Introduction: How to Tell If a Dollar Bill Is Real or Fake
In this instructable, I will show you how to tell if a dollar bill is real or fake, using household materials.
Step 1: You Will Need...
You will need:
A dollar bill
Magnets
A dollar bill
Magnets
Step 2: Folding
Fold the left side of the dollar bill about 1/4 the way in. Unfold to a 130 degree angle.
Step 3: The Magnets
Slowly bring the magnets close to the 1 in the top left corner.
If the dollar bill moves toward the magnets, the bill is real.
If the dollar bill moves toward the magnets, the bill is real.
Step 4: How Does It Work?
The dollar bill has magnetic ink which is attracted to the magnets. This is done to prevent counterfeit bills.
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11 Comments
5 years ago
is really helped me. I was doing this survey and if you do the whole thing your get two dollars and I thought they were fake so I did this and they were rreall
6 years ago
but i still need help because someone gave me a dollar and i think it still fake and i dont have a dollar magnets
7 years ago on Introduction
That is so cool!
13 years ago on Introduction
I'm in the US. I got a counterfeit $5 bill from Taco Bell as change. It looked like it was made as a joke by a kid with an inkjet printer, but it sure fooled the Taco Bell employees.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
How do you know it is fake?
13 years ago on Introduction
MICR has been around for about 30 years. Lemonie is right, why bother. The dollar is probably only worth $.15. The paper it's made from is worth more.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
its actually not made from paper. its a blend of cotton and linen.
13 years ago on Introduction
But bleaching a $1 and printing a higher denomination on the blank would fool the magnetic test.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
You can't bleach magnetic materials to white and have them retain magnetic properties.
L
13 years ago on Introduction
Surely no one bothers counterfeiting 1$ bills?
Would you consider asking shop staff to wait while you got your magnet out and tested your change...?
L
13 years ago on Introduction
Do you know if the use of magnetic ink is recent?
Would that test work on bills emitted some 20 years ago?