Counterfeit Money: A Weapon of Saboteurs

Summary

Counterfeit money has been a significant weapon of saboteurs throughout history, and the United States has not been immune to this threat. The Secret Service has been working tirelessly to suppress counterfeit currency since its inception.

Detecting Counterfeit Currency

To the trained eye, there are always minute differences that make detecting counterfeit money possible. The Secret Service is composed of experts in genuine currency, and they have been successful in securing the Treasury and the U.S. financial institutions from the impact of counterfeit currency.

Security Features of Federal Reserve Notes

Every Federal Reserve note has certain security features incorporated into it. Some of these security features remain classified and are closely guarded secrets of the U.S. government. For example, both the $20 and $100 bills have watermarks that are printed into the paper itself. Additionally, a common feature that is seen with the naked eye is present in the lower right-hand corner of the $20 and the $100 bill. It’s called optical varying ink and changes color as the bill moves. Micro-printing is another security feature that is embedded in the genuine plate. It’s a fine artistic work that cannot be replicated by photocopying.

Key Indicators of a Genuine Bill

Every bill from the $1 to the $100 has a serial number, and that serial number is used as a tracking device by the Secret Service. The serial number and sequence of genuine bills are known to the Secret Service, and any bill that does not follow a specific sequence is a key indicator of a counterfeit Federal Reserve note. Every genuine Federal Reserve note is associated with a Federal Reserve bank, and that is indicated on the bill via specific locations. Counterfeiters often do not align the bill to the right Federal Reserve bank, which is another key indicator of a counterfeit bill.

Conclusion

Counterfeiters seek to undermine the credibility of the U.S. financial system by manufacturing counterfeit currency. However, the Secret Service has worked with the Department of the Treasury to come up with security standards that are inherent in every bill. By understanding the security features of genuine bills, we can all play a role in detecting and preventing counterfeit currency from circulating through the U.S. economy.