 State of New York. June 15, 1780 Act. Twenty Dollars. No.264. Contemporary Counterfeit. ''Signed'' by Bancker and Henry Rutgers; ''countersigned'' on the back by Yates Jr. Printed on thin paper, watermarked 'CONFEDE/RATION'. Standard size, designs and imprint as used on Maryland and other State issued ''Guaranteed'' notes. One of the rarest issues on the 1780 Guaranteed Acts. There were only 1,413 genuine notes authorized. The final note in this incredible selection of seven New York Guaranteed notes. You know a series is rare when its counterfeit type is well regarded. This Newman listed counterfeit is a rare one. It is printed on properly watermarked paper that is brighter white than normally seen and similar to the paper used for 1780 Massachusetts Guaranteed $20 counterfeits (see lot 8912 in this sale).
The plates are comparatively crude in comparison to the genuine bill above. The plate diagnostics are very clear. On the face, the 'I' in 'Interest' is so poorly formed as not to fool any sophisticated taker. The face printing details are noticeably different and less well defined. On the back, there are also many differences. The imprint line is a mess with the lettering too large and not straight across the bottoms. The only note from this Act we have handled in recent memory was this particular type (see our May, 2006 Sale, lot 898, ''Extremely Fine, hole cancel short tear at bottom''). It realized a handy $3,220.00 in active bidding.
A very attractive note that has a large hole cancel at the center like the few others we have seen. Very Fine Plus. Vertical fold with several small nicks along the edges. Wide margined unlike most genuine notes. Bright on both sides with glittering mica. A small pinhole in the ''Rutgers'' signature. Boyd pencil code adjacent to Clarke's to the left of the ''Guarantor's'' signature. One of the most significant counterfeit types on the entire Colonial paper currency series.
Ex F.C.C. Boyd Estate; T. James Clarke Collection; Henry Chapman.
The broad margins on this note indicate it may have been a single impression counterfeit plate. This was commonplace for hand-engraved counterfeits without the benefits of duplicating machinery at their disposal. Clearly, Hall and Sellers were safe in their beds when the nefarious took their turn on this cruder set of plates.
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