Old notes weigh more than new ones

(Image courtesy https://www.uscurrency.gov)

Would a stack of 490 new U.S. currency notes weigh more than a stack of 490 worn notes?

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing says that there are 490 notes to a pound. Figures from Bob Cochran, published several years ago in Bank Note Reporter, indicate that circulated notes weigh more, by as much as 0.06 to 0.07 grams per note. This increase in weight appears to be the result of the dirt and grime picked up by the notes as they circulate in commerce.

 

What’s the story on the Argentine bank notes that were used as lottery tickets?

Several of the provincial governments in Argentina issued small denomination bank notes that were used in weekly lottery drawings as tickets. The scheme was to match the last five digits of the note’s serial number with the numbers drawn. In most cases the prizes were either a multiple of the face value of the note, or a household appliance, but some of the special lotteries had a house as the first prize.

 

What can you tell me about a note which shows a woman with the inscription, “Equal Justice Reserve Note?”

It is a satirical piece, issued by a group protesting male dominance of the Catholic church. These were first issued in 1978, part of “Project Almighty Dollar.”

 

Please settle our argument – did James Longacre or Franklin Peale design the silver three-cent coin?

The design for the issued coin was Longacre’s, but Peale is credited with an 1850 pattern copied from Gobrecht’s pattern for an 1836 gold dollar. While checking this I noticed that many writers tend to gloss over the differences between patterns and actual issue coins. This may have been the root cause for your difference of opinion.

Was there an American engraver by the name of Eue?

Your man is Francis Eue, also known as Franz or Hans Eue. He worked for the Medallic Art firm in the 1930s. Reportedly he was so prolific that his output was mistaken for the work of an entire company. Research by D. Wayne Johnson in the TAMS Journal proved he was just one man.

 

What happened to Robert Morris after he paved the way for our first Mint?

Morris was Pennsylvania’s first Senator in the first U.S. Congress. In 1798 he suffered financial reverses, went bankrupt and spent more than three years in debtor’s prison. He died in poverty in 1806.

Who was the designer of the Philippine coins struck under the U.S. administration?

His name was Melecio Figueroa and he was a native of the Philippines, not California. He was trained in Spain and worked at the Manila Mint under Spain, later designing the coins that were put into circulation in 1903. His wife was the model.

 

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More Collecting Resources

• The Standard Catalog of United States Paper Money is the only annual guide that provides complete coverage of U.S. currency with today’s market prices.

• Order the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, General Issues to learn about circulating paper money from 14th century China to the mid 20th century.

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