Why Some U.S.

What Are Chop Marks?

Chop marks are small stamps on U.S. dollar bills made by money changers to verify authenticity, common in parts of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Purpose: Originating from Chinese coin stamping, chop marks track a bill’s movement and build trust where fake currency is common.

Appearance: They include symbols like stars, initials, or arrows, stamped in ink without covering security features.

Legality: Chop marks don’t affect a bill’s value and are legal, though some banks may reject heavily marked bills.

Significance: A bill with chop marks reflects a global journey of currency verification and trust