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Counterfeit money pens, cheap, small and easy to use. How do they work?
Most papers used today are made from wood pulp fibers called cellulose and are binded (glued) using starch. It works well but is not durable enough for constant use and folding. Paper used in most ‘paper’ currencies is made from a cotton and linen blend of fibers without the use of starch as a binding agent. The cotton and linen fibers are ‘cooked’ and the fibers naturally interlock, making a strong paper.
The solution in a counterfeit money pen is made up of various solvents, one of which is iodine. Iodine is the ingredient that is responsible for detecting counterfeit paper money. This is because when iodine and starch interact, they result in the development of a deep blue-black color. On the other hand, if a light golden-brown color shows up instead, the money is seen as legitimate since that is the actual color of the solution and it indicates that the iodine did not come into contact with any starch.
In some cases, the solution will not leave permanent markings on the money. If the solution in the pen contains hydrogen peroxide, the mark made on the money will go away eventually. Since the iodine has interacted with the starch in counterfeit paper money, though, the deep blue-black coloring will not do the same.
This is but one of many anti-counterfeiting measures used. Counterfeiters will bleach a low denomination note then print a higher denomination using the blank note. Also, one of the best known counterfeiters used paper from phonebooks. It was a cheaply made paper that did not use a binding agent. ENJOY!!!
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