How to spot a counterfeit bill - Tien Nguyen

Summary

This video script delves into the world of counterfeit money detection, highlighting the prevalence and impact of fake currency in the U.S. It introduces the anti-counterfeit detection pen, which uses a potassium iodide and elemental iodine solution to identify starch in counterfeit bills. The script also explains the significance of authentic bills made by Crane and Company and the unique chemical reactions that occur with starch and iodine. Additionally, it covers advanced counterfeit measures such as the fluorescent strip in U.S. bills post-1996, which glows under UV light. The video concludes with simple visual cues to spot counterfeits, encouraging viewers to be vigilant against fake currency.

Takeaways

• 💵 The prevalence of counterfeit money in the U.S. is estimated to be one fake bill per 10,000, amounting to millions of dollars.
• 🔍 Counterfeit bills can cause a range of issues from personal financial loss to destabilizing national economies.
• 🖊 The anti-counterfeit detection pen, resembling a highlighter, uses a solution with potassium iodide and elemental iodine to reveal the presence of starch in counterfeit bills.
• 🌾 Authentic U.S. bills are made of cotton and linen, containing red and blue fibers, and are produced by Crane and Company, a highly-guarded company with a history dating back to the Revolutionary War.
• 🍚 The starch in counterfeit bills, composed of amylopectin and amylose, can be exposed by the detection pen due to the amylose's helical structure reacting with iodine to leave a dark mark.
• 💡 If a counterfeit bill lacks starch, the iodine solution will not react, resulting in a light yellow mark instead of a dark one.
• 🌌 U.S. bills printed since 1996 include a polyester strip that fluoresces under UV light, a feature used as an additional counterfeit countermeasure.
• 🔬 The fluorescent strip is printed with invisible ink and can be seen under natural light as well as glowing under UV light, indicating its presence in genuine bills.
• 👀 Simple visual cues can help identify counterfeit bills, such as lifelike portraits, precise seal points, unbroken inked borders, and evenly spaced serial numbers.
• 🔮 Using a combination of the detection pen, UV light, and visual inspection can effectively identify counterfeit currency.

Q & A

What is the estimated rate of counterfeit bills among every 10,000 U.S. bills?

It is estimated that for every 10,000 U.S. bills, one of those bills is fake.

What potential problems can counterfeit money cause?

Counterfeit money has the potential to cause problems ranging from leaving an individual short of money to destabilizing national economies.

What is the primary tool mentioned in the script for detecting counterfeit money?

The primary tool mentioned is the anti-counterfeit detection pen, which contains a solution of potassium iodide and elemental iodine.

Why does the detection pen reveal the presence of starch on counterfeit bills?

The detection pen reveals the presence of starch because authentic bills are made of cotton and linen and do not contain starch, while counterfeit bills often use regular printer paper strengthened with starch.

What is the historical significance of Crane and Company in relation to the script?

Crane and Company is the highly-guarded company that has been printing currency since the time of the Revolutionary War, including the material used in authentic U.S. bills.

What chemical composition is found in the starch of counterfeit bills, and how does it react with the detection pen?

The starch in counterfeit bills is made of two molecules: amylopectin and amylose. The amylose forms a helical structure that, when reacted with the iodide in the detection pen, forms a new compound leaving a dark mark on the paper.

How can the absence of starch affect the reaction with the detection pen?

In the absence of starch, there is no chemical reaction with the iodide solution in the detection pen, resulting in a light yellow mark instead of a dark one.

What feature has been added to U.S. bills printed since 1996 to counter counterfeiting?

U.S. bills printed since 1996 have a strip that fluoresces under UV light, which is an additional counterfeit countermeasure.

How does the fluorescent strip in the bills work under UV light?

The polyester strip printed with invisible ink contains molecules that, when excited by UV light, return to their original states by radiating light in the visible range, making the strip glow.

What simple visual cues can one use to identify a counterfeit bill apart from the chemical and UV tests?

Visual cues include a lifelike portrait, perfectly even sawtooth points on the seal, an unbroken inked border, and precisely equal spacing between numbers in the serial number.

What alternative method can be used to detect counterfeit bills when a detection pen is not available?

If a detection pen is not available, one can take the bill to a location with UV light, such as a black light party or airport security line, to check for the fluorescent strip.

Outlines

00:00

💵 Counterfeit Money Detection

This paragraph introduces the prevalence of counterfeit money in the U.S., highlighting the potential economic impact. It explains the use of an anti-counterfeit detection pen containing potassium iodide and elemental iodine, which reacts with the starch in counterfeit bills, causing a dark mark. The paragraph also touches on the unique materials and security features of authentic U.S. currency, such as the red and blue fibers and the special paper made by Crane and Company. It further describes the chemical reaction involving amylose, a component of starch, which reveals the presence of counterfeit bills through a helical structure that reacts with the iodine solution.

🔍 Advanced Counterfeit Detection Techniques

The second paragraph delves into advanced counterfeit detection methods, such as the use of UV light to reveal a fluorescent strip in U.S. bills printed since 1996. This strip, made of polyester and printed with invisible ink, glows under UV light due to the presence of molecules that absorb energy and then emit lower energy, longer wavelength light that is visible to the human eye. The paragraph also discusses the importance of visual cues in detecting counterfeit bills, including lifelike portraits, precise seals, unbroken borders, and evenly spaced serial numbers.

Keywords

💡Counterfeit money

Counterfeit money refers to money that is made to resemble the appearance of genuine currency but lacks the legal backing and security features. In the video's theme, counterfeit money is a significant issue as it can lead to financial losses and economic instability. The script mentions that for every 10,000 bills, one could be fake, highlighting the prevalence and impact of counterfeit currency.

💡Anti-counterfeit detection pen

An anti-counterfeit detection pen is a tool used to identify counterfeit currency by revealing the presence of starch, a common ingredient in regular printer paper but not in authentic bills. The pen contains a solution of potassium iodide and elemental iodine, which reacts with starch to produce a dark mark on the paper. This tool is central to the video's demonstration of how to detect counterfeit money.

💡Starch

Starch is a carbohydrate substance often used to strengthen regular printer paper. In the context of the video, the presence of starch in a bill is an indicator of counterfeiting because authentic currency is made of cotton and linen and does not contain starch. The script explains how the detection pen uses a chemical reaction with starch to help identify fake bills.

💡Amylopectin and Amylose

Amylopectin and amylose are two types of molecules that make up starch. Amylose, in particular, is highlighted in the video as a component that can be detected by the anti-counterfeit detection pen due to its helical structure that reacts with iodine to form a dark mark. This chemical property is used as a counterfeit detection method.

💡Cotton and Linen

Cotton and linen are natural fibers used in the production of authentic U.S. currency, which differentiates it from counterfeit bills made with starch-based paper. The video emphasizes the unique material composition of real money, which is a key aspect of its security features.

💡Crane and Company

Crane and Company is a highly-guarded company that has been printing currency since the time of the Revolutionary War, as mentioned in the script. They are responsible for the production of the material used in authentic bills, which is a critical part of the video's narrative about the security and history of U.S. currency.

💡Fluorescence

Fluorescence is a phenomenon where a substance absorbs light and then re-emits it at a longer wavelength. In the video, it is used as a security feature in U.S. bills printed since 1996, where a polyester strip fluoresces under UV light, helping to distinguish genuine currency from counterfeits.

💡UV light

UV light, or ultraviolet light, is a type of electromagnetic radiation that is used in the video to demonstrate the fluorescence of security strips in U.S. bills. This light source is also commonly used in security checks at airports and in black light parties, as mentioned in the script.

💡Invisible ink

Invisible ink is a type of ink that is not visible under normal light but becomes visible under specific conditions, such as UV light. The script describes how U.S. bills use invisible ink to print security features that can be revealed under UV light, adding an extra layer of security against counterfeiting.

💡Visual cues

Visual cues are the observable characteristics of an object that can be used to determine its authenticity. In the context of the video, visual cues such as lifelike portraits, even sawtooth points on seals, unbroken inked borders, and precisely spaced serial numbers are used to identify counterfeit bills.

💡Security features

Security features are measures incorporated into the design and production of currency to prevent counterfeiting. The video discusses several security features, including the use of unique materials, chemical reactions, and fluorescent strips, which are integral to the theme of detecting and preventing counterfeit money.

Highlights

1 in every 10,000 U.S. bills is estimated to be counterfeit, amounting to millions of dollars.

Counterfeit money can cause problems ranging from personal financial loss to destabilizing national economies.

Anti-counterfeit detection pen contains potassium iodide and elemental iodine to reveal the presence of starch in counterfeit bills.

Authentic U.S. bills are made of cotton and linen with red and blue fibers, unlike counterfeit bills which use starch.

Crane and Company, a highly-guarded company, is the sole manufacturer of the material used in U.S. currency since the Revolutionary War.

Starch in counterfeit bills is composed of amylopectin and amylose molecules, with amylose being the giveaway in counterfeit detection.

Iodide reacts with amylose in starch to form a compound that leaves a dark mark on counterfeit bills.

If a bill lacks starch, the iodine solution will leave a light yellow mark, indicating a possible counterfeit.

Since 1996, U.S. bills have included a chemically enhanced strip that fluoresces under UV light as an anti-counterfeit measure.

The polyester strip with invisible ink is found in different positions on bills of varying denominations.

Under natural light, the strip shows the bill's denomination and the word 'USA', while under UV light, it glows brightly.

Fluorescent strips contain molecules that absorb UV light energy and emit lower energy light in the visible range when returning to their original state.

The absence of a glowing strip under UV light is a strong indicator of a counterfeit bill.

Simple visual cues such as lifelike portraits, even sawtooth points on seals, unbroken inked borders, and precisely spaced serial numbers can help identify counterfeit bills.

Using an iodine solution or UV light can help catch counterfeit currency in everyday situations.

Transcripts

It's estimated that for every 10,000 bills in the U.S.,

one of those bills is fake.

That may not sound like much,

but it adds up to millions of dollars in cold hard cash.

Counterfeit money has the potential to cause all sorts of problems,

from leaving you short $20 to destabilizing national economies.

But don't worry.

You can help catch the counterfeits.

All you need are some simple tools and a bit of chemistry.

First up, the anti-counterfeit detection pen.

The pen looks like a highlighter

and contains a solution of potassium iodide

and elemental iodine.

It reveals of the presence of starch,

which is commonly used to strengthen regular printer paper,

but won't be found in real money.

That's because authentic bills are made of cotton and linen

and are threaded with tiny red and blue fibers.

That material is made by a single, highly-guarded company

called Crane and Company,

which has been printing currency

since Paul Revere asked them to help finance the Revolutionary War.

The starch in many counterfeit bills, on the other hand,

is made of two molecules:

amylopectin and amylose.

It's amylose that gives the fake away.

Its long chain of sugar molecules connected by oxygen atoms

forms a helical structure, like DNA.

Iodide likes to squeeze inside this coil,

forming a new compound that leaves a dark mark on the paper.

However, in the absence of starch, there is no chemical reaction

and the mark will look light yellow.

So if the fake isn't printed on starchy paper,

iodine solutions can't help you.

That's one of the reasons U.S. bills printed since 1996

have been chemically enhanced to include another counterfeit countermeasure:

a strip that fluoresces under UV light.

That's the same kind of light used at black light parties

and airport security lines.

The polyester strip printed with invisble ink

is just one millimeter wide

and is found in different positions depending on a bill's value.

If you hold your dollar up to natural light,

you can see the amount and the word USA printed on the band.

But under UV light, these strips really shine.

They contain molecules that can be excited by absorbing certain amounts of energy,

specifically, that given off by common UV light sources.

As these excited molecules return to their original states,

they lose a bit of energy as heat and then radiate the rest as light.

Energy is inversely related to wavelength,

which means that the longer wavelengths have lower energy.

So the lower energy light given off by the strip

means longer wavelengths that fall in the visible range,

and suddenly we can see that which had been invisible.

And if a glowing strip doesn't show up on a recent bill,

you have a fake on your hands.

For times when you're not dealing with counterfeit masterminds,

looking for simple visual cues will do.

Make sure the portrait looks lifelike and not flat,

the seal has perfectly even sawtooth points,

the inked border is unbroken,

and the serial number has precisely equal spacing between each number.

So the next time you come across some dubious dough,

have a closer look,

pull out your iodine solution,

or take it to a rave

and you just might catch a counterfeit.