In the 18th century, the dollar was the small change coin used by American colonists. Now the currency of 27 countries bears this name, and the world leadership of the American dollar has not been questioned for more than half a century.

The word "dollar" is a corruption of "taller", the name of a medieval coin that first appeared in Germany in 1519. In different countries this word was distorted in different ways - from thaler to daler, dalar, daaler and talero. In 1873, the taller was finally withdrawn from circulation in Germany and was replaced by the well-known brand, but the dalar was not forgotten.

This name received its second birth in the New World. In the English and Spanish colonies, Spanish peso coins were widely used, which many settlers habitually called dollars. The appearance of the famous $ sign is also associated with them. The long English piese of eight (one-eighth, ocmushka), as the colonists also called the peso, on paper turned into a crossed out eight, which eventually became $.

When the official US currency was introduced into circulation in 1786, the authorities decided to follow the old habit and left the old name for the new money. And they were destined for an incomparably brighter fate than their German ancestors. Since 1792, the gold content of a dollar has been 1.6033 grams of pure gold or 24.057 grams of pure silver. Eighty years later, in 1873, the gold dollar was declared the official currency, and the gold standard law of 1900 established its new gold content - 1.50463 grams.

This standard existed in the USA for about 30 years - until the crisis of 1929 - 1933. The government was unable to maintain a fixed exchange rate, and in 1933 the authorities abandoned the gold standard. According to the gold reserve act, the gold content of the dolpar was reduced to 0.88867 grams, or 41. From that moment on, a troy ounce of gold changed to 35 dollars.

After the Second World War, the United States assumed the role of a superpower. According to Marshall's plan, a flow of American money poured into devastated Europe, and the US dollar itself became the main reserve currency of the Western world. War-weakened economy European countries could not resist the US monetary expansion. And in the gold and foreign exchange reserves of central banks, the dollar occupied everything more space- after all, as it was believed then, they always had the opportunity to exchange American currency for gold at a fixed price.

However, already in the mid-60s, the dollar's reputation as a stable currency began to quickly deteriorate. The natural result of rising inflation and the US trade deficit was another devaluation of the dollar. At the end of 1971, an ounce of gold cost 38 dollars, and the gold content of the dollar was reduced to 0.818513 grams, or almost 8. And less than a year later, the exchange of dollars for gold was completely stopped. By 1973, the dollar had been devalued by another 10, and by February 1974 the price of an ounce of gold on the world's main exchanges reached $150. Nowadays, for a troy ounce of gold they are already paying $260, that is, over 100 years, the dollar has fallen in price by more than 10 times.

However, by the time of the refusal to exchange for gold, the dollar enjoyed the trust of the majority of the world's population. In many countries around the world it has become the second unofficial currency. And in last years some countries Latin America he was even made the main one.

In addition to the American currency, the name “dollar” is used by 26 other countries, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Most of the countries that make up the modern dollar group took the name “dollar” for their currency after secession from the colonies of the British Empire. Thus, the Canadian dollar became the official currency of Canada already in 1857 - immediately after it turned from a British colony into a dominion. Moreover, even some modern Canadian banknotes depict a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. Australia and New Zealand are also known to be former British colonies.

One of the latest acquisitions of the dollar group was the Singapore dollar. The banknotes, introduced into circulation in 1967, are very colorfully designed - there are flowers, birds, and ships. But modern American banknotes have earned a reputation as the most boring. The design of the banknotes has remained virtually unchanged since the beginning of the century, with the predominant colors being gray on the front side and green on the back. All banknotes are the same size (157*66 mm), banknotes of different denominations differ mainly in the portraits of presidents.

How to spot fake dollars

How?
There are special detectors in exchange offices and banks that use infrared and magnetic radiation to determine the authenticity of American currency. But those who do not have clever bank detectors should not be upset. “The most advanced mechanism for verifying the authenticity of a dollar is a person,” says Antonina Volobueva, head of the press service of the US Treasury Information Center in Moscow.

According to experts, anyone can check the authenticity of a dollar. In doing so, the following basic principles should be followed:

Paper

All dollars are printed on special paper, which is predominantly composed of cotton and linen. This is far from the same paper that books are printed on. And it can be easily distinguished. It is rough and velvety to the touch, almost like fabric. Also, the paper of real dollars is very strong and durable. It's not so easy to break it. The paper of genuine US dollars should be elastic to the touch.

Dye

Dollars are printed using high quality dyes. Therefore, the design on American money does not fade or fade. Very good way To check the quality of the paint is to rub the bill with force. If the paint smudges or your finger is even slightly stained, then doubts about the authenticity of the banknote are well founded.

Colored fibers

Real dollars have special magnetic inclusions. In appearance, they look like colored fibers located in different places on the banknote. These villi are different colors- red, blue black. Their distinguishing feature- this means that the fibers are in no way drawn, but rather interspersed.

On counterfeit tickets, security silk fibers are sometimes imitated by pressing colored fibers onto the paper, as well as by printing or adding colored strokes by hand, but are often absent altogether. In doubtful cases, a pin can be used, since a piece of fiber from a genuine ticket can be removed without damaging it. It should also be taken into account that for counterfeiting, genuine paper can be used when smaller denominations are washed off from the paper of a genuine ticket. chemical composition everything is printed and the contents of the counterfeit ticket of the larger denomination are printed on the bleached sheet. There are cases when the paper of a genuine ticket consists of two sheets glued together. Usually in such cases, colored silk fibers are scattered between the sheets, which cannot be removed for checking with a pin without damaging the paper. Imitation of fibers by printing, drawing or gluing on counterfeit banknotes is clearly revealed when using a magnifying glass with a magnification of 4 or more, when the methods of applying pseudo-fibers to the surface of the paper of a counterfeit dollar are visually easily distinguishable.

Portrait

One of the most common homemade ways to counterfeit dollars is to simply paint zeros on a low-denomination bill. For example, turn five dollars into fifty, or turn a dollar bill into a hundred dollar bill. To avoid being scammed, it’s a good idea to know which banknote represents which president. If not in person, then at least by name.

Portrait is one of the most complex elements to play. Usually it is not possible to achieve high-quality drawing of a portrait. As a result, small details of the portrait are often lost on counterfeit and falsified banknotes, especially the pupils of the eyes and the texture of the hair. To determine the authenticity of banknotes, the portrait is usually the main control point, since when counterfeiting it is extremely rare that it is possible to satisfactorily convey the subtleties of the engraving and the characteristic expressiveness of the face depicted in the portrait, while avoiding clearly visible dirt or stains. The background around the portrait, shaded with a fine mesh, should look especially clean. Usually on fakes this shading merges and the background turns out darker.

Frame

A frame consisting of a mesh pattern on counterfeit tickets rarely comes out satisfactorily: there are breaks in the lines, spots, and sometimes the patterned drawings merge. Thin lines of the pattern should be clear, without breaks or thickening. This is not always possible to achieve; careful drawing is required, during which graphics distortion most often occurs. It is extremely rare to find fakes with a satisfactorily executed mesh pattern of sufficient clarity.

Drawing on the reverse side

On the reverse side, the main distinguishing feature is the characteristic bright green coloring, which is almost impossible to find on counterfeit tickets. It is imitated with dark green, green-yellow or dull green paint. The second sign is a frame made of patterns, on which the defects are usually the same as when the front side is faked. The drawing on the fake tickets is poorly executed: some architectural and other details are missing, vague, etc.

Treasury Seal

In most cases, the treasury stamp on counterfeit tickets is not successful - the color is pale, the teeth of the circle are not the same and the design of the key is primitive. In addition, counterfeit banknotes often have other significant distortions in the print image: they cannot be reproduced individual fragments, the stars on the shield appear in the form of dots, etc. Sometimes there are white strokes corresponding to the shading of the letters printed on the printing background.

Serial number

The serial number must begin with the same letter that appears on the seal of the Federal Reserve Bank (from "A" to "L"). On counterfeit tickets, there is often a difference in the shape of letters and numbers and their uneven clarity. The letters before and after the number sometimes differ in size from the numbers. There are many cases where the serial number has the wrong color, and is also more or less than the required eight digits.

Control letter

The letter inside the seal, to the left of the portrait, must correspond to its serial number in english alphabet, printed next to the seal on the left and three more times in different corners of the light part of the bill (for example, “E” is the 5th letter of the alphabet).

Printing methods

This feature in most cases makes it possible to unambiguously draw a conclusion about the authenticity of the banknote, however, determining the printing method requires the use of at least the simplest magnifying devices. Genuine US dollars have images printed using intaglio (reverse side and main image on the front side) and letterpress printing (bank seal and corresponding four digits, Treasury seal and serial numbers).

Metallographic prints are distinguished by their glossiness, high color intensity and pronounced relief and “sharpness” of strokes. Almost no other printing method can produce a similar picture. This technology is complex, as it requires special engraving forms and special printing equipment. On counterfeit banknotes, images are most often applied using flat offset printing. In this case, the strokes, as a rule, are characterized by reduced intensity and some “sluggishness” created due to the small thickness of the paint layer. When viewed with magnification, the offset part is characterized by the presence of multi-colored dots in the field of view, which together create the illusion of offset printing. The presence of dots that form a pattern when examining a banknote with a magnification of 7x or more indicates an offset printing of the image, which indicates a counterfeit banknote. The inscription on top “United States of America” should be barely convex and perceptible to the touch. On banknotes that for a long time were in circulation, you can see on the back around the perimeter traces of an embossed ornament (where dirt got in).

The mentioned counterfeit detection techniques apply to all US banknotes without exception. But now it will be much easier to distinguish real American money from counterfeit ones. Beginning in 1996, the US Department began issuing new banknotes. With the beginning of their widespread use, counterfeiters are in for really tough times. New banknotes are printed using cutting-edge technology. The new type of money will be protected by such advanced methods as printing ink with optical color change, microprinting, watermarks and others. effective means protection. The new banknotes have a number of signs of authenticity, which are really easy to notice without special equipment.

Microprinting

Since 1996, US banknotes issued by the Federal Reserve Bank have received an additional security element - a microprint (the text "The United States of America" ​​in small print), which is located on the lapel of the portrait's coat. To check it you need to take an ordinary magnifying glass. Through it, look at the portrait and the protective strip. They should have a very small inscription "USA" plus the number or words "The United States of America". The inscription “USA 100” is duplicated in the lower left corner of the 100-dollar bill, and the inscription “Fifty” is on the side border of the 50-dollar bill. On counterfeit tickets, additional drawing or overprinting with gray paint is imitated, which can be easily detected by the absence of the text “USA 100”, or by fraying the edge sharp object. The test performed with microprinting also becomes significantly distorted, and more often unreadable, which is clearly visible with a magnifying glass.

Security strip

A security thread made of polyester material with the text "USA 100" ("USA 50", "USA TWENTY") running vertically in the paper pulp of the ticket to the left of the FRB seal imprint. On the 50 dollar bill it is located to the right of the portrait and runs through the banknote from top to bottom. On the $100 bill, the security stripe runs to the left of the portrait. On the $20 bill, the stripe is on the right edge of the bill. This is done to ensure that bills of lower denominations are not counterfeited with bills of higher denominations using the method of number etching. The stripe and the inscription on it must be visible on both sides.

Watermark

Hold the banknote up to the light to make sure there is a watermark located next to the portrait. The watermark must depict the same historical person as the portrait. The watermark is only visible to light because it is located inside the banknote and not just printed on it. The mark must be visible on both sides of the banknote.

Color-changing printing ink

Look at the banknote from different angles to ensure that the ink applied in the number in the bottom corner of the banknote changes from green to black and vice versa.

American dollars can be confidently called the most popular currency in the world. It is not surprising that American dollars are counterfeited more often than other dollars by counterfeiters. Since today any person can purchase dollars, store them, travel abroad and pay with them, etc., it is very important that during the exchange he is not deceived or given a counterfeit.

True, now counterfeiters have so improved the production of counterfeit banknotes that only an expert can distinguish them from real ones, and even then with the help of special devices and equipment.

Fortunately, not all counterfeiters have improved their skills so much, that’s why ordinary people If they are careful, they will be able to distinguish counterfeit dollars from real ones.

Basic methods of checking a banknote for authenticity

The authenticity of American dollars can be check in several ways:

To the touch
on appearance
using decals

You can also check the paper using special equipment - a currency detector. This is the most effective method, allowing you to accurately identify a fake.

Why is 100 new dollars the most attractive to scammers?

According to statistics, banknotes in denominations of . The first reason is that they are the most sought after in the rest of the world. Despite the fact that the degree of security has increased on the new banknotes, counterfeiters still print them. Why? Because yet not everyone is used to new-style dollars, and will not be able to distinguish the original from the fake.

100 dollars old and new

Machine verification methods

Such methods are the most popular and effective. There are special devices that allow you to determine the authenticity of money using ultraviolet light.

Ultraviolet lamp for checking counterfeit bills

They are usually used in stores, banks and other establishments that accept cash payments. These are special currency detectors. Infrared and ultraviolet light can be used. Under ultraviolet light, the protective strip should glow brightly.

Ultraviolet detectors are the most common. They can often be found in stores and other establishments that accept cash. Infrared are considered the most reliable. If necessary check a large number of banknotes and regularly, it is better to use automatic detectors. They check banknotes according to several parameters at once, which allows them to identify counterfeits as accurately as possible. They check optical density, magnetic marks, geometric parameters of banknotes, conduct spectral analysis of paint, etc. Therefore, even if a fake is of very high quality, the machine still recognizes it very quickly.


: step-by-step instruction.

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Paint, print, banknote paper

8 ways to distinguish fake dollars from real ones:

1. When checking by touch, you need to pay attention to the quality of the paper. Regardless of whether it is a new banknote or an old one, the paper will be durable and produce the appropriate sound characteristic of it. slight “crunch”.

2. The thickness of the bill is less than that of counterfeits. When making real and earlier ones, the paper is pressed, so it is strong and thin. Counterfeiters use low quality paper. If there is a similar banknote of the same denomination and the same series and you are confident in its authenticity, you can compare them. They should be the same.

3. Print it should feel like embossed. This is also a distinctive feature of genuine banknotes. For this, secret technology is used, which, of course, is not disclosed to anyone. Therefore, every sign, even a small one, can be felt if you touch a banknote with your hands.

4. Despite their small sizes, even the smallest drawings, inscriptions printed very clearly no blur. And here on fakes they are often blurry. The paint on real banknotes contains small fibers. If you look through a magnifying glass, you can see them. The border should also be clear. On fakes it is often blurry. The portrait on the banknote should also be clear, with detail, while on the fakes it is blurry.

5. Serial numbers, printed on both sides must be same color. If the color doesn't match, it's a fake.

6. You can also pay attention to protective signs. They can be seen if you hold the bill up to the light. Only 1 and 2 dollar bills do not have security marks.. The symbols on the security strip are readable from both sides and only in the light. Also, in the light you can see a watermark that repeats the portrait on the bill.

7. Banknotes of 10 dollars and above have additional protection as ink that changes color depending on the angle of inclination.

8. You can also pay attention to microprinting. You can only examine it with a magnifying glass to make out what is printed there. Counterfeits often do not have such microprinting, since counterfeiters do not have the technical capabilities to apply it to their counterfeit banknotes.

What does a real 100 dollars look like?

What to do if you come across a counterfeit bill?

Under no circumstances should you store it, much less try to pay for any goods and services with it. This is a criminal offense and a person can be charged with possession and distribution of counterfeit money. If possible, it is necessary to remember from whom, when and under what circumstances the fake was received.

Then you need go to the police and tell them everything you know. This must be a police officer or FSB officer. If you find a counterfeit bill, you should immediately put it in a clean bag or envelope and do not touch it. This is necessary in order to preserve as much evidence as possible on it in order to find counterfeiters or dealers.

Sometimes people, without knowing it, without being able to recognize counterfeit money, without suspecting anything, try to pay for something with it. And they often face serious charges.. In this case, you should try to remember everything, tell where, how, and under what circumstances this bill was received.

See also a visual video on how to distinguish counterfeit dollars from real ones:

The quantity and quality of “fake” dollars in Russia is getting higher every year - Russians are accustomed to keeping their savings in foreign currency and more often making dollar transactions. Sravni.ru found out how to identify counterfeit dollars and correlate the denomination with the portrait of the president.

In Russia, the most common counterfeits are still rubles, but the production of “fake” dollars is also not on the decline. Moreover, the quality of copies is only increasing. The most favorite banknote of currency counterfeiters is 100 - dollar bill. Less popular are dollars with the denomination " 20 " And " 50 " The largest turnover of dollars is observed in Moscow, from where the currency goes in transit to all regions of Russia.

Signs of a fake dollar

If you rub a bill, there may be traces of ink on your fingers, and the design on the bill may be slightly erased.
If you drop water on the dollar, the paint may fade. Also, some of the designs on the banknote may fade over time or due to friction in your wallet.
Counterfeits using instant printing imitate the general design, but not the relief of the paint; the paint is wiped off on the bends.
Magnetic inclusions in a banknote are usually imitated by a regular pattern on the surface, rather than passing through the bill.
Banknotes denomination 5 And 10 dollars can become ten or even a hundred times more by adding zeros. Know at least three prominent US politicians and their corresponding banknote denominations!

Signs of authenticity of dollars

The protection of the dollar from counterfeits is based on the high quality of printing, paper, paints, as well as the complexity of the plot and the abundance of details. In particular, each “green banknote” may have different details. As a rule, this is a bank code, number, bank seal, cliche number, check letters, signatures officials. The remaining elements are static, but have many relationships and details.

All dollar bills have similar distinctive features. Thus, in the middle of the front side of each bill there is a portrait corresponding to the denomination of the US banknote. The obverse features the U.S. Treasury Seal. On each ticket you can see the microtext “USA” and numbers indicating the denomination, as well as the microprint “United States of America”. New design banknotes contain ink that changes color. She has the denomination printed on the front of the bill in the lower right corner. At different angles, the numbers should change color from green to black.

10 $

The lettering is TEN DOLLARS. The portrait on the front is Hamilton. The drawing on the reverse side shows the US Treasury building.
To the left of the portrait of Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton is an image of the Statue of Liberty's torch in red.
The new banknote design contains a blank oval to indicate the location of the watermark. This allows you to quickly find the watermark on the banknote.

20 dollars

The lettering is TWENTY DOLLARS. The portrait on the front side is Jackson. The drawing on the reverse side is of the White House building.
The banknote features a background image of an eagle in light blue, as well as an eagle and shield in metallic green to the right of the portrait. If you tilt the banknote from top to bottom, the number "20" changes color from copper to green.

50 dollars

The lettering is FIFTY DOLLARS. The portrait on the front side is Grant. The drawing on the reverse side is of the Capitol building.
The most noticeable feature of a banknote with enhanced security features is the color of the notes. The new $50 bills have a light blue and red background.
The front of the bill features an image of a waving American flag and a small silver-blue star.

100 dollars

The lettering is ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS. The portrait on the front is Franklin. The drawing on the reverse side is Independence Hall (Independence Hall).
On the front of the note, the text "USA100" is printed in microtext in several rows within the denomination numeral in the lower left corner, and the text "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" is printed on the lapel of Franklin's coat.
In the lower right corner of the front side is the denomination of the banknote “100”, made with paint that changes color from green to black when the banknote is turned.
Thin concentric lines form the background for the portrait on the obverse and for the Palace of Independence on the reverse side of the note.

Useful tips

When exchanging rubles or euros for dollars, be vigilant and, if possible, avoid transactions at exchange offices. Try to exchange all currencies only in commercial banks, since the equipment in exchange offices often cannot recognize counterfeit dollars. If you don’t want to lose your money, then under no circumstances exchange it with people on the street - in most cases they are scammers.

You can avoid counterfeits when using them - almost any machine abroad will automatically exchange rubles for dollars at minimal cost.

Experts recommend using a mnemonic phrase to remember the images of the presidents on each denomination of the banknote: “All Dollars are Eye-Fasting, Even Dirty and Fake.” The initial letter of each word corresponds to the initial letter of the last name of US politicians on dollars in ascending order of denomination: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 . So it turns out: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Hamilton, Jackson, Grant, Franklin.

If you have a banknote that you are not sure is genuine, read this article and you will learn how to distinguish real bills from fake ones. Possession, production and use of counterfeit money are all against the law; If the prosecutor proves that you intentionally committed the acts described, then you will receive a considerable prison term. If you come across a counterfeit banknote, report it to the relevant authorities.

Steps

To the touch

    The paper structure of a counterfeit banknote is noticeably different from the paper structure of a genuine banknote.

    • Authentic banknotes are printed on paper made from cotton and linen. Ordinary paper is made from cellulose (wood). The paper of real banknotes does not lose its strength over time, whereas ordinary paper breaks.
    • The paper and ink used to print banknotes have a special composition (which is kept secret) and are not in free circulation. Therefore, the quality of a real banknote is very different from the quality of a counterfeit banknote. Even if you have little experience in recognizing counterfeit bills, you will most likely immediately notice the difference in the texture of the paper.
    • The paint on a genuine banknote is applied in relief, which is achieved through the intaglio printing process. You should feel the relief of the seal, especially when you hold a new dollar bill in your hands.
    • Run your fingernail over the clothing of the person depicted on the bill. You will feel its relief. Counterfeiters cannot counterfeit this.
  1. Pay attention to the thickness of the bills. Genuine money is thinner than fake money.

    Compare the bill with another of the same denomination and series. Since bills of different denominations look different, take a bill of the same denomination.

    • If you are not sure about the authenticity of a banknote, compare it with another (genuine) one.
    • All bills except the $1 and $2 bills have been altered at least once since 1990, so it's best to compare a suspicious bill to a similar bill in the same series or year.
    • Although the design of the bills has changed, the feel of the paper remains the same as it has been for decades. A banknote printed 50 years ago should feel the same as a brand new banknote.

    By the look

    1. Look closely at the print quality. Please note the lack of relief and detail on the fake. Real money is printed using a secret technology that cannot be replicated, forcing counterfeiters to experiment with printing methods.

      • Real US currency is printed using techniques that cannot be replicated by conventional offset printing or digital printing (these are the most popular printing methods among experienced counterfeiters). Look for blurry details, especially small details such as edging.
      • Look for colored fibers. All US bills have tiny red and blue fibers embedded in the paper. Counterfeiters sometimes try to replicate this security by printing or drawing the fibers on paper; but upon closer inspection, you can see that the fibers are printed on the paper and are not part of the paper itself.
    2. Consider the border (frame). For real banknotes it is clear and continuous.

      • On Federal Reserve and Treasury stamps, the sawtooth ends are meant to be sharp and stand out, whereas on counterfeit money they are blurred and have blunt ends.
      • Due to differences in printing methods between real and counterfeit currency, the border ink on counterfeit bills may be blurred.
    3. Look at the portrait. Based on the portrait of the person depicted on the banknote, its authenticity can be determined.

      • The portraits on counterfeit bills are dull, blurry, and not in relief, while the portraits on real bills are crisp and finely detailed.
      • The portrait on a genuine banknote looks realistic and stands out clearly against the background. Portrait details on fakes tend to blur together, and the background is often too dark or uneven.
      • Use a magnifying glass to examine the portrait. On one side of the portrait you can see the words (in microprint) “The United States of America.” To the naked eye, these words merge into a thin line. Such microprinting cannot be faked.
    4. Check serial numbers. They are located in two places - on the front side of the bill with different sides from the portrait. Make sure the serial numbers match.

    Protective signs

      Hold the bill up to the light. Look for security features on all bills except $1 and $2 bills. Look at the security thread (stripe) that goes from top to bottom.

      • Embedded (not printed) security thread added to all bills except $1 and $2 bills. It is located to the left of the Federal Reserve seal.
      • If you hold the bill up to the light, you will see that the word “USA” is printed on the band, followed by the denomination of the bill in words for the $10 and $20 bills and in numbers for the $5, $50, and $100 bills. These threads are located in different places on bills of different denominations to make it difficult to convert a lower denomination bill (on which the stamp is washed off) into a higher denomination bill.
      • The symbols on the strip can be read from both the front and back of the bill. Moreover, this can only be done by holding the bill up to the light.
    1. Place the bill under an ultraviolet lamp. The stripe (security thread) will glow a certain color.

      • If the bill is genuine, the security thread will glow: for a 5 dollar bill - blue, 10 - orange, 20 - green, 50 - yellow, and 100 is pink.
      • If the bill does not glow in any color, then it is counterfeit.
    2. Check the watermark. Hold the bill up to the light to see the face/portrait watermark.

      • The face watermark can be found on the $10, $20, $50, and $100 bills issued in 1996 and later, and on the $5 bill issued in 1999 and later.
      • The watermark is embedded in the paper to the right of the portrait and can be seen on both sides of the note.
    3. Tilt the bill to test the color-changing ink.

      • Color-shifting ink (ink that changes color when the bill is tilted) can be found on the $100, $50, and $20 bills from 1996 and later, and on the $10 bill from 1999 and later.
      • $5 bills and lower denomination bills do not yet have such protection. The color changes from green to black, but in recent notes from copper (golden-red) to green.
    4. Explore microprinting. It includes words or numbers that are not visible to the naked eye (can only be read with a magnifying glass).

      • Since 1990, microprinting has been applied to specific areas of bills (which have changed periodically) in denominations of $5 and above.
      • Since microprinting is almost impossible to replicate, counterfeiters prefer to do without it altogether.
      • The microprint (numbers and letters) on counterfeits is blurred, while on a genuine bill it is crisp and clear.

    Handling counterfeit banknotes

    1. Don't counterfeit money. Possession, production and use of counterfeit money are all against the law; If the prosecutor proves that you intentionally committed the acts described, then you will receive a considerable prison term.

      • If you come across a counterfeit bill, do not pass it on to other people. If you think a bill is counterfeit, examine it immediately and remember who you received it from.
      • If you come across a counterfeit banknote, report it to the relevant authorities; otherwise, you may be accused of complicity in counterfeiting.
    2. Remember the person (his appearance in detail) from whom you received the counterfeit banknote. Also pay attention to his possible accomplices. If possible, write down their license plate numbers.

      • The person who handed you the counterfeit bill may not be the counterfeiter. He may be a simple victim of deception by counterfeiters.
      • Of course, it is impossible to remember every person from whom you received a particular bill. Therefore, examine the bill as soon as you have suspicions. For example, cashiers in stores examine any high-denomination bill before accepting it as payment. Thus, the cashier automatically remembers the person who is trying to pay with such a bill.
    3. Contact the appropriate authorities. For example, to the police or the FSB. The addresses of their local branches can be found on the Internet.

      Once you receive and recognize a counterfeit bill, immediately place it in an envelope or somewhere where you cannot touch it. This must be done in order to preserve as much evidence as possible on the banknote: fingerprints, chemical substances, used in printing, and so on. Also, you will not forget that there is a counterfeit bill in the envelope and will not confuse it with other banknotes.

      Write the required information. Write your initials and the date on the white margins of the bill or on the envelope. The date and initials will indicate when and by whom the counterfeit bill was noticed.

    4. Fill out the special form. If you find a counterfeit bill and contact law enforcement agencies, you will have to fill out a special form.

      • Once you submit the banknote with the completed form to the appropriate authorities, it will be considered counterfeit (unless proven otherwise).
      • Fill out a separate form for each suspicious bill.
      • These forms are typically designed to be filled out by bank employees when counterfeit bills are detected, but ordinary citizens can also fill out such a form. If you find a counterfeit note at a bank, but you are not an employee, contact your management and fill out this form on behalf of your company.

Security elements on banknotes appeared gradually, so each year of production has its own characteristics. Thus, for banknotes of the 1990 model, microtext is important. If the money is of the 96th “year of birth”, then the denomination and numbers on the right should change their color depending on the viewing angle. Ideally, the color of the paper is dirty yellow, because it is supposedly harder to counterfeit. However, Americans have recently become interested in design art: in order to combat counterfeiters, the US Treasury Department decided to “repaint” dollars pink and cream. In addition, state authorities promised to update the appearance of their banknotes every 7-10 years.

Main security features of a banknote

US banknotes of any denomination, category and year of issue, in circulation from 1928 to 1990, are printed on sheets of paper measuring 156.4 x 66.6 mm. The banknote paper is gray-cream, thick, and has no watermarks. Protective fibers of red and blue colors. The arrangement of fibers on the surface of the sheet is chaotic, their number is different. Since 1990, banknotes in denominations of 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars have additionally had a security thread (stripe) with microprinting in numbers or words (USA TEN, USA TWENTY, USA 50, USA 100). The dimensions of these banknotes are 152x67 mm.

On the front side of the banknotes, in the center, in an oval frame, there is a portrait of one of the statesmen, under it is the surname. Each dignity has its own portrait. The images of the reverse sides also change on banknotes of various denominations. On banknotes in denominations of 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars issued in 1990, there is a microprint around the portrait in two arcs - the repeating text “THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”.

On the obverse of Federal Reserve Notes (category “FEDERAL RESERVE NOTE”) to the left of the portrait image statesman there is a black circle (an imprint of the seal of the Federal Reserve Bank): on notes from 1928 to 1934 (with a smooth outer edge, from 1950 inclusive - with a jagged edge). At the bottom of the seal imprint is the name of the city and state in which the bank that issued this banknote is located. In the center of the seal imprint there is a letter conventionally assigned to this bank(control letter of the bank). The serial number must begin with the same letter. In the four corners of the image, bounded by a frame, numbers are printed indicating the serial number of the letter in the Latin alphabet (check digit). In total, there are 12 banks in the United States that have the right to issue banknotes. Their corresponding control letters and numbers are given below:

Correspondence of alphanumeric designations to US reserve banks


City

Boston
NY
Philadelphia
Cleveland
Richmond
Atlanta
Chicago
St. Louis

English name
BOSTON
NEW-YORK
PHILADELPHIA
CLEVELAND
RICHMOND
ATLANTA
CHICAGO
ST. LOUIS

Letter

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H

Number

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8



The serial number of a banknote consists of ten characters: at the end and beginning of the number there are letters, and between them there are eight numbers. The first letter in the serial number must match the control letter. It is possible that instead of last letter there is a five-pointed star (A 12345678 *). This means that this banknote has been released into circulation to replace the rejected one.

New elements of US banknotes



1. Portrait of the President increased size, slightly shifted away from the center of the banknote. If you fold the dollar in half, the fold should end up on the president's left eye.
2. Thin concentric lines form the background for the portrait on the front side. On the copy, when the banknote is reproduced on reprographic equipment, a weak moire (light and dark areas) appears in the indicated place.
3. Watermark located on the unsealed field on the right side of the banknote and repeats the portrait of the president.
4. Banknote denomination located in the lower right corner is made with a special printing ink that changes color from green to black when the banknote is rotated.
5. Microprinting- words printed in very small font are difficult to fake. On the front of the note, each of the digits that make up the number in the lower left corner consists of the repeated inscription "USA and note denomination". Along the lower edge of the oval framing the portrait is the inscription "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA". On the 50 and 100 dollar bills, the microtext "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" is printed on the president's lapel.
6. A security thread (strip) visible to light is embedded in the paper., on which a repeating microtext of the denomination of the banknote is applied, readable from the front and back sides of the banknote. The security strip is located vertically: on the 100 banknote it is to the left of the portrait, and on the 50 banknote it is to the right.
7. US Federal Reserve presented with a new universal seal. Letter and number below serial number on the left indicate the specific Federal Reserve Bank that issued the note.
8. To the series number another letter is added. A unique combination of eleven numbers and letters is located on either side of the portrait on the front of the banknote.

How to tell a real dollar from a fake one

Paper

All dollars are printed on special paper, which is predominantly composed of linen and cotton. It is rough and velvety to the touch, almost like fabric. Real dollars are coming. If the bill is not very old, try pulling on the edges of the paper. The real one will stretch a little.

Dye

Dollars are printed using high quality dyes. Therefore, the design on banknotes does not fade or fade. The easiest way to check in this case is to rub the bill with force.
If the paint smears or even slightly stains your finger, then the authenticity of the banknote should be doubted.

Portrait

On each bill, regardless of the category of the banknote, a portrait of one of the US presidents is printed, indicating the last name. One of the most common homemade ways to counterfeit dollars is to simply draw on or stick zeros on a low-denomination bill. For example, turn five dollars into fifty, or turn a dollar bill into a hundred dollar bill. In this case, in addition to the portrait of the president, whom Russians are absolutely not obliged to know by sight, a seal located nearby, on top of which there is a telltale inscription of the denomination of the banknote, can help.

Water marks

Hold the banknote up to the light to see the watermark in the open space to the right of the portrait. Since the watermark is not printed on the surface of the banknote, but inside it, it looks the same on both sides.

Frame

A frame consisting of a mesh pattern on counterfeit tickets rarely comes out satisfactorily: there are breaks in the lines, spots, and sometimes the patterned drawings merge. Thin lines of the pattern should be clear, without breaks or thickening. This is not always possible to achieve; careful drawing is required, during which graphics distortion most often occurs. It is extremely rare to find fakes with a satisfactorily executed mesh pattern of sufficient clarity.

Treasury Seal

The Seal of the Treasury on all U.S. currency notes is depicted on the obverse in the form of a jagged circle, in the middle of which is a shield with scales and a key and with an inscription in white lettering around it. on cash tickets issued before 1969 - “THESAUR AMER SEPTENT SIGIL”. On cash tickets issued in 1969 - "THE DERATRMENT OF THE TREASURY 1789". The teeth of the circle should be the same size and the same shape. The treasury seal is usually made in a bright green color. It may also be red, but there is no Federal Reserve Bank seal on the left side.

Use comparison

Compare the banknote that you are in doubt with a banknote that you are sure is genuine, and try to establish the difference between them using the above distinctive features, as well as by comparing the paper density of both bills, which can be determined by touch.

To satisfy your own curiosity, you can try to find out the authenticity of your dollars using a magnifying glass. The fact is that real bucks are printed with such high printing quality that they contain micro-details that are visible only at high magnification. So, for example, on a ten dollar bill on the back of a bill on a lonely bush on the lawn, with high magnification, you can discern the numbers “383” printed on one of the pieces of paper. Each banknote has similar marks, and if you are really interested, arm yourself with a microscope.