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Genuine U.S. Currency Production,
Security Features, and Counterfeiting
Ken Huffer
SAIC – Phoenix Field Office
U.S. Department of
Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
Genuine Currency

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
•1863 - the U.S. adopted a
national currency
•Civil War - nearly 1/3 all currency
in circulation was counterfeit
•July 5, 1865 - was established to
suppress counterfeiting
U.S. Department of
Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
Genuine Currency 2

INVESTIGATIVE
RESULTS
• In a years time, more than 200 counterfeiters
were captured and many counterfeit plants
were suppressed
• Today, counterfeit U.S. currency represents
2/100th’s of 1 % of all U.S. currency in
circulation in the world
U.S. Department of
Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
Genuine Currency 3

U.S. Dollar Counterfeits
US Dollar is de-facto world currency
Approximately $765 Billion in circulation
Up to 75% of U.S. dollars in circulation outside the United States
About 75% of all $100 notes are circulated outside the U.S.
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Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
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Genuine Currency Production
Currency Paper (Crane and Co., 1879)
• 100% rag content (75% cotton, 25% linen)
• Security Features
• Red and Blue fibers
• Security Watermark
• Security Thread
Currency Ink (SICPA)
Printing (Bureau of Engraving and Printing)
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Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
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1990 Style Banknotes
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Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
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Red and Blue Security Fibers
Image fills this entire area
(OR originates at the upper
left corner of the area
outlined and is sized to the
full width or height of this
bounding box.)
• Try to make multiple images
approximately the same size
• Align and group images in an
organized manner
Image fills this entire area
(OR originates at the upper
left corner of the area
outlined and is sized to the
full width or height of this
bounding box.)
• Try to make multiple images
approximately the same size
• Align and group images in an
organized manner
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Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
Genuine Currency 7

GENUINE U.S. CURRENCY
Two manufacturing methods are
incorporated into U.S. currency:
Intaglio
Typographic
Genuine Currency 8

Intaglio Print Characteristics
Thick Ink Layer
Raised Image
“Feathered” Appearance
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Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
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Intaglio Images
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Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
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MAGNIFIED TYPOGRAPHIC IMAGE
• Notice indentation
and depth
• Uneven ink
distribution
• Similar to
typewriter
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Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
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Typographic Images
“Small Head” Notes
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Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
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1996 and 1999 Series
U.S. Currency
• Same Paper
• Same Size and Color
• Same Printing Processes
• Same Historical Figures
• Same Historical Landmarks
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Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
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1996 & 1999 Style Currency
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Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
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1996 & 1999 Style Currency
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Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
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2004 Style Currency
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Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
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2004 Style Currency
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Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
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Additional Security Features
Watermark
Vertical Embedded
Security Thread
Color Shifting Ink
Micro-Printing
Fine Line Printing
Additional Colors
Genuine Currency 18

1996 Style Watermarks
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Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
Genuine Currency 19

1996 Series $100 Security Thread
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Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
Genuine Currency 20

1996 Style Security Threads
Position and UV Fluorescence
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Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
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COLOR SHIFTING INK - $20 FRN
The number in the lower right corner on the front of
the note looks green when viewed straight on, but
appears black when viewed at an angle.
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Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
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1996 Style $100 Microprinting
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Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
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Fine Line Printing - $20 FRN
• The $20 FRN has fine lines
printed behind Andrew Jackson’s
portrait and the White House on
the back plate
• The fine lines also appear in the
Series 1996 $100 and $50
notes
• They are difficult to replicate using
copiers and computer scanners
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Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
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Counterfeiting Methods
“TRADITIONAL”
COUNTERFEITING
“DIGITAL”
COUNTERFEITING
• Primarily Foreign
• Offset Equipment
• High Volume Plants
• “Technical Skill”
• Primarily Domestic
• Inkjet Office Equipment
• Smaller Volume Plants
• “Print what you need”
U.S. Department of
Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
Genuine Currency 25

Offset Printing Press
• Prints one side and one color at
a time
• Offset plates are made from
photographic negatives
• Becoming obsolete due to color
ink jet printers and copiers
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Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
Genuine Currency 26

Offset
Counterfeit
Typographic
Genuine
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Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
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Magnified OMC Note
• Toner is made of fine
plastic, affixed to the
paper by heat and
pressure
• The melted particles result
in a similar raised
appearance to that of an
intaglio printing plate
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Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
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Toner Printing
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Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
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Inkjet Printing
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Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
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Raised Note
• “Raised notes” may have the numerals from high denomination
bills glued or taped in the corners of lower denomination notes.
U.S. Department of
Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
Genuine Currency 31

U.S. Department of
Homeland Security
Now What?
1. Pay attention to your $$
2. If you suspect a bill, compare it to another
3. Identify who gave you the bill
4. Keep the bill and call for help
Store Manager
Police
USSS (602) 640-5580
5. Don’t do anything to put yourself
or your customers in danger
6. Talk to the other Merchants
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Secret Service
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Now What?
1. Is there suspect information?
If not, victim should submit note to bank.
2. Can suspect information be followed up?
If not, victim should submit note to bank.
Information can be included on referral or
Officer can respond.
3. Is the suspect still on scene?
4. How to contact USSS (602) 640-5580
5. What can USSS provide?
Confirmation, History, Assistance
U.S. Department of
Homeland Security
United States
Secret Service
Genuine Currency 33