes, as we'll as
| the banks who issue them, are Of course
| fully alive to the opportunities which I'M
| provements in the arts offer to a skillful
| forger and their energies are directed to
counteracting those possibilities In every
| part of the work of producing note the
| highest technical skill and ingenuity are
employed, and its reproduction would not
only battle Il fOr,scr, but even the came
craftsmen were they to start afresh with
other materials could not reproduce exact
imitation Of n given note. The difference
might be slight, but 1t would be sufficient
for an expert to detect.
The fact that the National Bank Of Scot
land Is just now preparing for an issue Of
fresh notes has induced us to make some
inquiry as to the method of their produc-
ton The work has been intrusted to a
firm which has turned out not little Of
the paper currency Of South American and
herstates. In conversation with the head
OF the department, representative learned
that the first thing to be done is of course
to fix upon the design.
The bank managers stated that they want
ed en- the face of the note portrait OF the
Marquis of Lothian, who is governor of the
bank, along with views of shipping on the
Clyde, Hollywood palace and Edin burgh cas-
tie, also the arms of Scotland and of the
bank. On the back there was to be a view
Of Princes street, Edinburgh, from the Cal
ton hill. The design was worked out By
the artists according to these directions |
and very artistic note is the result.
The object in view, however, was not |
wholly artistic. The yignettes, and more |
especially the portrait, were introduced in |
order to make it difficult. if not impossible. |
Tor forgers to initiate the note Even the
most skilled engravers would be hard put
% it to reproduce the fine lines of the Tor
ner and the expression of the latter. AS
portrait and landscape engraving are as
much divided as the two branches of the
painters art, and coats of arms form an.
'ther speciality, the work had to be in.
rusted to several hands, each according to
us vocation. Engraving on steel is Il very
SLOW process indeed, and something like
wo months were spent in producing the
The engravers worked simultaneously on
heir special pats, and when finished these
we're put together by process which need
ot De detallsd, so as to form the complete
late Another feature of the design is
he narrow border on the face of the note
nd the broad border framing the view on {
he back. These are formed of geometric J
icework of extreme intricacy and delicacy I
inch Is produced by machine of very ey [
enslve construction, and the movements a
winch are so intricate that if the oper
Ior lost the register of the wheels and in
ices he would not be able to reproduce the
lme design, Great reliance is therefore
laced upon this machine for outwitting a
le ingenuity of the counterfeiter.
Inc practice IN good deal of so called
eel plate engraving is to transfer the de e
5h irom tne plate to stone, and then print
ON the latter. In the case of bank notes -
'"eVer the printing is done direct from u
e plate, and the result is that the lines "
{ Hiuch more delicately reproduced on Il
e paper, and the difficulty of imitation is "
ereby enhanced. The paper is made from CO
'e iineh rags, which impart the qualities -"
uufaolilty and softness, 50 that it can he II
ldeu without ciacking-ulmost like the o.
aterlal from which it is manufactured u
ne front OF the note is printed in blue &C
on two grounds-one of red and the
aer OF yellow, while the back is blue on - &C
lie ground of yellow. The tints are fine is
heed from relief blocks, and the printing al
IN the plate from the blue ink follows or
e coiofs We're chosen with a distinct view .t'
ohe possibilities of photo lithogranbv a. al
G iifst proofs that We're pulled when mt nv
the test Were found not to be altogether Tn
4si"ctory, and alter series of experi. gu
nus those colors were employed which "!
re- 1t is believed, absolute security W
Il tHe handling Of the paper and tho
.-ueu iiotes 1here Is an elaborate check
TEN !" heu the paper reaches the print. :
: WI 'ne paper maker, every sheet is care UI
y oouhtea' ana at each stage the same of
caution is taken. At the te1minatior ~ ed,
printing the notes are finally con,1tod SAT
packed up for delivery. If there ara Ma
"spoils,' they are burned. The nIa+as a
Kept IN special box belonging to ~ abb
in the strong room. In the case Of D tioi
lgn Issue the consul puts his seal nror Ct sec
l. - a. 1hl'er the notes are sent to the Ollie
K 'hey have to be signed by an Official Pre-
IRE they are finally ready for issue to tha bee
lie. Pail Mall Budget quo " 'ie w.