currency security

The Counterfeit Currency Crisis of 1862: Why the First Legal Tender Notes Were Already Being Faked Within Weeks of Issue

June 15, 2026 by

When the United States issued its first Legal Tender Notes in February 1862, counterfeiters were already at work before the ink had dried on the genuine articles. This deep-dive into the chaotic early days of federal paper money reveals how a desperate wartime government scrambled to protect a currency that was, by modern standards, shockingly easy to fake.

Why Is American Money Green? The BEP’s Ink Chemistry and the Colorful History Behind U.S. Currency

June 15, 2026 by

The green color of U.S. paper money is so iconic that ‘greenback’ became a permanent part of the American lexicon, yet few collectors understand the actual chemistry, historical decisions, and security science behind that distinctive hue. This deep dive covers everything from the Civil War-era origins of green ink to the modern magnetic and ultraviolet properties that make counterfeiting so difficult.