You've seen them in every rap video, heist movie, and high-budget YouTube prank. Great stacks of blue-tinted Benjamins flying through the air or stuffed into leather duffel bags. It looks cool. It looks real. But honestly, the world of prop hundred dollar bills is a legal minefield that most people walk into totally blind. If you think you can just print some high-res images of cash and call it a day, you’re looking at a very awkward conversation with the Secret Service.
I've seen people get their entire production shut down because they bought "motion picture money" that was just a little too good. The feds don't play around with the integrity of the U.S. dollar.
The Counterfeit Detection Act of 1992 is Your Best Friend
Most folks don't realize there is a specific law governing how you can replicate currency. It’s not just a suggestion. The Counterfeit Detection Act of 1992 lays out the ground rules. Basically, if you are making prop hundred dollar bills, they have to follow strict size and color requirements.
Either they have to be less than 75% of the size of a real bill, or more than 150% of the size. That’s a huge jump. You either want tiny Monopoly-looking money or giant novelty checks. If you want that "one-to-one" look for a film, the rules get even sweatier. You are technically required to print them one-sided only, and the files used to create them must be destroyed after use.
Why? Because the government is terrified of "passing."
"Passing" is when someone tries to use prop money at a gas station or a bar. It happens way more than you’d think. In 2019, authorities in various states reported a massive spike in "movie money" being used in local businesses. It looks great on camera because the lens flattens the image. In person, the paper feels like a cheap flyer, but in a dark bar? It works well enough to get someone arrested.
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What Most People Get Wrong About "Legal" Prop Money
There is no such thing as "100% legal" prop money that looks exactly like the real thing. It’s a myth.
The industry standard used by companies like RJR Props or Prop Movie Money involves a few clever tricks. First, they change the portrait. If you look closely at high-end prop hundred dollar bills, Benjamin Franklin usually looks a bit "off." Maybe his hair is different, or his expression is slightly more smug. Second, the text usually says "For Motion Picture Use Only" or "This note is not legal tender."
Don't buy the stuff from random overseas marketplaces that claims to be "replica" currency with no warnings. That’s just counterfeit money with a marketing budget.
The Secret Service actually has a dedicated "Counterfeit Division." They spend their time tracking down the source of high-quality fakes. If your prop money has the same serial numbers and features as the real deal, you aren't a filmmaker anymore. You're a forger. It sounds dramatic, but the legal fees to prove you were "just making a TikTok" will cost way more than the $100 you were trying to fake.
The Texture Problem
Real money isn't paper. It's 75% cotton and 25% linen. That’s why it doesn't fall apart in the wash. Prop hundred dollar bills are almost always wood-pulp paper.
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You can feel the difference instantly. Real bills have "raised ink" or intaglio printing. If you run your fingernail over Ben Franklin’s shoulder on a real bill, you can feel the ridges. Props are flat. They’re smooth. If you’re a director, you have to hide this. You use lighting to create the illusion of texture.
Why the 2013 Redesign Changed Everything
When the U.S. Treasury released the "New 100" in 2013, it added a 3D Security Ribbon and a Bell in the Inkwell. These are incredibly hard to fake with prop money.
Most prop houses still sell the "Older Style" (pre-2013) bills because they are easier to replicate convincingly without triggering the ultra-sophisticated sensors in modern vending machines or bank scanners. The "Blue Note" is the gold standard for props now, but it’s also the one that gets the most scrutiny.
How to Handle Prop Money on a Set Without Getting Raided
If you are using a significant amount of prop hundred dollar bills, you need a protocol. Professional sets hire an "armorer" or a prop master who treats the fake cash like a weapon. It stays in a locked case. It gets counted in and counted out.
- Mark the stacks. Only the top and bottom bills should be high-quality props. The middle of the stack should be "filler" or "blank" paper.
- Alert the locals. If you are filming a scene with a "money drop" in a public park, you better have a permit and you better tell the police. Seeing $50,000 blow down a city street causes riots.
- Check the warnings. Make sure the "Motion Picture Use" disclaimer is clearly visible on at least one side if you are ever questioned.
I remember a story from a production in Atlanta where a gust of wind sent a suitcase of prop cash onto a highway. People were jumping out of their cars, risking their lives for what turned out to be "In Props We Trust" paper. The production was fined heavily. Not for the money, but for the public disturbance.
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The Ethical Grey Area of "Training" Money
There’s a subset of prop hundred dollar bills used for training bank tellers or police. These are usually much closer to the real thing in terms of weight and feel, but they are often stamped with "SPECIMEN" in giant red letters.
Even these are regulated. You can't just own a stack of specimen notes without a valid professional reason. The line between "educational tool" and "counterfeit" is thinner than the paper the bills are printed on.
A Note on Digital Props
With the rise of CGI, many big-budget films are moving away from physical props entirely. It’s easier to "plate" a stack of green blocks and add the hundred-dollar texture in post-production. It’s safer, too. No risk of a crew member pocketing a "souvenir" that ends up being passed at a grocery store later that night.
If you're a small-time creator, physical is still the way to go, but you have to be smart. Use the "crinkle" method. Real money has been handled. It’s dirty. It’s soft. New prop money is stiff. To make your prop hundred dollar bills look authentic on camera, you need to literally throw them in a dryer with some tennis balls or soak them in weak tea. Just don't let the tea ruin the "motion picture use" disclaimer.
Next Steps for Using Prop Currency Safely
- Audit your source: Before buying, zoom in on the product photos. If it doesn't say "For Motion Picture Use" or have a modified portrait, don't buy it. It’s a legal trap.
- Check local ordinances: Some cities have specific rules about "simulated currency" in public spaces.
- Dispose of it properly: When your project is done, don't just throw the money in the trash. Shred it. If a kid finds a bag of "fake" hundreds in a dumpster, it can lead to a police report that you really don't want your name attached to.
- Go for "Non-Standard" sizes: If your shot allows it, use the 150% size rule. It's the only way to be 100% compliant with the Secret Service guidelines while still having a physical prop.