When is a Counterfeit not a Counterfeit? We Need to Know!

Counterfeiting is a sensitive subject. Without counterfeiters most of us would not have a job, but central banks have a difficult line to walk. They need the public to check their banknotes, but equally they need the public to trust and have confidence in their currency.

Added to that, there is a significant challenge defining what is a counterfeit and what is a good counterfeit. This is also, possibly, a topic about which there is the least information.

The implications of counterfeiting go to the heart of an economy. If any country experienced mass counterfeiting, it could cause economic chaos, which is amplified if cash is the prevalent means of payment. If there was mass counterfeiting of the US dollar or another international currency, then that economic chaos would cross borders with a much more significant impact. It is fair to say, therefore, that confidence in any country’s cash is of paramount importance.