On several occassions I have acquired examples of counterfeit paper money for my own personal collection. In most cases, with examples I have seen and have acquired, the knock-offs are poorly produced. The wrong type of paper is used and more often than not, they are copies of some kind. Last week I encountered a different animal alltogether. At a courthouse in NY (I point that out because it is the last place you would expect to find a counterfeit) I acquired what I am almost certain is an incredibly well produced counterfeit 1999 $10 bill. Here is what sets this bill apart... 1. The bill is printed on a cotton paper with the "strands" in it. As such, the pens usually used to detect counterfeits will not react with it. The only tip off is that the paper "feels" different from the norm. 2. The bill has been artificially worn, probably by putting it through a washing machine, in an attempt to disquise minor differences in paper color and feel. 3. The bill is the wrong size. It is somewhat smaller than a real 1999 $10 bill. The paper size is smaller and the design itself is between 1/8 and 1/4 inch smaller than a normal bill. 4. The bill has the anti-counterfeit strip running through it! 5. The quality of the printing is lower than on a normal bill and there is a substantial amount of bleeding on the paper. 6. Some of the ink colors are just a little off. As time permits, I will be taking photos of the bill. For those wondering, although I went back and forth on the issue, I believe I intend to turn this bill into the authorities.
As promised, below are two links to pictures of the bill in question... http://www.cdcda.org/Coins/10_obverse.jpg http://www.cdcda.org/Coins/10_reverse.jpg
If it has the strip in it, I would think it is likely genuine. Perhaps it was laundered (in a washing machine) by accident and it shrunk in the dryer!! BTW, I thought counterfeit money was illegal to own, or is it just illegal to pass one off as genuine (and hence LEGAL to collect!!)
Technically, I believe it is not legal to possess any counterfeit or altered United States coinage or currency. In this case, should this prove counterfeit I will turn it over. In the case of the other more obvious and poor fakes I choose to keep them for collecting purposes. In regards to it being laundered and shrunk, the possibility has occurred to me. But, the paper and ink do not look or feel right - even for a laundered bill.
The size discrepancy is consistent with certain models of color copiers, but that doesn't explain the presence of the strip.
I know heh, I'm new to this forum and trying to catch up on all the great threads......apparently too quick.
