Secure and recoverable database for on-line value-bearing item system

An on-line system for printing value bearing items (VBI) comprising:

• a server sub-system configured to communicate with a plurality of users over a communication network, the server sub-system comprising:
• a secure database remote from the users including a data record for each of the users, wherein each data record is protected by a key;
• and
• a plurality of stateless cryptographic devices, each of the plurality of stateless cryptographic devices configured to perform authentication, processing value for the VBI, and generation of indicia data for the plurality of users, wherein before each of the authentication, processing value, and generation of indicia data for a given user is performed, an available cryptographic device in the server sub-system retrieves the data record for the given user directly from the database and uses the key to verify the retrieved data record, and wherein after the authentication, processing value, and generation of indicia data are performed, a printer is instructed to print the VBI.