MISSISSAUGA, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Over time, as counterfeiters have become more sophisticated in creating fake currency, so have the measures taken by countries, including Canada, to create more sophisticated, harder-to-duplicate currency designs. In an effort to deter forgeries, Canada’s recent redesign of five bills gives new meaning to the idea of paper or plastic. In Canada’s case, the answer was plastic. Canada chose a new substrate – polymer – for its recently redesigned $100, $50 and $20 bill; the $5 and $10 bills will follow suit, when they are released this fall. Polymer replaces traditional paper-cotton material, which makes the currency both harder to destroy as its considerably more durable and tougher to counterfeit.
Due to the changes in both the monetary material and security measures to deter counterfeits, Canadian businesses must be properly prepared to detect and process new and existing polymer bills. For example, cash-heavy businesses such as financial institutions, credit unions, retailers and casinos must not only make sure their currency processing equipment is ready to accept polymer notes, but employees are properly trained for detecting counterfeit bills.
The Anatomy of a Forgery – Tips for Spotting Counterfeit Bills
Cummins Allison, the leading innovator and provider of coin and currency handling solutions, details what features to pay close attention to when spotting the real deal from a copy; in newly redesigned bills or versions that have been in circulation for years.
- Texture. The polymer bills are printed on is unique, as it is not sold commercially. In addition, genuine bills are printed with ink that has a slightly raised texture.
- Print quality. Blurry areas, broken borders, and a general flatness to images all indicate a forgery. Genuine bills have sharp portraits, crisp lines and fine detailing.
- Embedded, hidden text and numbers. Genuine bills contain transparent text and hidden numbers – raising the difficulty in copying.
- Holographic images. Images, such as one on the $100 bill will appear as a holographic likeness in a clear plastic window that changes colors as you hold the bill at different angles.
Be Prepared for Currency Changes & Counterfeit Detection
As long as there is currency being circulated, there will be counterfeiters trying to emulate that currency. The latest redesign measures taken by Canada, and even the U.S., aim to thwart counterfeiters in their quest to forge bills, yet these cannot be the only measures taken. A currency counting machine with the ability to detect forgeries is essential for an operation that handles cash on a daily basis. Having the right technology on hand can ensure that no counterfeit currency is infiltrating a cash room and being redistributed to customers.
To learn more about Cummins Allison polymer processing technology, visit http://www.cumminsallison.ca/ca/en/products/currency-handling.
About Cummins Allison
Cummins Allison is a global leader in developing technologies which count, sort and authenticate currency. The U.S.-based company has a 125-year heritage of leadership in technology and product innovation and currently serves the majority of financial institutions worldwide, as well as leading organizations in retail, casinos, law enforcement and government. The company holds more than 350 patents and has ongoing research and development (R&D) investments double the industry average. Cummins Allison is headquartered near Chicago, IL with R&D centers near San Diego, CA and Philadelphia, PA and wholly owned subsidiaries in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany and France. The company also has an extensive sales and service network with more than 50 offices in North America and is represented in over 70 countries. For more information, visit www.cumminsallison.ca.
