A Visual Guide to Spotting Counterfeit Money

IIIIIII|||||||||||||| A VÍSUAL GUIDE TO SPOTTING COUNTERFEIT MONEY When counterfeit money goes into circulation, it causes the value of real money to go down and prices to go up.' Our guide teaches you what to look out for to ensure that you don't get shortchanged. HOW TO SPOT FAKE POUNDS Money is armed with countless security features. Our step-by-step guide will teach you what to look out for if you're ever in doubt. CHECKING YOUR BANKNOTES FRONT FEEL THE CНЕCK THE RAISED PRINT HOLOGRAM (10 Da1 Feel for raised printed areas, such as the words 'Bank of The hologram will show a changing number and image I PROV England' at the top.? when you tilt the note.2 Dark of erglande TEN ounds 666666 CHECK THЕ 3 WATERMARK LOOK OUT FOR MICRO LETTERING It will show the Queen of England when you hold it up to the light.? Tiny letters beneath the Queen's portrait show the value in letters and numbers.? ВАCK CHECK THE METALLIC THREAD You will find a line of silver dashes that NDS form a continuous dark line when held to the light.? £10 BANK ENGLAD £10 TEN POUNDS Ds 1809-1882 FEEL THE PAPER CНЕCK THE PRINT QUALITY Banknotes are printed on special paper that gives them their unique feel.? Look at the printed lines and colours - they should be sharp and clear.? CHECKING YOUR COINS Pre 2017 pound coins are a lot easier to forge, so it's important to check if you have a real or fake version. Luckily the new 2017 pound coin has been described as 'the most secure coin' in the world. REAL FAKE CHECK THE SHINE Older coins will start dull, Counterfeit coins will show no sign of aging despite their age. CHECK THE QUALITY E T OF THE RIDGED EDGES In counterfeit coins, these edges can be poorly defined or have uneven depth or spacing.3 CHECK THE ORIENTATION OF THE DESIGNS ON BOTH SIDES FOUND ONE OUND On counterfeit coins, these might not be in line. COMPARE THE COLOUR OF THE COINS Counterfeit coins are often different in colour when seen next to genuine ones. HOW TO SPOT FAKE DOLLARS The last thing you want is your hard-earned dollar to be fake. Look out for these common features. CHECKING YOUR BANKNOTES FRONT CHECK IF THE CHECK THE COLOUR- TED ST ATES BLACK SEAL IS SHIFTING INK 20 (not on $1, $2 and $5 notes) PRESENT The black seal from the Federal Reserve Bank will always be printed. The number in the bottom right corner changes from copper to green when tilted.4 SVE NOTE 20 20 FEDERAL THE ID 228 60 B ID 228 60B ZENDE Aun n T a t fe WEN TY DOLARS CHECK THE CНЕCK THE D4 SECURITY THREAD WATERMARK (not on $1, $2 notes) (not on $1, $2 and $5 notes) 23428 Hold to the light to see 20 Hold the note to the light to see a faded image of the same person as printed on the front. the text 'USA' and the value of the note, alternated with a little flag. ВАCK THE UNITED STATES OFAMERICA GOD WE TRUST IN 20 20 VENTYODOLLARS CHECK FOR CHECK THE FEEL AND RAISED PRINTING COLOUR OF THE PAPER It should have red and You can feel it by moving your finger across the surface of blue fibres embedded in it and have a the notes.4 specific feel.4 CHECKING YOUR COINS REAL FAKE TRUST WE IN GOD LIBERTY LIBERTY 20 05 2005 D D 1) CHECK THE PORTRAIT FIND THE WORDS AND LETTERING ON "IN GOD WE TRUST" THE COIN Every coin has this displayed on its portrait Compare with genuine coins to see differences in side.5 fonts and placement.5 3. CHECK THE EDGES 1-cent and 5-cent coins have a plain edge; the others have reeds on the edges.5 NEXT TIME YOU RECEIVE YOUR CHANGE, MAKE SURE YOU DO THESE QUICK CHECKS. WITH A BIT OF PRACTICE, YOU'LL BE ABLE SPOT THE DUDS IN NO TIME. SOURCES ' Econmenrot. Counterfeit Money. econmentor.com 2 Bank of England (2016). Take a closer look: your easy to follow guide to checking your banknotes. bankofengland.co.uk 3 The Royal Mint (2017). £l counterfeit coins. royalmint.com 4 US currency education program (2017). The Seven Denominations. uscurrency.gov 5 United States Mint (2017). Circulating Coins. usmint.gov On Stride This image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike FINANCIAL 4.0 Intermational License - www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 GREGEDI EG.ED ED.195 GREGED G.REGED ELIZAB