How do you know a counterfeit dollar bill from a real one?

Question

This is for research for my novel. I know there's a watermark. But is there any ways to tell the difference, (other than play money) than it's phony?

Answer 1

dollar bills are not usually counterfeited. Mostly $100 bills. As one of your responders mentioned there is a micro strip at the left side of the larger denomination bills. On the 20 it says U S Twenty. I do not have any larger bills. Also if you look very carefully with a magnifying glass at the bill, you will notice red and blue fibers in the paper. They are not so easy to see with the new bills because the bills are inked over more completely hiding the fibers. Look on the non-inked portion of the bill. Finally, the bills are printed with printing plates. Some portions of the bills thus printed, will show the raised ink on the bill. Bills made with color copiers do not show the raised ink. On the twenty look at the gold 20 in the lower right corner of the bill and the eagle on the shield to the right of Jackson. But the red and blue fibers are the key.

Answer 2

There is a water mark on the bill. Look for that. Also, you will want to test the "feel" of the bill. Bills are made from a cotton/wood fiber blend. If it feels funny, get a counterfeit detector pen and give it a swipe. Get a magnifying glass and check for the blue and red threads that are incorporated into the actual paper that the money is printed on. Make sure the president is Washington! (that has been counterfeited wrong - I've seen it). Flip the bill over and examine the back. Most counterfeits are only done really well on the front. Check to make sure that the margins are even. On any part of the bill, use an eye dropper to drop water on it. If the ink runs severely, test it with the pen to check its authenticity. A $1 bill does not have the magnetic security thread, so it is a bit harder to detect overall the counterfeits. Have fun with your novel!

Answer 3

There is a pen that most convenience store clerks use to determine authenticity. I believe that the ink reacts with the paper. Take the bill to your nearest convenience store and ask them to check it. I feel that this is the easiest way without you having to spend any money. If it's not real, they won't try to "bust" you since you aren't trying to buy anything. Other than that, bring it to your local police dept. If it's not real, you'll probably be out a dollar, but wont get "busted" because of your honesty.

Answer 4

Excuse my ignorance, but I never heard of anyone bothering to counterfeit a bill smaller than a ten. It would make sense to counterfeit one dollar bills because no one would bother to check if it was real or fake, like they would with a twenty or larger.

Answer 5

Larger bills like the 20 have a strip in them...if you are looking at the front hold it up to the light and look on the left side. You will see the strip inside the bill

Answer 6

The bonding of the paper...Special grade used only by Dept of Treasury
Look for Small blue and red fibers throughout the bill.
TINY owl in left hand corner of the shield surrounding the 1 in the upper right on front of bill...(and I mean small, use Magnifying glass)

Answer 7

An old trick is to snap the bill (grab one side of the bill with one hand, grab the other side with the other.. then quickly pull them apart). A real bill will make a sharp snapping noise - a fake bill will snap in half.

Answer 8

there are several ways, depending on the amount of the bill and when the bill was issued. some counterfeit prevention techniques used have been:

1. color-shifting ink
2. watermark
3. thread imbedded in the bill

Answer 9

hold it up to a light, on the right side there should be the person on the bill's face there.

Answer 10

A real one says "redeemable in gold" or "redeemable in silver". Fake ones aren't backed by anything. You'll know this because they say "federal reserve note".