The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-24
NEW COUNTERFEIT AFLoAT.
Dangerous Imitation OF n FIVE Dol.
lar silver Certificate.


Inr silver Certificate.
Secret Service, officials have discovered
a new and dangerous counterfeit. It is
an imitation OF the IS indian head silver
certificate. The plate is evidently the
product of a photo photographic process.
and its detail generally is good. AS is I'M
avoidable with that process, however, the
printing lacks the depth and briliiancy
that come with the steel-plate products
of the Bureau OF Engraving and Printing.
In regard to paper, the counterfeiter has
| adopted the device, quite common lately,
| Of pasting together two sheets of linen pa
per, between which fibres of red and blue
silk have been scattered. With these
bogus notes, therefore, it is not safe to
depend upon the silk fbres which many
business men consider an absolute test as
to the genuineness of a bill.
The maker of this new note has evident
ly printed the numbers upon it with a ma
chine which uses type slightly different
from the genuine. In another respect,
also, the criminal has made an error.
Every genuine note has on its face both
a check letter and a number. There is
fixed relation between the two, based on
the final two figures in the number. II
these last two fgures-as for example in
No. 49, ,6l6-are Invisible evenly by four,
then the check letter must be ID on
genuine note. If remainder of one is left
after division the check letter is A: If
the remainder be two, then the check let
ter is b; and II three then c. The coun-
terfeiter, in evident ignorance of that
fact, neglected to number his bill SO that
it accords with the check letter.
Thus far only one of the bogus notes has
come to light. II was found last week
by the Fifth National Bank of New York
Chief wilkie, of the Secret Service Blu
reau, issued the following bulletin yester-
day, describing the new counterfeit:
dollar silver certificate; series
1899; check letter b; face plate No. 20;
back plate No. %; J. w. Lyons Register:
Ellis II. Roberts, Treasurer; portrait of
Indian Chief Onepapa.
"a fairly deceptive note printed on two
pieces of paper between which red and
blue silk fibre has been distributed. The
portrait OF Onepapa is much lighter than
the genuine; on the left side of the face
the outline of the nose is indstinct, and
there are two prominent black lines ex-
nose The blue UNCONVENTIONAL figures
left face of note and seal right face of
note are several shades lighter than the
genuine.
THE Treasury numbers are paler blue
than the genuine The horizontal stroke
in the middle of the stop at the end of
the Treasury number in the counterfeit
is an elongated diamond in shape; in the
genuine the stroke is shaped like the up
per part Of an exclamation point placed
horizontally. Back of the counterfeit is
darker than the genuine. most detail is
lost in shaded portions Of the large scroll
in centre Of back Two small dark con-
limitations of scroll right and left of CEN
ire ton OF central design. that are pro,ni-
nent In genuine are lost in counterfeit.
"Shovers of these notes will probably
attempt to work small shops. storekeep-
ers should carefully examine notes OF this
issue"