Counterfeit Banknotes
3 articlesCounterfeit banknotes are fraudulent reproductions made to imitate genuine currency. Detection relies on public and machine-readable security features such as watermarks, threads, intaglio print, ultraviolet elements and transparent windows, while suspicious notes are normally removed for examination rather than returned to circulation. Counterfeits carry legal and payment risks and have no redemption value. They must be distinguished from damaged or worn genuine banknotes.
How a 1976 $2 Bill Serial Number Error Became a Collector's Rarity
A rare 1976 $2 Federal Reserve Note with a seven-digit serial number mismatch reveals the mechanical failures that can create some of the most intriguing and valuable errors in U.S. currency collecting
How Bronze Surcharges Created Rare U.S. Fractional Currency Errors
Bronze surcharges were added to U.S. fractional currency in the 1860s to deter counterfeiting, but the process led to unique printing errors. Collectors and historians now study these mistakes for insights into early U.S. banknote production and security.
Cambodia Warns of AI-Generated Counterfeit Banknotes Threat
Cambodia's central bank is alerting the public to a new wave of AI-generated counterfeit riel banknotes, raising concerns about the impact on currency trust and the ongoing dominance of the US dollar in daily transactions