Can you spot a Counterfeit? Most of us say yes and that can be true, until you find a high quality counterfeit, then it’s not so easy. With the quality of computer printers and scanners these days it puts a great task on the CIA, businesses and banks to spot these bogus bills. The main reason counterfeits are easily passed is that we, the American people, are so comfortable with our money we seldom put it under much scrutiny. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) have incorporated many anti-counterfeiting devices into our money.
Watermark- The watermark is formed by varying paper density in a small area during the papermaking process. The image is visible as darker and lighter areas when held up to the light. Since the watermark does not copy on color copiers or scanners, it makes it harder to use lower denomination paper to print counterfeit notes in higher denominations and is a good way to authenticate the note. Sometimes a low denomination note such as a $5 is ‘bleached’ or the ink removed using solvents. With the watermark and security thread still in place a higher denomination (usually $20 or $100) is printed on the paper. The paper appears to be valid but the watermark and the security thread are incorrect for that denomination.

Color Shifting Ink- These inks, used in the numeral on the lower right corner of the face of the note, change color when the note is viewed from different angles. The ink appears green when viewed directly and changes to black when the note is tilted.
Micro-printing- This type of line structure appears normal to the human eye but is difficult for current copying and scanning equipment to resolve properly. The lines are found behind the portrait on the front and around the historic building on the back.

Security Thread- is a thin thread or ribbon running through a bank note substrate. All 1990 series and later notes, except the $1 and $2 notes, include this feature. The note's denomination is printed on the thread. In addition, the threads of the new $5, $10, $20 and $50 notes have graphics in addition to the printed denomination. The denomination number appears in the star field of the flag printed on the thread. The thread in the new notes glows when held under a long-wave ultraviolet light. In the new $5 note it glows blue, in the new $10 note it glows orange, in the new $20 note it glows green, in the new $50 note it glows yellow, and in the new $100 note it glows red.

Red & Blue Threads- In the production of the papers, Crane puts in a measured quantity of red and blue silk fibers that can be seen. Over an area a certain percentage of red and blue fibers will appear.

Color- The green ink used in US Currency is patented and may not be used anywhere else. Many new scanners are programmed with this color in their memory and will not scan anything with more than a ‘slight’ percentage of that color. I have a new scanner and I have found this true with many US, Mexican, and high denomination Japanese currencies.

Non-Acid papers- You have seen cashiers pull out a felt-tip marking pen and mark a $100 before accepting it at the register. This is much like a litmus pen that detects acid. Most papers we use contains acid to reduce wood pulp in the manufacturing process. US currency contains no acid or wood pulp, it is 75% Cotton and 25% Linen (with a silk threads added).

Paper- the paper has a unique ‘feel’ because of the content. It is also tested to hold up after (I believe) 4,000 folds and washing. Normal paper would never hold up to any of that.

Counterfiet or Not? …..
Since you cannot see, accept my observastion that: This note has a correct Watermark (badly worn) and a correct security thread (but no longer fluoresces). It is slightly mis-cut, limp, and the colors are a bit muted. Is it real? (the Jury is still out on this one)