Treasury seal errors

Defective Seal Errors on Modern Federal Reserve Notes: Partial, Faded, and Malformed Treasury Seals That Escaped the BEP

June 15, 2026 by

Treasury seal errors rank among the most visually dramatic and collectible mistakes to escape the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, yet many collectors don’t know how to identify genuine defects from normal printing variation. This guide breaks down every major category of seal error on modern Federal Reserve Notes, with specific examples, auction values, and the grading nuances that separate a $50 curiosity from a $5,000 centerpiece.

Missing Second Printing Errors on Federal Reserve Notes: Collecting Notes Without Seals, Signatures, or Serial Numbers

June 15, 2026 by

When the Bureau of Engraving and Printing’s second printing pass fails entirely or partially, the result is some of the most dramatic and collectible error notes in U.S. currency. This guide covers everything from how these errors occur to which specific series command top dollar at auction.