The EURion constellation is a pattern of symbols incorporated into a number of secure documents such as banknotes, checks, and ownership title certificates designs worldwide since about 1996. It is added to help imaging software detect the presence of such a document in a digital image. Such software can then block the user from reproducing banknotes to prevent counterfeiting using colour photocopiers.
The Orion constellation
Omron rings made by circular zeroes on a US $20 note (marked in blue).
Counterfeit money is currency produced outside of the legal sanction of a state or government, usually in a deliberate attempt to imitate that currency and so as to deceive its recipient. Producing or using counterfeit money is a form of fraud or forgery, and is illegal in all jurisdictions of the world. The business of counterfeiting money is nearly as old as money itself: plated copies have been found of Lydian coins, which are thought to be among the first Western coins. Before the introduction of paper money, the most prevalent method of counterfeiting involved mixing base metals with pure gold or silver. Another form of counterfeiting is the production of documents by legitimate printers in response to fraudulent instructions. During World War II, the Nazis forged British pounds and American dollars. Today, some of the finest counterfeit banknotes are called Superdollars because of their high quality and imitation of the real US dollar. There has been significant counterfeiting of Euro banknotes and coins since the launch of the currency in 2002, but considerably less than that of the US dollar.
Counterfeit United States series 1974 $100 bill. Over-stamped with "Contrefaçon" on both sides. On display at the British Museum, London.
American 18th–19th century iron counterfeit coin mold for making fake Spanish milled dollars and U.S. half dollars
Crudely counterfeited 100,000 Russian ruble note, made by pasting two extra zeroes cut from a 1,000 ruble note onto another. Note how the final zero up top overlaps the word Билет (banknote) at the top.
Anti-counterfeit money sign and examples of counterfeit notes received by a noodle shop in Kunming, Yunnan, China.