The E-Sylum:  Volume 9, Number 34, August 20, 2006, Article 20

ON THE POSSESSION OF COUNTERFEITS

Last week I wrote that "regulations probably prohibit a counterfeit
being anywhere, even in the National Numismatic Collection - I've
never heard of  counterfeits being part of the collection."

Bob Leuver writes: "Counterfiets are part of many numismatists'
collections.  However, the collecting of counterfeits is not publicized.
I would assume that a number of Secret Service agents own counterfeit
currency that they were not required to turn in, if part of an
investigation.  Counterfeits are oddities.

I was in a drug store in Key West in 1981 with my wife (probably
should stress that).  A man came in and complained to the druggist,
whom he  apparently knew, that someone had passed to him a $10 bill.
He knew it was  counterfeit as it was smaller than normal.  I listened
to the rantings for  a while, then went up and displayed my Treasury
credential (badge and  credential).  I asked to see the note.  It
appeared genuine but was indeed smaller than usual.  I gave the man
$10 and I kept the bill.  It is unusual.

For anyone involved in detecting counterfeits or developing strategies
to combat counterfeiting, actual counterfeits are interesting."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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