How to Spot a Fake Dollar Bill: Key Security Features
Acquire practical knowledge to confidently identify genuine U.S. currency. Safeguard your transactions by spotting counterfeit money.
Identifying counterfeit currency is a practical skill for anyone handling cash. Understanding the security features embedded in U.S. dollar bills can help protect individuals from financial loss and maintain confidence in the currency. As counterfeiters continuously attempt to replicate genuine notes, awareness of these protective measures is important for secure and trustworthy transactions.
Examining the Paper and Printing
Genuine U.S. currency is printed on a unique paper blend of 75% cotton and 25% linen. This gives it a crisp, slightly rough texture due to the intaglio printing process, with raised printing noticeable on the portrait or numbers. Small red and blue security fibers are embedded throughout the paper, not merely printed on the surface.
Authentic bills feature exceptionally sharp and clear printing. Details in the portrait, borders, and seals are precisely defined. Counterfeit bills often display blurry lines, smudged ink, or a flat appearance because they cannot replicate the fine details of intaglio printing. The Treasury and Federal Reserve seals should have sharp, unbroken points.
Serial numbers on genuine currency offer clues to authenticity. These numbers should be evenly spaced and printed in a consistent font. The color typically matches the Treasury seal. Each note has a unique serial number; inconsistencies in spacing, font, or color can indicate a counterfeit.
Checking for Watermarks and Security Threads
When a genuine dollar bill is held to light, a faint watermark becomes visible. This watermark is embedded within the paper, not printed on the surface, and is visible from both sides. On denominations of $10 and higher, the watermark typically replicates the bill’s portrait.
For $5 notes, the watermark consists of two small images of the numeral “5”. It is located to the right of the portrait. Its visibility from both sides and non-printed appearance are important indicators of authenticity.
A thin security thread is visible when the bill is held to light. This thread runs vertically through the note and contains microprinted text, such as “USA” and the denomination. For denominations $5 and higher, the security thread is present and positioned differently for each denomination.
The thread glows a specific color under ultraviolet (UV) light, varying by denomination. For example, a $5 bill’s thread glows blue, a $10 bill’s orange, a $20 bill’s green, a $50 bill’s yellow, and a $100 bill’s pink. This feature adds a layer of security difficult for counterfeiters to replicate.
Observing Color-Shifting Ink and Microprinting
Color-shifting ink is visible on denominations of $10 and higher. The numeral in the lower right corner on the front of these bills uses this special ink. When tilted, the ink changes color, often from copper to green.
On the $100 note, this feature also applies to the “Bell in the Inkwell” design. The bell appears to change color and disappear within the inkwell when tilted. This dynamic color change is extremely difficult for counterfeiters to reproduce.
Microprinting involves tiny text that appears as a solid line but is legible under magnification. This feature is on denominations $5 and higher, found in areas like borders, security threads, or the portrait’s lapel. The microprinted text should be sharp and clear with a magnifying glass, not blurry or smudged.