Old Forgeries and Modern Fakes |
Updated January 06 2020
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Anyone collecting Chinese currency needs to be aware of the numerous pitfalls that can be encountered, especially if new to the subject. The principle danger for new collectors is usually a lack of experience as to what standards to expect in the qualities of production for various types of banknote, and in spotting which notes are not simply forgeries but outright fantasies. The latter can be more dangerous than fakes, though much easier with experience to recognise when there is no direct contact with the note - as with on-line auctions.
Unfortunately some of the forgeries are sophisticated and very difficult to spot, especially in regards to notes that were printed in any manner that does not give a texture to the surface of the printed area. Early People's Bank of China currency is particularly a problem, with numerous very convincing forgeries circulating widely among dealers and collectors, often without the knowledge of the former.
When buying on-line, it is a good idea to see what else is being sold by the dealer as some fakes are easier to spot than others. Any dealer with two or more obvious fakes should be avoided even if other notes appear genuine.
The images are not to any specific scale.
Unfortunately some of the forgeries are sophisticated and very difficult to spot, especially in regards to notes that were printed in any manner that does not give a texture to the surface of the printed area. Early People's Bank of China currency is particularly a problem, with numerous very convincing forgeries circulating widely among dealers and collectors, often without the knowledge of the former.
When buying on-line, it is a good idea to see what else is being sold by the dealer as some fakes are easier to spot than others. Any dealer with two or more obvious fakes should be avoided even if other notes appear genuine.
The images are not to any specific scale.
Contents
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Period forgeries circulated by criminals, government opponents and military invaders
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Old Counterfeits: The Smithsonian Collection (new, January 2020)
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A gallery and study of some of the period forgeries within the collections of the Smithsonian Institution
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Authentic notes which have been altered in recent times to deceive collectors and dealers
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Some of the numerous modern fakes and fantasy notes sold to deceive collectors and dealers
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Some examples of the more (and less) convincing attempts at artificial ageing.
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A more detailed comparison of a genuine Chinese banknote and it's online-auction fake
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