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Money Counting / Currency Counter Guide
Why use a money or bill counter?
Counting money by hand can take a lot of time and isnít always accurate. A bill counter can speed up this process and cut down on errors. A bill counter will make up its own cost in a short period of time simply by saving on time and errors. Money counters are ideal for use in banks, for fund raisers, in churches, retail stores and much more. You can find our money counters here.
Questions to ask prior to purchasing a money counter:
How much money do you plan to count?
The amount of money you plan to count can make a big difference in the machine you purchase. Different machines are capable of counting different amounts of money. Be sure you get a machine that can handle your needs now and in the future.
Can money counters count other things?
Yes. Many money counters are capable of counting coupons, tickets and more. They are also very efficient at counting paper. Just be sure the money counter can handle the smallest and largest items you need counted.
Do you require counterfeit detection?
Some bill counters can also detect counterfeit money with built-in counterfeit detection. Not all bill counters have this functionality.
Is portability an issue?
Most bill counters are very portable and lightweight. If you need extreme portability, you may need to consider a battery-powered bill counter such as the ABC V-30
As previously stated, some bill counters have counterfeit capabilities. We also sell stand-alone counterfeit detectors. Here are the major counterfeit detection methods used today:
Ultraviolet Detection (UV) - Most U.S. bills have ultraviolet properties built into them. Bill counters, and counterfeit detectors, use a UV light to sense these properties.
Magnetic Detection (MG) - The ink used in U.S. currency has magnetic properties. Magnetic detection in a bill counter or counterfeit detector can sense these magnetic fields and let you know if the money is legit or not.
Watermark Detection (WM) - Many counterfeit detectors have a backlight that can detect a watermark in a bill. This is something that has to be visually checked by an individual.
Magnifier Detection - Some people will use a magnifying glass to look at the quality of the print. This method is becoming more difficult to use due to the higher-resolution capabilities of modern-day printers.
Ink Pen Detection - Counterfeit ink pens are an inexpensive and simple way to detect money. The ink in the pen has an iodine-based solvent that reacts to starch found in wood-based paper. This reaction causes a black mark. When applied to legitimate bills, which aren't made from wood-based paper, no discoloratoin occurs.
Light Reflection - Many bills now printing in the U.S. have an iridescent quality that causes some of the numbers to look metallic and change appearance in light.