Mexican Counterfeits?
jmm2562
Posts: 118 ✭✭
Hello Currency Forum!
I have these 3 uncirculated bills in my collection that I suspect are counterfeit. I cannot put my finger on anything specific to declare them fake, except maybe the paper which is every so slightly thinner than US paper. Are there any specific artifacts to look for to detect photocopies? Here are the 3 bills in question. Does anyone see any smoking guns to declare these fake? Happy to take more closeup photos if needed...
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These notes were stamped before they were issued. I don't recall seeing a real one without the stamp, so that makes me wary of the 20 Peso.
Take a magnifying glass and look at the fine details and print. The real notes were printed in the US and are very well made. Counterfeits often have loss of detail and blurred areas in the fine printing.
The biggest tell is typically the paper, do you have a local dealer that may have a real specimen to compare it to? You can also compare them to the reference notes on Numista, link below.
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/chihuahua_revolution-2.html
A close examination with a magnifying glass should show blurred details if it is fake. I agree that the 20 Pesos should have a stamp on the reverse but I just discovered that PS-537c has no seals on the back. The paper was not typical for mine (maybe my example was fake too?). It seemed cheaper than regular banknote paper substrate with less cotton rag than usual (& thinner than I expected). I'm going to have to re-examine my note but I think those 3 look okay to me (yet somebody probably should examine them in person- if you're still in doubt).
**https://sites.google.com/view/notaphilycculture/collecting-banknotes **
I checked for diminished detail around the 20 note. Thought I found a smoking gun in the lower right on the front for the outermost line. However, the Numista example bill has the same defect.
Another suspicious thing is the smoothness of the stamps. If it were a real stamp, one would expect to be able to feel it on the bill. But it is smooth and undetectable. Are the stamps typically hand delivered after printing or actually part of the note design?
The stamps were placed on it in Mexico by hand before issuing.
Good to know. I would have expected some relief on the note (however slight) from the stamp. I'll have to inspect them for any evidence. Otherwise, I think I have to conclude they are just photocopies on heavier paper.
There would be no relief (or impression) if it were done by offset printing or rubber stamp.