Error Note Chronicles: Paper Jam Error

Paper Money Guaranty® (PMG®) is the world’s leading authority on banknote errors, a popular segment of numismatics. In Error Note Chronicles, we take an in-depth look at different errors. This month’s topic is the Paper Jam Error.

Anyone who has ever regularly used a printer is familiar with the problem of paper crumpling up as it is being fed through the printer. A similar issue can be found with banknotes, such as this 1996 $100 Federal Reserve Note. As you can see, this Paper Jam Error caused numerous printed folds. Apparently, the paper became crumpled after the back was printed and remained that way through the cutting stage. (This particular note realized $528 in a June 2021 Heritage Auctions sale.)

1996 $100 Federal Reserve Note (New York) graded PMG 30 Very Fine EPQ with a Paper Jam Error Click images to enlarge.

Here's another Paper Jam Error that affected the overprint on this 1988A $5 Federal Reserve Note. As you can see, the left serial number and both seals were affected by this error, though the sheet was apparently mostly straightened out by the cutting stage. (This note realized $1,440 in a January 2021 Heritage Auctions sale.)

1988A $5 Federal Reserve Note (Chicago) graded PMG 53 About Uncirculated with a Paper Jam Error Click images to enlarge.

In a Paper Jam Error, the printed folds are often accompanied by tearing in the note. Such is the case with this Cuba / Foreign Exchange Certificate 1994 50 Pesos Convertibles, which also demonstrates that the error can occur on world notes. (This particular note realized $240 in an October 2022 Heritage Auctions sale.)

Cuba / Foreign Exchange Certificate 1994 50 Pesos Convertibles graded PMG 55 About Uncirculated with a Paper Jam Error Click images to enlarge.

PMG, an independent member of the Certified Collectibles Group® (CCG®), has certified many exciting error notes, including the famous “Del Monte” error note that realized $396,000 in a January 2021 sale.

Collectors and dealers with error notes can submit them to PMG for certification under an applicable grading tier with “error” or the specific error noted under the Variety/Pedigree column on the submission form. There is no additional fee for this service.

For more information about submitting to PMG, visit PMGnotes.com.

Other Error Note Chronicles columns:

• Cutting Error
• Doubled Print Error
• Dual Denomination Error
• Gutter Fold Error
• Ink Smear Error
• Insufficient Inking
• Inverted Back
• Inverted Overprint Errors
• Misalignment Errors
• Mismatched Prefix Error
• Mismatched Serial Number Error
• National Bank Note Errors
• Obstructed Printing Errors
• Offset Printing Error
• Overprint on Back Error
• The PCBLIC Error
• Printed Fold Error
• Stuck Digit Error