An Obsolete Banknote Printing Process

Here's an example of an obsolete banknote printing process. The men in the photo are operating a Platering Press, which basically ironed sheets of currency to take out wrinkles.

In the days of wet intaglio printing, sheets were repeatedly moistened before being printed. (Wetting the paper made it more pliable and better able to take an impression.) And, the process resulted in wrinkled paper, not surprisingly. This was especially the case up until the 1940s when printers were using currency paper that was 75% or 100% linen. So, finished currency sheets had to be ironed smooth after printing.

Today's dry printing avoids this problem, and we no longer have Platerers.