The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-09
Counterfeit Money.

" non the cNlECnclcS Oh inc war caufcu
the old state banks to go out Of existence
and the now notes of the national banks and
the grccnbacks took their place, general
relief was experienced by the absence OF
counterfeit, spurious, and altered notes.
The forms Of fraudulent money had become
so numerous that the counterfeit detector
had got tn be almost as largo as tho family
Bible. A long period elapsed after the issue
Of the new notes before the countcrfeits
made their appearance. and so great was
the relief in this respect that the new notes
found few opponents.
But the security against countcrfcits was
short lived. The enormous quantities of
each denomination OF the new issues proved
an irresistible temptation 10 the counter
fcitcrs, so that now the annoyance from
fraudulent notes salmost as great as IL was
during the issue Of tho old State bank
money. This is signally illustrated by the
growth Of the counterfeit dctcctors. For a
short time these publications almost Vent
out OF existence. but now they are flourish
ing, and present an appalling exhibit Of the
extent Of countericting, In URd,riroods
Counterfeit Dctccior for December n table
appears showing that 500 different kinds Of
counterfeit money have been received.
Every State in the Union is represented in
this list. and so great have been
the numbers Of counterfclts on some banks
! that in some cases the issue has been en-
tircly called in and further issue Of like de-
nomination has been suppressed Some idea
| OF the extent OF these counterfcits may be
obtained 10y the fact that the same counter
felt is found in circulation in many places.
| Thus the counterfeit fives on the Merchants
| National Bank of New Bedford were sent to
the Bureau OF Redemption from l4l places.
| The counterfeit iivcs on the Hampton Ma
tlonal Bank Of Wcstfcld, Mass, appeared at
| III places, including places In Colorado, Kan
sas. Minnesota. Iowa, Florida, Oregon. South
| Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia,
and Maine-in short all over the United
States. Under the old State bank system
countcrfets were somewhat crcumscribed
in circulation, but now they go unsupported
from one end Of the country to the other
The similarity Of so many good notes makes
it profitable for the countericiters to pay
enormous sums TO procure one good plate,
knowing that when once obtained they may
use this one plate, with but slight altera-
tions, for many counterfcits. The fortunate
fact that the counterfeiters have omitted t.
notice the slight variations in the genuine
notes.-the different styles of numbers and
check letters-has been the principal means
fer the detection Of cOunterfeits. Thus the
counterfeiters often put ON the name OF q
United States Register or Treasurer who
was not in Office when the note was Issued
UNDERWOOD publishes a curious list OF
about $50 notes Of various denomination,
that We're stolen from banks before they
We're signed by the bank officers. In such
cases, the notes would be properly mum
bcrcd, and would defy detection.
But IN the case Of most counterfeit notes
the chances Of getting the right numbers
and check letters are very remote On'
method OF detecting fraudulent Unite,
States notes is very simple. II sas follows
United states notes are printed IN sheets Of four
Of one denomination on each sheet Those notes are let
diasoually opposite A. -, e. and u Each United state
note has a distinct number, ami the notes are alwal
numbered I'm their order te sheets thus an notes
letter A will be !. or number which II divided by
would leave / remainder. ., G. s. and u, =. or IN
number will he divided by without a remainder Thi
test while not hy any mean. certain will enable any on
L. detect tiri u the cuuntcrioits In circulation
Anf United state. note ur0n which the number cauno
be divided ly four without sh0Nu. the above result Is
counterfeit Bar IN mind nat all genuine notes wit
letters aul g. will have ola numbers anl all with
and d even numbers
II a note will not stand this tcst it shoul,
he rejected. Nevertheless, IL is possibl
that a note that would stand the test ma,
be counterfeit But it is hardly safe 70
any one 10 receive suspected money withou
strict comparison with the detailed de
seription Of known countorfeits.