A 20-dollar bill features the portrait of President Andrew Jackson on the front. The back of the note has a vignette of the White House. It incorporates many advanced security features like the security thread, watermark, micro printing, and colour-shifting ink. This makes it difficult for counterfeiters to produce counterfeit dollars, including the fake 20-dollar bill. Travellers and international students in the US must learn ways to identify and spot fake dollars and not fall victim. Let’s find out how to spot fake twenty-dollar bills in this blog.
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Ways to Identify Fake 20-Dollar Bills
It is important to know how to spot fake money. Looking at the security thread, watermark, and the numeral 20 on the front side are the main ways that can help you distinguish between fake 20-dollar bills and real 20-dollar bills. Besides, it is important to feel the texture of the note, including the colours on it. Continue reading to learn how to examine these features.
Look for the Embedded Security Thread
One of the key security features of the US 20-dollar bill is a vertical thread embedded in the paper. When held up to the light, you’ll see the thread clearly, imprinted with the text “USA TWENTY” and a small flag in a repeating pattern. This thread is visible from both sides of the bill which glows green when illuminated by ultraviolet light.
In a fake 20-dollar bill, the security thread will be printed and not embedded in it. The imprinted text will also appear blurry and UV light won’t glow green.
Also Read: Check out this blog to learn all the major steps to identify fake 100-euro notes from the New Europa Series.
Notice the Watermark
You will also notice the watermark of President Jackson in the blank space. It appears as a faint image when you hold the Federal Reserve Note in the light. In a real dollar bill, it will appear on both sides of the note. A fake 20-dollar bill will either have this feature absent or will appear as a printed image that is darker than the surrounding areas.
Check the Colour-Shifting Ink
When you tilt the bill, a colour-shifting pattern will appear on the numeral 20 in the lower right corner of the note. On tilting it, the colour will shift from green to copper on a real note. However, a fake 20-dollar bill will lack the colour-shifting ink feature. Similarly, you can learn how to identify a counterfeit 100-dollar bill.
Feel the Raised Paper
When you run your finger over Andrew Jackson’s collar on a twenty-dollar bill, you should notice a slight roughness due to the raised printing and special paper used. This peculiar feature is another security element to help prevent counterfeiting and enable you to identify a fake 20-dollar bill.
Also Read: Taken a student loan? Know the impact of currency depreciation on international students and important tips to deal with it.
What To Do With Fake 20-Dollar Bill?
If you suspect you have a counterfeit 20-dollar bill, it’s important to take immediate action. It should be taken immediately after inspecting the bill for any suspicious features, such as misspellings, blurry images, or incorrect colours. Here’s what you should do-
- Compare the suspected counterfeit to a known genuine USD 20 bill. Look for differences in the texture, feel, and security features.
- If you’re confident that it is a fake 20-dollar bill or bill of any other denomination, report it to your local law enforcement agency or the nearest field office of the United States Secret Service.
This was all about detecting fake 20-dollar bills. Understanding how to check the security features in the US notes will help you avoid accepting counterfeiting dollars.
To know more about currencies, forex, education loans, the best bank accounts for students banking experience for global students or international money transfers, reach out to our experts at 1800572126 to help ease your study abroad experience.
FAQs
Genuine 20-dollar bills have security features like a watermark, security thread, colour-shifting ink, and raised printing that helps you verify authenticity.
To spot a counterfeit dollar, you should feel the raised printing on the note. Look for watermarks on the unprinted area and security thread. Also, tilt the note to see colour changes in the numeral 20 at the lower right of the note.
If you suspect that a note it counterfeited, do not attempt to pass it on. Report the counterfeit to local authorities or your bank for further investigation.
Yes, older USD 20 bills remain valid and can be used for transactions alongside newer designs until they are gradually removed from circulation.
A counterfeit detection pen can help identify fake bills. They react with the ink as they contain a special iodine-based solution. It reacts with the starch in regular paper, but not with the cotton-linen blend used for real US Dollars.
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