'A' Varieties Survey

This survey is an attempt to determine which series, denominations, and types of notes can be found with which of the 'A' varieties that were in use during roughly the 1930s and '40s. The type style of the letter 'A' in serial numbers was changed in about 1930, though it took over ten years for the original 'A' to pass completely out of use.

Early 'A'
Note high crossbar
Late 'A'
Note lower crossbar

The transition from the Early 'A' to the Late 'A' took place mostly during the Woods-Mellon signature combination. All notes with those signatures are believed to be common with either version of the 'A' or with mixed 'A' styles, so they are generally not of interest for purposes of this survey.

A few of the latest Tate-Mellon notes were printed with at least one Late 'A' in a serial number. Any such notes are generally scarce. Conversely, in the Woods-Mills signatures (which began in 1932) and in subsequent signature combinations, the Early 'A' becomes scarce, though it was still in occasional use at least as late as the early Julian-Vinson printings (in the mid-'40s). Also involved here were the Federal Reserve Bank Notes of Series 1929, which were actually printed in 1933 and 1934.

In either direction, it is also potentially useful to find notes which have the normal 'A' style for their series, but which have serial numbers close to the known notes with exceptional 'A' styles. Such reports can help to pin down exactly how long the unusual 'A' was in the serialling press, and whether it was used in more than one plate position of any given run. At the moment, I'm only including normal notes in the tables below if they're within several thousand serials of a reported non-normal note, or within a few hundred thousand serials and from the same plate position.

If you have any notes which you think might be of interest for this survey, please email me here with (1) the serial number, (2) the plate position letter, and (3) which 'A' style(s) were used in which locations on the note. Since the two versions of the 'A' can look confusingly similar at first, it might be useful to send a good-resolution scan of your note if you have that capability, for verification purposes. Thanks!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------- LATEST UPDATE: 10/14/17 ------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Observed early uses of the Late 'A'

     Ser/Den/Type     Serial Number   PP    'A' Styles           Source
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tate-Mellon signatures:
     1928 $1 SC       E 806 31060 A   ppF   late/early           in my collection
     1928 $1 SC       E 976 78324 A   ppJ   early/late           in my collection
     1928 $1 SC       F 000 00005 A   ppE   early/late           Ebay
     1928 $1 SC       F 012 22777 A   ppG   late/early           reported by WG
     1928 $1 SC       F 058 63762 A   ppJ   early/late           collectorsuniverse
     1928 $1 SC       F 060 14434 A   ppD   late/early           Ebay
     1928 $1 SC       F 144 38735 A   ppE   early/early [normal] Ebay
     1928 $1 SC       F 618 24814 A   ppD   late/early           in my collection
     1928 $1 SC       F 666 66672 A   ppF   late/early           Ebay
     1928 $1 SC       F 666 66687 A   ppC   early/late           reported by DP
     1928 $1 SC       F 666 66697 A   ppA   early/late           Ebay
     1928 $1 SC       F 666 66698 A   ppB   early/early [normal] Ebay
     1928 $1 SC       G 568 54639 A   ppA   late/early           Ebay
     1928 $1 SC       G 873 81000 A   ppF   early/early [normal] reported by BT
     1928 $1 SC       G 873 81001 A   ppA   early/late           reported by BT
     1928 $1 SC       H 981 72256 A   ppJ   late/early           reported by RW
       [both bookends to this note, ppI&K, are normal early/early]
     1928 $1 SC       K 089 60607 A   ppC   late/early           Ebay
     1928 $1 SC       * 104 42307 A   ppI   early/late           Ebay
     1928 $2 USN      A 297 09965 A   ppK   e-e/l-e              in my collection
     1928 $2 USN      A 440 01066 A   ppF   e-e/e-l              illus in Hessler-Ch.
     1928 $2 USN      A 504 61503 A   ppC   e-e/e-l              Ebay
     1928 $2 USN      A 965 20744 A   ppJ   l-l/l-l (!)          reported by DP
     1928 $10 FRN     I 033 97391 A   ppE   early/late           in my collection
     1928 $10 FRN     I 036 97839 A   ppI   early/late           collectorsuniverse
     1928 $20 FRN     D 079 30889 A   ppE   early/late           donckelly.com
     1928 $20 FRN     G 092 74409 A   ppE   early/late           in my collection

Early Woods-Mellon signatures:
     1928A $1 SC      F 396 66655 A   ppG   late/early           in my collection
     1928A $1 SC      F 485 29978 A   ppD   late/early           Ebay
     1928A $1 SC      F 560 05510 A   ppD   early/late           reported by ICC
     1928A $1 SC      F 955 16847 A   ppI   late/early           in my collection
     1928A $1 SC      G 071 77207 A   ppA   early/late           donckelly.com
     1928A $1 SC      G 771 28330 A   ppD   late/early           Ebay
     1928A $1 SC      G 873 82009 A   ppA   late/early           Ebay
       [next five serials 010-014, ppB-F, are normal early/early]
     1928A $1 SC      I 379 27039 A   ppA   early/late           donckelly.com
     1928A $1 SC      * 127 35339 A   ppI   early/late           Ebay
     1928 $5 USN      * 011 92202 A   ppH   early/late           Ebay
     1928 $5 USN      B 130 08198 A   ppF   early/late           reported by DP
     1928 $5 USN      B 319 90909 A   ppA   early/late           reported by DP
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Observed late uses of the Early 'A'

     Ser/Den/Type     Serial Number   PP    'A' Styles           Source
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Late Woods-Mellon signatures:
     1928A $1 SC      Y 065 01179 A   ppE   late/early           in my collection
     1928A $1 SC      Z 049 06816 A   ppJ   early/late           denlys.com
     1928A $1 SC      Z 049 09610 A    ?    early/late           Ebay
     1928A $1 SC      Z 049 22374 A   ppJ   early/late           cointalk.org forum
     1928A $1 SC      Z 049 26140 A   ppH   early/late           Ebay
     1928A $1 SC      Z 142 04736 A   ppF   early/late           denlys.com
     1928A $1 SC      Z 526 16549 A   ppE   late/early           in my collection
     1928A $1 SC      Z 532 17761 A   ppK   early/late           in my collection
     1928A $1 SC      Z 653 75506 A   ppJ   late/early           reported by WG
     1928A $1 SC      Z 678 59278 A   ppJ   early/late           donckelly.com
     1928A $1 SC      Z 715 82242 A   ppJ   late/early           Ebay
     1928B $20 FRN    G 200 09500 A   ppJ   early/late           in my collection

Woods-Mills signatures:
     1928B $1 SC      Y 945 91226 A   ppH   early/late           collectorsuniverse
     1928B $1 SC      Z 324 69890 A   ppB   early/late           in my collection
     1928A $5 USN     C 488 18426 A   ppH   late/early           reported by DP
     1928A $5 USN     C 552 83652 A   ppF   late/early           reported by ICC
     1928A $5 USN     C 552 83658 A   ppF   late/early           donckelly.com
     1928C $20 FRN    G 248 72390 A   ppH   late/early           cointalk.org forum
     1928C $20 FRN    G 251 34488 A   ppH   late/early           seen at CPMX

Woods-Woodin signatures:
     none observed

Julian-Woodin signatures:
     none observed

Julian-Morgenthau signatures:
     1934 $1 SC       A 651 29091 A   ppI   l-e/l-l              in my collection
     1934 $5 FRN      F 121 79707 A   ppG   late/early           collectorsuniverse
     1934 $5 FRN      G 100 27784 A   ppH   early/late           collectorsuniverse
     1934 $5 FRN      G 132 07262 A   ppB   early/late           in my collection
     1934 $5 FRN Haw. L 149 86766 A   ppH   early/late           donckelly.com
     1934 $20 FRN Haw L 690 56827 A   ppA   late/early           in my collection
     1934 $50 FRN     B 146 68014 A   ppF   early/late           collectorsuniverse
     1934 $50 FRN     F 028 46796 A   ppF   early/late           in my collection
     1934 $50 FRN     H 010 59440 A   ppB   late/early           cointalk.com forum
     1928D $2 USN     D 275 55776 A   ppB   early/early          in my collection
     1928D $2 USN     D 286 65356 A    ?    early/early          Ebay
     1928D $2 USN     D 300 33800 A   ppB   early/early          in my collection
     1928D $2 USN     D 321 75242 A   ppB   early/early          in my collection
     1928C $5 USN     G 485 56546 A   ppD   early/early          in my collection
     1928C $5 USN     G 495 44800 A   ppD   early/early          in my collection
     1928C $5 USN 637 G 495 46894 A   ppD   early/early          collectorsuniverse
     1928C $5 USN     G 495 47927 A   ppE   early/early          in my collection
     1934A $5 SC      K 666 62277 A   ppC   late/early           in my collection
     1934A $5 SC      K 699 01527 A   ppC   late/late [normal]   Ebay
     1934A $5 SC      K 717 38360 A   ppB   early/early          in my collection
     1934A $5 SC 637  K 743 05828 A   ppD   early/early          seen at CPMX
     1934A $5 SC      K 745 35268 A   ppD   early/early          reported by ICC
     1934A $5 SC      K 754 54519 A   ppG   late/late [normal]   reported by LCS
     1934A $5 SC      K 766 09280 A   ppB   early/early          in my collection
     1934A $5 SC      K 775 28465 A   ppE   early/early          Ebay
     1934A $5 SC      K 792 87290 A   ppB   early/early          seen at CPMX
     1934A $5 SC      K 811 49663 A   ppE   early/early          reported by ICC
     1934A $5 SC      K 824 39722 A   ppJ   late/late [normal]   Ebay
     1934A $5 SC      K 826 823xx A     x    xx                  Ebay
       [this is a run of 20 consecutive serials, 361-380; all notes from]
       [ ppB,D,E are early/early, while all from ppA,C,F are late/late. ]
     1934A $5 SC      K 835 51748 A   ppB   early/early          in my collection
     1934A $5 SC      K 859 73608 A   ppD   early/early          Ebay
     1934A $5 SC      K 864 78298 A   ppD   early/early          Ebay
     1934A $5 SC      K 866 30290 A   ppD   early/early          seen at CPMX
     1934A $5 SC      K 889 94504 A   ppB   early/early          seen at CPMX
       [next note ppC is normal late/late]
     1934A $5 SC      K 916 59788 A   ppB   early/early          reported by LCS
     1934A $5 SC      L 050 64869 A   ppE   early/early          in my collection
     1934A $5 SC      L 057 26885 A   ppE   early/early          in my collection
     1934A $5 SC      L 077 84454 A   ppF   early/late           in my collection
     1934A $10 FRN    F 812 71554 A   ppL   early/late           in my collection
     1934A $20 FRN Hw L 682 10911 A   ppA   late/early           seen at CPMX
     1934A $100 FRN   G 052 42034 A   ppH   early/late           in my collection
     1934A $500 FRN   B 003 17025 A   ppI   late/early           donckelly.com
     1934A $500 FRN   B 003 29511 A   ppI   late/early           donckelly.com
     1934A $500 FRN   B 003 29949 A   ppI   late/early           collectorsuniverse
     1934A $500 FRN   B 003 30507 A   ppI   late/early           cointalk.org forum
     1934A $500 FRN   B 003 33645 A   ppI   late/early           donckelly.com
     1934A $500 FRN   B 003 33987 A   ppI   late/early           donckelly.com
     1934A $500 FRN   B 003 54303 A   ppI   late/early           reported by RY

Julian-Vinson signatures:
     1928E $2 USN     D 315 27689 A   ppE   early/early          donckelly.com
     1928E $2 USN     D 319 35767 A   ppE   early/early          in my collection
     1928E $2 USN     D 325 09669 A   ppG   late/late [normal]   donckelly.com
     1928E $2 USN     D 328 31036 A   ppB   early/early          in my collection
     1928E $2 USN     D 353 48324 A   ppH   late/late [normal]   donckelly.com
     1928E $2 USN     D 354 14355 A   ppC   late/late [normal]   donckelly.com
     1928D $5 USN     G 535 02821 A   ppE   early/early          seen at CPMX
     1928D $5 USN     G 535 17394 A   ppD   early/early          in my collection
     1928D $5 USN     G 535 23292 A   ppD   early/early          donckelly.com
     1928D $5 USN     G 539 16838 A   ppJ   late/late [normal]   donckelly.com
     1934B $5 SC      K 909 73943 A   ppE   early/early          seen at CPMX
     1934B $5 SC      K 917 76053 A   ppE   early/early          in my collection
     1934B $5 SC      K 958 54188 A   ppF   early/late           reported by ICC
     1934B $5 SC      K 965 64462 A   ppF   early/late           scan sent by DP
     1934B $5 SC      L 006 28187 A   ppE   early/early          in my collection
     1934B $5 SC      L 010 32236 A   ppB   early/early          Ebay
     1934B $5 SC      L 040 26728 A   ppB   early/early          reported by ICC
     1934B $5 SC      L 055 10939 A   ppE   early/early          in my collection
     1934B $5 SC      L 072 07326 A   ppF   early/late           reported by ICC
     1934B $5 SC      L 083 29272 A   ppF   early/late           seen at CPMX
       [preceding ppC,D,E and following ppA are all normal late/late]
     1934B $5 SC      L 144 00144 A   ppF   early/late           collectorsuniverse
     1934B $5 SC 637  L 165 15666 A   ppF   early/late           collectorsuniverse
     1934B $5 SC      L 170 74296 A   ppF   early/late           seen at CPMX
     1934B $5 SC      * 114 21581 A   ppE   early/early          seen at CPMX

Federal Reserve Bank Notes:
     1929 $5 FRBN     C 000 00061 A   ppA   early/late           collectorsuniverse
     1929 $5 FRBN     C 002 34573 A   ppI   early/late           in my collection
     1929 $5 FRBN     C 028 20761 A   ppE   late/early           donckelly.com
     1929 $5 FRBN     D 006 31213 A   ppA   early/late           reported by MCS
     1929 $5 FRBN     D 027 40239 A   ppI   late/early           donckelly.com
     1929 $5 FRBN     D 027 49965 A   ppI   late/early           in my collection
     1929 $5 FRBN     D 031 68519 A   ppI   late/early           reported by ICC
     1929 $5 FRBN     D 038 46897 A   ppI   late/early           donckelly.com
     1929 $5 FRBN     D 042 02523 A   ppI   late/early           donckelly.com
     1929 $5 FRBN     F 017 29411 A   ppA   early/late           reported by MCS
     1929 $5 FRBN     G 053 12208 A   ppF   late/early           in my collection
     1929 $5 FRBN     H 002 02419 A   ppI   early/late           donckelly.com
     1929 $5 FRBN     H 002 10952 A   ppJ   early/late           donckelly.com
     1929 $5 FRBN     I 000 45136 A   ppD   early/late           donckelly.com
     1929 $5 FRBN     I 002 51284 A   ppD   early/late           seen at CPMX
     1929 $5 FRBN     I 003 47062 A   ppJ   early/late           donckelly.com
     1929 $5 FRBN     I 004 06317 A   ppI   early/late           in my collection
     1929 $5 FRBN     I 004 08070 A   ppJ   early/late           collectorsuniverse
     1929 $5 FRBN     I 004 92544 A   ppD   early/late           donckelly.com
     1929 $5 FRBN     I 005 36455 A   ppA   early/late           seen at CPMX
     1929 $5 FRBN     I 005 85022 A   ppJ   early/late           seen at CPMX
     1929 $5 FRBN     I 005 99715 A   ppI   early/late           seen at CPMX
     1929 $5 FRBN     I 006 83025 A   ppI   early/late           in my collection
     1929 $5 FRBN     J 009 27197 A   ppE   late/early           in my collection
     1929 $5 FRBN     L 000 22090 A   ppD   early/late           donckelly.com
     1929 $5 FRBN     L 000 76083 A   ppI   early/late           reported by RC
     1929 $5 FRBN     L 001 16055 A   ppI   early/late           collectorsuniverse
     1929 $5 FRBN     L 001 27545 A   ppI   early/late           in my collection
     1929 $5 FRBN     L 001 29849 A   ppI   early/late           reported by LCS
     1929 $5 FRBN     L 001 37349 A   ppI   early/late           illus in BNR
     1929 $5 FRBN     L 001 39882 A   ppJ   early/late           reported by RC
     1929 $10 FRBN    A 001 34094 A   ppL   l-e/l-l              in my collection
     1929 $10 FRBN    B 047 42796 A   ppF   late/early           in my collection
     1929 $10 FRBN    B 049 81014 A   ppF   late/early           donckelly.com
     1929 $10 FRBN    C 008 68881 A   ppI   late/early           in my collection
     1929 $10 FRBN    D 014 47299 A   ppI   late/early           reported by ICC
     1929 $10 FRBN    D 022 20195 A   ppI   late/early           in my collection
     1929 $10 FRBN    E 001 17280 A   ppD   early/late           donckelly.com
     1929 $10 FRBN    E 001 33024 A   ppD   early/late           donckelly.com
     1929 $10 FRBN    E 001 54240 A   ppD   early/late           seen at CPMX
     1929 $10 FRBN    E 005 99332 A   ppD   early/late           in my collection
     1929 $10 FRBN    E 006 06477 A   ppC   late/late [normal]   reported by RW
     1929 $10 FRBN    E 006 06478 A   ppD   late/early           reported by RW
     1929 $10 FRBN    E 010 34360 A   ppH   late/early           donckelly.com
     1929 $10 FRBN    E 011 64938 A   ppB   late/early           reported by ICC
     1929 $10 FRBN    E 011 87702 A   ppB   late/early           donckelly.com
     1929 $10 FRBN    E 011 87716 A   ppD   late/early           donckelly.com
     1929 $10 FRBN    E 013 26686 A   ppH   late/early           in my collection
     1929 $10 FRBN    H 006 63322 A   ppD   early/late           papermoneyforum
     1929 $10 FRBN    H 011 33473 A   ppA   late/early           reported by ICC
     1929 $10 FRBN    H 012 74994 A   ppF   early/late           reported by ICC
     1929 $10 FRBN    H 013 02387 A   ppI   early/late           donckelly.com
     1929 $10 FRBN    H 013 10136 A   ppL   early/late           in my collection
     1929 $10 FRBN    H 013 34152 A   ppJ   early/early          in my collection
     1929 $10 FRBN    H 013 43515 A   ppG   late/early           in my collection
     1929 $10 FRBN    H 015 35888 A   ppH   late/early           donckelly.com
     1929 $10 FRBN    H 015 43742 A   ppH   late/early           in my collection
     1929 $10 FRBN    J 005 56741 A   ppA   early/late           seen at CPMX
     1929 $10 FRBN    J 005 67736 A   ppD   early/late           cointalk.org forum
     1929 $10 FRBN    J 005 93475 A   ppI   early/late           reported by LCS
     1929 $10 FRBN    J 006 00297 A   ppI   early/late           in my collection
     1929 $10 FRBN    J 006 86860 A   ppD   early/late           seen at CPMX
     1929 $10 FRBN    J 008 14480 A   ppD   early/late           seen at CPMX
     1929 $10 FRBN    J 011 95366 A   ppJ   early/late           in my collection
     1929 $10 FRBN    L 004 65497 A   ppK   late/early           in my collection
     1929 $20 FRBN    A 005 64767 A   ppK   l-l/l-e              in my collection
     1929 $20 FRBN    B 010 51907 A   ppK   late/early           in my collection
     1929 $20 FRBN    B 011 06267 A   ppK   late/early           donckelly.com
     1929 $20 FRBN    B 011 34353 A   ppK   late/early           reported by WG
     1929 $20 FRBN    B 018 86663 A   ppK   late/late [normal]   donckelly.com
     1929 $20 FRBN    B 021 33870 A   ppF   late/early           reported by RW
     1929 $20 FRBN    C 009 69503 A   ppK   late/early           cointalk.org forum
     1929 $20 FRBN    E 005 82335 A   ppK   early/late           donckelly.com
     1929 $20 FRBN    E 015 51761 A   ppK   late/early           in my collection
     1929 $20 FRBN    G 019 75350 A   ppF   late/early           in my collection
     1929 $20 FRBN    H 003 99647 A   ppK   late/early           Ebay
     1929 $20 FRBN    H 004 14515 A   ppK   late/early           in my collection
     1929 $20 FRBN    I 002 73868 A   ppD   early/late           seen at CPMX
     1929 $20 FRBN    I 002 84602 A   ppD   early/late           in my collection
     1929 $20 FRBN    I 003 08146 A   ppD   early/late           reported by MCS
     1929 $20 FRBN    I 003 46360 A   ppD   early/late           seen at CPMX
     1929 $20 FRBN    I 003 77621 A   ppK   early/late           in my collection
     1929 $20 FRBN    I 004 09271 A   ppK   early/late           seen at CPMX
     1929 $20 FRBN    J 001 46423 A   ppE   late/late [normal]   donckelly.com
     1929 $20 FRBN    J 003 14351 A   ppE   late/early           in my collection
     1929 $20 FRBN    J 003 40907 A   ppE   late/early           donckelly.com
     1929 $20 FRBN    K 003 90970 A   ppD   early/late           donckelly.com
     1929 $20 FRBN    K 004 21547 A   ppK   early/late           collectorsuniverse
     1929 $20 FRBN    K 004 41905 A   ppK   early/late           denlys.com
     1929 $50 FRBN    B 000 28984 A   ppD   early/late           donckelly.com
     1929 $50 FRBN    D 002 13387 A   ppI   late/late [normal]   donckelly.com
     1929 $50 FRBN    D 002 19604 A   ppD   early/late           donckelly.com
     1929 $50 FRBN    D 002 22364 A   ppD   early/late           donckelly.com
     1929 $50 FRBN    D 002 23456 A   ppD   early/late           collectorsuniverse
     1929 $50 FRBN    D 002 26090 A   ppD   early/late           allensinc.com
     1929 $50 FRBN    D 002 36374 A   ppD   early/late           donckelly.com
     1929 $50 FRBN    D 002 56150 A   ppJ   early/late           donckelly.com
     1929 $50 FRBN    D 002 66086 A   ppJ   early/late           reported by HC
     1929 $50 FRBN    D 002 70039 A   ppI   early/late           in my collection
     1929 $50 FRBN    D 002 72606 A   ppH   late/early           denlys.com
     1929 $50 FRBN    D 003 27033 A   ppI   late/late [normal]   donckelly.com
     1929 $50 FRBN    D 005 40723 A   ppI   late/late [normal]   donckelly.com
     1929 $50 FRBN    L 003 14453 A   ppK   late/early           Ebay
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Main Page | Surveys main