For filmmakers requiring authentic-looking $100 bill props while strictly adhering to US counterfeit laws (Title 18, Section 471 & 472), understanding production-grade replica standards is paramount. These props must be visually convincing for camera close-ups yet impossible to circulate as genuine currency.
Key Traits of Top-Tier Film Prop Bills
- Accurate Dimensions: Precise 6.14″ x 2.61″ sizing matching genuine 2006-series or newer $100 bills.
- Correct Paper Feel: 25% cotton/75% linen blend with appropriate weight (~1g) and slight texture. Avoid glossy photo paper.
- Mandatory Disclaimer: Boldly printed “REPLICA”, “FOR MOTION PICTURE USE ONLY”, or “PROP MONEY” on both sides, ideally overlapping Ben Franklin’s portrait.
- Simulated Security Features: Blue 3D security ribbon with bell motifs, color-shifting ink in the liberty bell (copper to green), faint watermark (aligns with portrait), and clear plastic security thread running vertically left of the portrait. All features must appear visibly different under magnification than genuine currency.
Legal Compliance Requirements
US Title 18 Section 504 explicitly permits film replicas under strict conditions:
- Single-sided replicas must be scaled ≥150% or ≤75% of actual bill size.
- Double-sided replicas must be clearly one-sided, printed on single sheets and never sewn to resemble a currency stack.
Recommended Usage Protocols
- Storage Accountability: Lock prop money separately from live sets. Designate a prop master for custody logs.
- Visible Alteration: Physically distort bills used in crowd scenes (e.g., coffee staining, deliberate corner tears).
- Camera-Ready Handling: Never place piles directly on payment counters during filming; show only top bill edges.
- Post-Production Destruction: Shred props after wrap with documented witness verification.
Critical Warning: Replicas lacking clear disclaimers/mandatory distortions violate federal law. Props must never bear exact resemblance to genuine US currency.
