1998 $100 Note MacFarlane/Evans Print Error - Missing Simultan on Reverse R618a Uncirculated

Provenance:

Lot #3395, Noble Numismatics Auction 60 (April 1999). Estimate: $600, Hammer: $1150, Nett: $1,265.

Lot #3275, Downie's (Australian Coin Auctions) Auction 292 (July 2006). Estimate: $3,000, Hammer: $3,500, Nett: $4,173.75.

This note is one of just 3 examples of this incredible error sighted on this denomination.

All types of misprinted banknotes, printing errors or “variety” notes as they’re known are scarce, particularly when they’re in impeccable condition and old.

Take a look through eBay these days and you’ll see any number of polymer “error” notes. Unfortunately for the punters that pay good money for them, the appearance of the vast majority of those notes isn’t a result of an error at Note Printing Australia but has been brought about by the people selling them.

These criminal vendors will use acetone or a similar solvent to remove one or more print phases from a section or a side of a note. I’ve noticed they have recently started writing some type of reference number on the blank sides in texta, in an effort to give the notes greater credibility.

Checking the characteristics and background of this note clearly shows that it is, in fact, a genuine printing error. The provenance above shows that it has been offered for sale via auction publicly twice in the past, and has been the subject of spirited bidding both times.

The main print phases used by NPA in preparing polymer notes for circulation are:

1. Simultan - the background colours are applied to both sides of the blank substrate at the same time;

2. Intaglio - Major design elements are printed into the surface of each note using ink under pressure applied via engraved printing plates.

3. Serial numbers - these are added before a protective coating is applied to the finished notes.

Mick Vort-Ronald's auction research shows that just two other examples of a 1st Generation polymer note missing the simultan print phase have appeared for sale publicly.

One of the other notes known is from the same sheet as the note you see here, the other is from a sheet of Fraser Evans $100 notes dated 1996.

This incredible print error remains in superlative condition - it has no flicks, dents or folds are evident at all.

SKU: 207834