TO: CLARK MATTHEWS FROM: STEVE BEATTY IN MINNEAPOLIS DATE: 2-29-92<\/p>\n
CLARK – I did a little more research re: “Yipes, Stripes!” in OUR money…. <\/p>\n
Here’s what I’ve got so far:<\/p>\n
The Federal Reserve BBS (known as Kimberely!) here in Minneapolis
\nat 612-340-2489 (2400-MNP5) has a file called SECURITY.MON that
\ndiscusses the polyester stripe! <\/p>\n
I’ve excerpted the appropriate part below, with ——dotted lines——-
\nsurrounding the pertinent info. <\/p>\n
This information has been publicly available since July 25, 1991 –
\nso what’s the REAL story?<\/p>\n
Is this SMOKE? or is there a FIRE ??<\/p>\n
73, Steve<\/p>\n
From the Federal Reserve “Kimberely” BBS in Minneapolis:<\/p>\n
**************************************************************************<\/p>\n
YOUR MONEY MATTERS …<\/p>\n
A DESIGN THAT ENDURES
\n———————
\nUnited States currency is recognized and valued by people everywhere. Its
\ntraditional design represents the most widely held currency in the world.
\nAlthough there have been changes from time to time, the basic design has
\nendured since the early 1900s.<\/p>\n
For example, during that time the Department of the Treasury exchanged
\nheavy silver dollars for Silver Certificates with a design similar to
\ntoday’s currency. National banks also used much the same design to issue
\nNational Bank Notes.<\/p>\n
The Federal Reserve System, established by Congress in 1913, issues Federal
\nReserve Notes through its banks and branches. Although the notes’ backs
\nvaried throughout the years, the faces represented the familiar design. In
\n1929, the notes were made smaller, and uniform designs for each
\ndenomination were adopted. The last significant change to the nation’s
\npaper money was in 1957 when the phrase “In God We Trust” was added.<\/p>\n
KEEPING IT SAVE
\n—————
\nThe U.S. dollar, with its universal acceptability and trusted design, is
\nalso the most counterfeited currency in the world. Even so, counterfeiting-
\none of the oldest crimes in history–has been managed successfully since
\n1865 when the United States Secret Service was created to curtail
\ncounterfeiters. At that time, bogus bills–amounting to almost one-third of
\nthe nation’s currency–posed a serious risk to the country’s economic
\nstability.<\/p>\n
The Secret Service’s enforcement success has been aided by the enduring
\ndesign. Along with the paper used for making currency, the design
\nincorporates numerous security features to deter counterfeiters. The
\nborder, the portrait, the red and blue fibers embedded in the paper, the
\nplacement of seals and serial numbers, and the intaglio printing from
\nmeticulously engraved plates are security designs that have served well for
\nalmost a century. The features, along with strict enforcement, discourage
\nall but the most determined from pursuing the crime of counterfeiting.<\/p>\n
But now, advancements in color copier, laser scanner, and digital printing
\nequipment require another step to protect currency. A new threat is posed
\nby the opportunity for inexperienced people with access to modern equipment
\nto make counterfeits in offices, copy centers, and printing facilities. The
\nSecret Service is effective in rooting out large-scale, professional
\ncounterfeiters. But the potential for small numbers of counterfeits being
\npassed extensively in widely dispersed areas presents a new law enforcement
\nchallenge.<\/p>\n
SECURING THE FUTURE
\n——————-
\nStill ahead of the general availability of advanced copier and printer
\nequipment, the Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of Engraving and
\nPrinting has produced currency with a security thread and microprinting to
\naugment existing security features. The Federal Reserve System Banks are
\nintroducing the new enhancements first in Series 1990 $50 and $100 notes.
\nNew and existing currency will co-circulate without recall. Both will be
\nlegal tender.<\/p>\n
————————- YIPES, STRIPES! ———————————<\/p>\n
The security thread is a polyester strip embedded in the paper to the left
\nof the Federal Reserve seal. The strip is printed with USA and the note’s
\nvalue, e.g., USA 50 or USA 100, in a repeated up-and-down vertical pattern.
\nVisible when held to a light, the thread cannot be reproduced in the
\nreflected light of copiers.<\/p>\n
—————————————————————————<\/p>\n
With microprinting, the words “The United States of America” are repeated
\nalong the sides of the portrait. The letters are too small to be read
\nwithout a magnifier or for distinct copier reproduction. To the naked eye,
\nthe printing appears like another line.<\/p>\n
The two new features deter amateur counterfeiters from an easy “crime-of-
\nopportunity”–copying a few bogus bills during the day to pass at night.
\nDedicated and experienced counterfeiters will be frustrated by the
\ndifficult, costly, and time-consuming task of producing notes with a
\ngenuine-looking security thread or distinct microprinting.<\/p>\n
GET ACQUAINTED WITH YOUR MONEY
\n——————————
\nTake the time to get acquainted with your money. Existing security features
\nare easy to see once you know what to look for. The two new design features
\nwere selected for easy recognition and use as well as their counterfeit
\ndeterrent qualities.<\/p>\n
Look for differences, not similarities. Compare a suspect note with a
\ngenuine note of the same denomination and series, paying attention to the
\nquality of printing and to the paper’s characteristics. Genuine money is
\nmade by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing’s master craftsmen using steel
\nengravings and advanced printing equipment to produce a finely engraved and
\nsuperior note on special, durable paper.<\/p>\n
With your interest and cooperation and the aid of local police departments
\nand the United States Secret Service, counterfeiting can be kept under
\ncontrol. The U.S. government will also continue to anticipate threats to
\nthe security of the nation’s currency and develop appropriate design
\ndeterrents.<\/p>\n
**************************************************************************<\/p>\n
