# Is it legal to photocopy money? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 3, 2004, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-photocopy-money/277904 "2004-12-03T15:51:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-photocopy-money/277904/1 "2004-12-03T15:51:14Z")
See, **Dweezil** has seen a lot of ads for the movie National Treasure. We haven’t yet seen it, but will probably take him soon. In the meantime, this is all he can talk about. He asked Santa for a hundred dollar bill (I gather one of the “clues” in the movie is supposedly hidden on the back of a hundred-dollar bill). Uh, Santa doesn’t carry that kind of cash. So we were thinking of getting a hundred dollar bill from the bank, and photocopying it, and putting the photocopy in Dweezil’s stocking. Thereby letting him have the fun of deciphering the clues, at a fraction of the cost. But I’m wondering whether we’ll be dragged out of Kinko’s by a horde of angry Secret Service guys for daring to copy money. I mean, it’d be a black-and-white copy, no danger of being mistaken for the real thing, but those Secret Service guys aren’t known for their sense of humor. ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-photocopy-money/277904/2 "2004-12-03T16:05:37Z")
My understanding is that as long as you are not reproducing dollar bills in hole, that is copying front and then repeating on back, and cutting it out and presenting it as real currenty - you’re in the clear. But this is the opinion of a 21 year old college student so I’m far from knowledgeable. ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-photocopy-money/277904/3 "2004-12-03T16:08:17Z")
A quick google search turned up this FAQ: [http://www.faqs.org/faqs/coin-collecting/paper-money-faq/section-43.html](http://www.faqs.org/faqs/coin-collecting/paper-money-faq/section-43.html) Merry Christmas! ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-photocopy-money/277904/4 "2004-12-03T16:08:49Z")
Duplication of currency is legal IF the physical size of the copy is smaller than 75% or more than 125% of the original. Most copiers have an enlargement feature. As long as you follow the above rule, you’ll be well within the law. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-photocopy-money/277904/5 "2004-12-03T16:11:19Z")
Huh. I was sure the upper limit was 125%, but **ronincyberpunk** ’s link says it’s 150%. Well, there you go. ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-photocopy-money/277904/6 "2004-12-03T16:14:42Z")
I’m glad I googled it, I didn’t even know there were size restrictions. The FAQ is from a group of people who collect currency, but it is not official in any way. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-photocopy-money/277904/7 "2004-12-03T16:16:03Z")
From [here](http://www.treas.gov/usss/money_illustrations.shtml): > [@](#): > > U.S. Currency > The Counterfeit Detection Act of 1992, Public Law 102-550, in Section 411 of Title 31 of the Code of Federal Regulations, permits color illustrations of U.S. currency provided: > > 1. the illustration is of a size less than three-fourths or more than one and one-half, in linear dimension, of each part of the item illustrated; > 2. the illustration is one-sided; and > 3. all negatives, plates, positives, digitized storage medium, graphic files, magnetic medium, optical storage devices, and any other thing used in the making of the illustration that contain an image of the illustration or any part thereof are destroyed and/or deleted or erased after their final use. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-photocopy-money/277904/8 "2004-12-03T16:19:06Z")
The US Bureau of Engraving and Printing on [reproduction of banknotes](http://www.moneyfactory.com/document.cfm/18/117). The Bank of Canada on [the same](http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/banknotes/legislation/repro.html). The Bank of England on [the same](http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/repoappform.htm). Looks like there are restrictions on making the reproductions lifesize and in colour. There seems to be quite a lot of snippiness about copyrights too. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-photocopy-money/277904/9 "2004-12-03T16:20:45Z")
Perfect - thanks guys!! That 150% enlargement proviso works well for us here - it’ll help **Dweezil** in his amateur sleuthing. I’ll bring a printout of that linked page with me, in case the Kinko’s guys give me any odd looks 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-photocopy-money/277904/10 "2004-12-03T16:21:11Z")
Be aware that many photocopiers nowadays can detect that you’re trying to copy currency and simply refuse to copy it. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-photocopy-money/277904/11 "2004-12-03T16:22:48Z")
A technological advance in the new color copiers produces a tiny yellow serial number evenly distributed across your copy that can be used to trace where the creating machine was purchased. It is invisible under normal light. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-photocopy-money/277904/12 "2004-12-03T17:52:23Z")
> [@Terminus Est](#): > > Be aware that many photocopiers nowadays can detect that you’re trying to copy currency and simply refuse to copy it. True. I’ve read that many of the newer color copiers are programmed to recognize US currency and will substitute a black box or something else. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-photocopy-money/277904/13 "2004-12-03T18:42:23Z")
The regulations don’t explicitly say so, but black-and-white photocopies of US currency are apparently legitimate regardless of size, right? If they aren’t, I think I need to have a word with our director here, who insists that all donations in cash here must be photocopied in B&W. ---
**Author:** ![Earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90db22/32.png) [@Earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthling)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-photocopy-money/277904/14 "2004-12-03T18:46:52Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > True. I’ve read that many of the newer color copiers are programmed to recognize US currency and will substitute a black box or something else. It’s done by [pattern recognition](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=5560029&postcount=13). ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-photocopy-money/277904/15 "2004-12-03T19:37:56Z")
> [@Mama Zappa](#): > > See, **Dweezil** has seen a lot of ads for the movie National Treasure. We haven’t yet seen it, but will probably take him soon. > > In the meantime, this is all he can talk about. > > He asked Santa for a hundred dollar bill (I gather one of the “clues” in the movie is supposedly hidden on the back of a hundred-dollar bill). > > Uh, Santa doesn’t carry that kind of cash. [slight hijack] Just take him to the movie before Christmas. Then he’ll know how the movie turns out and won’t need the clue from a $100 bill. Or how about giving him a $100 for the day and a magnifying glass, and let him take notes of the ‘evidence’. He just wants to look for clues, not spend the money, right? ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-photocopy-money/277904/16 "2004-12-03T19:45:13Z")
> [@Duke](#): > > The regulations don’t explicitly say so, but black-and-white photocopies of US currency are apparently legitimate regardless of size, right? > > If they aren’t, I think I need to have a word with our director here, who insists that all donations in cash here must be photocopied in B&W. Not to the best of my knowledge. When I worked at an arcade years ago someone tried to put a B&W fiver through the token machine. The SS was out there right away. Though maybe, because you’re not trying to use the photocopies as money you’ll be ok. ---
**Author:** ![Big-Ole-Steve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Big-Ole-Steve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big-Ole-Steve)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-photocopy-money/277904/17 "2004-12-03T20:24:19Z")
My daughter has had play money that looked exactly like real money looks, printed front and back, only it was much bigger. It would be perfect for a kid who wants to investigate a 100 dollar bill. There are some companies I found on google that had them. Is the bill your son wants the current 100 dollar bill, or the classic? I couldn’t find any of the classics in play money form. IIRC my wife found this play money either at the dollar store, or in the “cheap crappy toys” section of the grocery store or drug store. Keep your eyes open. I’ll provide a link to a company sell the money (with which I have NO affiliation) so you can see what I’m talking about, or in case you can’t find any for sale locally. [http://www.presentationresources.net/play\_money2.html](http://www.presentationresources.net/play_money2.html) Steve ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-photocopy-money/277904/18 "2004-12-04T02:14:37Z")
Not really an answer, but… how long do you think he’ll spend looking for clues, before he gets bored? If it’s not too long, then you can just withdraw the $100 from the bank, let him play for a while, and then put it back. Of course, if you don’t know for sure how long he’ll want to play, this could be a little bit risky. Still cheaper than an iPod, though.