You’re standing in a busy checkout line, the cashier hands you change, and something feels... off. Not quite paper, but not quite fabric either. It’s a $20 bill, the most common denomination passed by counterfeiters in the United States. Most people just shove it in their wallet and keep moving. That’s a mistake. If you accidentally try to spend a fake later, you’re the one out twenty bucks, or worse, facing a very uncomfortable conversation with a store manager.
Learning how to tell if 20 bill is fake isn’t just for bank tellers or federal agents. Honestly, it’s a basic survival skill in a cash-heavy world. The U.S. Treasury spends millions making sure these slips of "paper" (which is actually a 75% cotton and 25% linen blend) are nearly impossible to replicate perfectly.
Trust your hands first. Real money has a distinct, slightly raised texture because of the intaglio printing process. If the bill feels smooth like a page from a magazine or greasy like a cheap flyer, red flags should be flying.
The Secret Life of Andrew Jackson’s Portrait
Look closely at the face. On a genuine $20 bill, Andrew Jackson looks sharp. His eyes are clear. You can see the fine lines in his hair and the texture of his skin. Counterfeiters often struggle with the "soul" of the portrait; on a fake, the image is often blurry, muddy, or the eyes look flat and lifeless.
The portrait should stand out from the background. On real currency, the fine screen-like patterns behind the head are crisp and unbroken. If you see bleeding ink or jagged lines where the portrait meets the background, you’re likely holding a high-end photocopy.
Check the Color-Shifting Ink
This is arguably the easiest way to spot a dud without any fancy tools. Tilt the bill back and forth. Look at the number "20" in the lower right-hand corner on the front of the note. On a real bill, that ink shifts color.
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- In the current Series 2003 and later designs, the color changes from copper to green.
- It’s not just a subtle shimmer; it’s a distinct, undeniable shift.
- Fakes often use metallic glitter or just standard green ink that stays the same color no matter how much you wiggle it.
If that "20" doesn't change color, stop right there. You've found a fake.
Light is Your Best Friend: Watermarks and Threads
Hold the bill up to a light source. Don't just glance at it—really look through it. You’re searching for two specific things that are embedded inside the paper, not just printed on top.
First, find the security thread. This is a thin vertical strip that runs down the left side of the portrait. It’s not just a line; it has "USA TWENTY" and a small flag printed on it. If you use a UV light, this strip glows bright green. Without a UV light, you can still see it clearly against the sun. If the strip is printed on the surface of the paper or is missing entirely, it’s a counterfeit.
Second, look for the watermark. To the right of Jackson’s big face, there’s a smaller, fainter version of his face hidden in the blank space. It should be visible from both sides of the bill. Here is the kicker: the watermark is part of the paper fibers. On many fakes, criminals try to print a faint gray image on the back to mimic it. If the watermark looks dark or heavy-handed, or if it doesn't match the main portrait exactly, give it back to the person who gave it to you.
Microprinting and the Details That Matter
Basically, the U.S. government uses tiny details that most consumer-grade printers can't handle. If you have a magnifying glass (or just really good vision), look at the border of the bill and around the portrait.
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You’ll find "USA20" and "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 20 USA 20" repeated in tiny, microscopic letters. On a real bill, these are sharp and readable. On a fake, they often look like a solid, blurry line or a series of dots. It’s these tiny "Easter eggs" that separate a real Jackson from a laser-printed imitation.
The Myth of the Counterfeit Detector Pen
We've all seen cashiers swipe that yellow marker across a bill. If it turns yellow, it’s "good." If it turns black, it’s "bad."
Here is the truth: those pens are kind of useless against sophisticated fakes.
The pen reacts to starch, which is found in standard wood-pulp paper. If a counterfeiter uses "bleached" paper—taking a real $1 or $5 bill, washing off the ink, and printing a $20 over it—the pen will stay yellow because the paper is technically "real." This is why you have to check the security thread. If the bill says $20 but the security thread says "USA FIVE," you’re holding a bleached note.
What to Do If You Find a Fake
It’s tempting to just try and pass it off to the next person. Don't. That’s a felony.
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If you realize you have a counterfeit, try to remember who gave it to you. Minimize handling it so you don't smudge any potential fingerprints—put it in an envelope or a plastic bag. Contact your local police department or the U.S. Secret Service.
You won't get your $20 back from the government, which sucks. But you will avoid the risk of being arrested for trying to use it.
Actionable Steps for Checking Cash
Next time you handle a twenty, do this 3-second check:
- Feel the paper: It should be rough and slightly raised on the portrait’s jacket.
- Tilt for the "20": Watch for the copper-to-green shift in the bottom right corner.
- Hold to the light: Ensure the ghost-like Andrew Jackson watermark is on the right and the vertical security thread is on the left.
- Inspect the borders: Look for crisp, unbroken fine lines rather than blurry or bleeding edges.
If you suspect a bill is counterfeit, compare it to another bill you know is real. Side-by-side comparisons make the differences in ink quality and paper texture incredibly obvious. Keep your eyes on the thread and your hands on the texture, and you’ll never get burned by a fake Jackson again.