1970's Giori Press Test Uncut Sheet (32 subjects) PCGS certified Gem New 66 - $4,500 - (Canandaigua, NY)
This Gem Crisp New uncut sheet of 32 Giori Press test subjects has been in possession of the seller since it was purchased from a relative of Edgar L. Pigman, and was subsequently graded Gem New 66 by PCGS. In 2012, Smitty's Coin and Currency, Canandaigua, NY announced the verification of a newly discovered hoard of Giori Test Notes that were printed on a press designed and built in Geneva, N.Y. in the 1970s. The American Bank Note Company, a subcontractor for the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing contracted Edgar L. Pigman, an engineer for the American Can Company's Geneva location, to design the press. Until recently, these test notes were almost forgotten, with only the nephew of the late design engineer, Edgar L. Pigman, being aware of their existence. Now, these notes are recognized to have significant local and national historical value. The Geneva, NY-made machines were shipped to Washington, DC and using "nonsense plates" from the BEP were used to print the test notes in sheets of 32. These plates have about 30-34 different vintages from a variety of notes. Most recognized are Washington $1, Lincoln $5, and Grant $50 bills. These notes were not legal to possess since they somewhat resembled real currency, even though there were no denominations. Only with a change in the BEP policy are these rare notes now legal to be bought and sold. The History of the Giori Test Note To understand the significance of the Giori test notes requires a little history of United States Currency. At the conclusion of WWII, Gualtiero Giori created what was eventually known as the Giori Press. This groundbreaking method allowed two-color and even three-color engraving from a single plate, in one pass. Using precisely cut special rubber inking rollers, this allowed the application of each ink selectively to parts of the same plate. Adding to the new faster drying ink and other new technologies, a new press was to be commissioned by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), ma…
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From ebay.com - 1 month ago