Detecting Fake Chinese Banknotes

In the quest to obtain a complete collection of Chinese paper money, I came across fake or counterfeit banknotes. Many modern fakes of current banknotes are fairly easy to detect, but some of the older currencies are more difficult to detect. That is because older banknotes lack anti-counterfeit devices that are standard in current banknotes. To show an example... a banknote dealer on ebay sold me some Chinese bankotes and tried to pass it off as real. After I received and compared them to real versions, I knew they were fakes. To illustrate an example, look at the picture here:
FAKE: First Series Peoples Republic of China banknote.


REAL: First Series Peoples Republic of China banknote.


Upon initial examination they look pretty much the same. But when examined under magnification of the details, you can easily see the differences. See below.



FAKE Front
Real Front
FAKE Back
Real Back
If you look at the details inside the red circles and compare the two banknotes, you can easily spot the fake one. There are more details, but those highlighted in red above are the more obvious. Under magnification, the lines of the real banknote and the fake banknote have different thicknesses, and minor details are missing in the fake version (for example, at the base of the rightmost pole on the ship is missing a person in the fake banknote). Fake banknotes like this one are easily detected when compared to a real one. I hope this helps people with understanding some techniques in spotting fake banknotes.
If you have some banknotes that you are not sure if it is fake or not, I may be able to help you determine it's authenticity if you send it to me or a detailed picture of it. I have access to a complete collection for comparison, and also know of the documented anti-counterfeit devices in them. However, be prepared to send a small fee for me to research it for you. If you wish for a grading of "FAKE" or "REAL" on your collection, I may be able to offer this service, and can provide a double-your-money back guarantee. It will be double-checked by me and an expert and signed and dated. If it is fake, you will get an explanation of the reason. This might be a good way to protect your investment, expecially with more rare ones.
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