[calex59]

There is a polyester filament in the bill, but it is an anti-counterfeiting measure. If you photocopy a bill, the strip won’t be there.

That's why they bleach out $1 and $5 bills and print over them. They then check out as real bills.

[randog]

That's why they bleach out $1 and $5 bills and print over them. They then check out as real bills.

Thanks for the tip, I'll give it a shot on the next batch... ;^)

[Figment]

That’s why they bleach out $1 and $5 bills and print over them. They then check out as real bills.

The one dollar bill has no strip. The strips have the denomination of the bill printed on them. Ones are bleached for the paper, probably not really easy to pass though

[justlurking]

That only works if no one looks closely at the polyester strip. It has microprinting matching the bill denomination.

[ThomasThomas]

Finding counterfeits made by bleaching is easy. Mainly because of poor printing quality. But also each bill has it’s own magnetic ink characteristics that doesn’t completely bleach away. Currency counter counterfeit detection is available to the public with equipment that detects ink. I was working at a major cash vault the day the new 20’s came out and we found counterfeits the next day.

[justlurking]

I forgot to add: the security strip is in a different place on each bill.

Of course, it depends on the recipient knowing what to look for.

[Boogieman]

Well that works to duplicate the paper, but it doesn’t help with the anti-fraud strip, because ones and fives don’t have a strip. Also, the bills that do have strips have the denomination printed on them, which is what the store clerks are looking for when they hold the bill up to the light.