Evening star., 1922-04-23
Curious Bank Notes.
OCCASIONALLY an imperfect

OCCASIONALLY an imperfect or
misprinted bank note will evade
the vigilance of the inspectors of the
bureau of engraving and printing.
The most extraordinary rnisprint that
ever found its way into circulation
was a fifty dollar national bank note.
A clerk in western hotel. in max
ing up his accounts. found dis
crepancy that could not be explained
He placed the pile Of bills at his left
hand, and, as he counted each zone,
turned the note over and put 1t on a
pile at his right. He discovered that
when he counted from left to right
his cash balanced exactly, but that
when he counted from right to left
there was a shortage of $50. The
clerk spent more than two hours in
trying to find out what was the mat
ter. Finally, in desperation, he cali
ed upon the cashier for assistance.
The cashier had no better success.
Again and again he counted the bills.
with the same result-one time the
cash would balance and the next time z
it would show a shortage. Finally
he examined each bill. both face and
back Whereupon the mystery was
explained. One Of the bills bore the
design of $50 on the face and that OF
500 on the back. The clerk had
taken the bill for 500.
Upon corresponding with the
Treasury Department they found
that the department had a record of
the bill. In 1890 one sheet of bank
notes for national bank in Kansas
City had been reversed in the press.
One plate bore the diverse of $50
bill at the top and the diverse Of a
800 bill at the bottom. The other
plate bore the reverse Of the two
notes. AS each sheet was printed il
had been laid aside to dry before be-
ing run through for the reverse print
ing. inadvertently the pressman had
turned one sheet upside down, with
the result that two misprinted sheets
came forth-one with a $50 face and
500 back and the other with 500
face and $50 back.
The cashier of the bank had been
the first to become aware OF the err
ror. He found that something was
| wrong after he had paid out the note
| with the $50 face and the 500 back
by coming across one with the 500
| face and the $50 back. This note
was returned to the Treasury and
| destroyed and a perfect one issued in
! it's stead.
On the 1880 notes is found Treas
ury seal entireley different from any
! other ever used by the government
The key. which is one Of the most
| important symbols of the seal. shows
| q handle at the left-hand side In
stead of at the right. as on all others
/ The shield is of different shape, and
| the stars are larger. The two ends
| OF the band surrounding the symbols
are fastened with a buckle, which
in no other instance forms part or
I the design Of a Treasury seal. This
is the only issue of notes on which
the peculiar seal was used. and col
iectors of paper money include them
among the freaks.
| Another. curiosity is 81 note OF
! the Second National Bank of Ra
VIENNA, Ohio 1t lacks the signatures
j of the president and the cashier. al
!, though it was circulated without
! challenge.
/, A 81 national bank note of the,
First National of Fall River. Mass!
also lacks both signatures. but.
| passed freely before the blunder was
j observed. Still another 81 note
that of the First National Bank Of
| Indianapolis--lacks the signature OF
| the president.
A certain legal tender note - 1859
has one very curious feature. Its
face bears portrait of Webster and
a representation of Rolfe presenting
i Pocahontas to Queen Elizabeth. Ar
the bottom of the center is small
eagle. Upon turning this bill upside
down. the eagle presents faithful
/ likeness Of donkey's head. Whether
this was intended by the engraver as
4 Joke is not known. but the resem-
blance IL 70 close that it seems to indis
} cate premedhation on his part