Yes, hairspray is a common way counterfeiters use to trick simple iodine-based detection pens, creating a barrier that stops the pen from reacting to starch in fake paper and falsely marking it as real, though modern security features and more advanced detection methods are needed to reliably spot sophisticated fakes.
Step 3: Spray!
Now just lay out all of the bills you're working on onto a towel. Spray each bill evenly with enough spray starch to cover all of the exposed money for about 3 seconds each. Let it soak in for another three seconds and use another towel to wipe off the excess spray starch.
The pen test relies on a chemical reaction with starch, commonly found in regular paper, so counterfeiters can circumvent this by using starch-free paper or washing and reprinting genuine bills.
The best way to determine whether a note is genuine is to rely on the security features, such as the watermark and security thread. Counterfeit detection pens are not always accurate and may give you false results.
A counterfeit banknote detection pen is a pen used to apply an iodine-based ink to banknotes in an attempt to determine their authenticity. The ink reacts with starch in wood-based paper to create a black or blue mark but the paper in a real bill contains no starch, so the pen mark remains unchanged.
the bills will glow: the $5 bill glows blue, the $10 bill glows orange, the $20 bill glows green, the $50 bill glows yellow and the $100 bill glows pink.
Security Thread
Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the left of the portrait. The thread is imprinted with the letters USA and the numeral 100 in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note. The thread glows pink when illuminated by ultraviolet light.
Nearly 90 percent of the counterfeit notes in the $20 and smaller denominations, which are those most commonly used by U.S. consumers, fall into the lower-quality category. The value of higher-quality counterfeits passed in the $20 and smaller denominations in 2023 was less than $2 million.
It only takes a few seconds to check the security features of the $20 note. To know it's real, just feel the paper, tilt the note, and check with light. Hold the note to light to see a faint image of Andrew Jackson to the right of the portrait. The watermark is visible from both sides of the note.
The counterfeit detector pen is extremely simple. It contains an iodine solution that reacts with the starch in wood-based paper to create a black, dark blue or brown stain. When the solution is applied to the fiber-based paper used in real bills, no discoloration occurs and the mark will remain pale yellow.
Possession of a counterfeit banknote
Counterfeit banknotes are worthless therefore no reimbursement will be given unless the banknote submitted is subsequently found to be genuine.
Yes, modern machines use multiple detection systems (optical, UV, IR, magnetic, and physical measurement) to flag counterfeit attempts. But no system is perfect. Risk remains, especially from advanced counterfeits, recycling machines, or older ATM units.
Stronger options are isopropyl alcohol or high grade acetone. Use cotton buds to dip into the cleaning solution and gently rub it in a circling motion around the stains. If you're worried about it being unusable, no worries, you can change it at any bank. Bring the note to any nearby bank.
This means encountering a counterfeit $100 is extremely rare – on the order of less than 8 PPM.
If you are an individual, submit suspected counterfeit currency to your local police department. Your local bank may also assist in identifying counterfeit currency. Police departments, banks, and cash processors will submit suspected counterfeit currency to the Secret Service.
The most counterfeited banknote denomination is $20.
Modern $100 bills integrate complex anti-counterfeiting features that showcase cutting-edge technology while maintaining classic design aesthetics. Key features include: 3D Security Ribbon: A blue ribbon woven into the paper, not printed, displaying shifting “100s” and Liberty Bells when tilted.
A specific type of misprinted $1 bill from the 2013 Series, particularly in matching pairs, can be worth up to $150,000 to collectors, due to an error where millions were printed with duplicate serial numbers. To identify one, check for a "Series 2013" date near George Washington's photo, a "B" Federal Reserve seal, and a serial number ending in a star (★) within specific ranges (e.g., B00000001★ - B00250000★).
The Lebanese Pound (LBP) or lira, is the weakest currency in the world. The currency lost its value after the banking sector crisis in 2019. Once pegged at 1,500 LBP per USD from December 1997 through January 2023, it lost over 98% of its value following the crisis.
Though a gold three-dollar coin was produced in the 1800s, and the Bahamian dollar (which is pegged to the US dollar) has a $3 banknote, no three-dollar bill has ever been produced in the United States.
Security Thread All genuine FRNs, except the $1 and $2, have a clear thread embedded vertically in the paper. The thread is inscribed with the denomination of the note and is visible only when held to light. Each denomination has a unique thread position and glows a different color when held to ultraviolet (UV) light.
While the vast majority of 2013 $1 bills are worth only their face value, the possibility of finding a star note, a bill with a unique serial number, or a printing error makes it worthwhile to take a closer look.
Diamond-shaped patterns printed on each side of the banknote, should combine perfectly to form a seven-pointed star, inside a circle. You can see this when you hold the banknote up to the light. And, while you're there, you can also see the shadow image of the Australian Coat of Arms.