Counterfeit pens are used to detect counterfeit United States banknotes. Genuine banknotes are cotton based and don't react with the ink. Counterfeit notes are often made on wood based papers. Iodine in the ink reacts to starch in the wood pulp, turning dark to indicating a counterfeit note.
Pen manufactures claim over 98% effectiveness[1], but is not at all effective with respect to old bills.[2]
Some counterfeiters bleach small demoninations and print more valuable bills on the blank paper to evade this test.
A QUICKTEST Pen is a similar device for testing Switzerland and Euro banknotes.[3]
They are hardly useful, because most counterfeit money is not printed using such outdated techniques.
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Last updated: 08-20-2005 07:50:08
