Can anyone ID these strange stamps I found on a $50?

TLAM Strike · 10-21-13, 09:15 PM

A pair of crossed swords, a crescent moon with six stars and something with PC 0277 written next to it.

Anyone ever seen these before or know what they mean?

Red October1984 · 10-21-13, 09:43 PM

On a more serious note, I've seen the P.C. one before but I don't remember what it means...and the other ones I really have no clue.

The swords look vaguely familiar...

Oberon · 10-21-13, 10:11 PM

That's what they called a 'Chop mark', most likely from it being from overseas, and at a guess I'd say somewhere in the middle east.

TarJak · 10-22-13, 02:57 AM

Oberon is right on the money.http://www.coinpeople.com/index.php/...rn-chop-marks/

TLAM Strike · 10-22-13, 09:19 AM

Thanks for the info.

Stealhead · 10-22-13, 09:39 AM

Interesting. I have seen the one with the Islamic crescent with stars before from dollars I got during a pit stop in the UAE I assume that is some bank emblem perhaps.

Crossed swords looks to be Saudi (their flag has the crossed swords).

The eagle makes me think Kazakhstan of course it could also be one of numerous other areas of central Asia where the eagle holds symbolism.

I have also seen Hebrew chops usually with a Star of David and Hebrew letters.

None of those looks like the type but I have also seen chops marks that surely must be used by criminal element as well I understand that drug cartels use chops marks as way to show to others how much money they exchange.In the link above the Walgreens "W"(North American drug store chain) bet you that is drug cartel chop or at least a lower level distributor.

fireftr18 · 10-22-13, 01:11 PM

I've seen bills with similar marks too. I just ignored them because I thought a business or bank did it for whatever internal reason they do things. Now I know, and will pay closer attention.

Jimbuna · 10-22-13, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TarJak

Oberon is right on the money.http://www.coinpeople.com/index.php/...rn-chop-marks/

Yep, got a few Turkish notes with similar stamp markings.

Stealhead · 10-22-13, 04:38 PM

You know that one emblem you say is from Turkmenistan that makes since it not dissimilar to a motif that once appeared on Soviet money.Of the crescent was C.C.C.P. and it had a Soviet-ish reef inside rather than stars.

Anyway in the US you will not see chops because those special pens are readily available.I would imagine in many places those markers are not available.Therefore someone who does have a means to ID legit money from counterfeit would use the chop mark.

If you ever go to a US military base overseas and purchase anything from the base exchange you will find that the dollars serial numbers are in sequential order as well if you withdraw from an on base bank or ATM.

10-21-13, 09:15 PM	#1
TLAM Strike Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Rochester, New York Posts: 8,633 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 6	Can anyone ID these strange stamps I found on a $50? A pair of crossed swords, a crescent moon with six stars and something with PC 0277 written next to it. Anyone ever seen these before or know what they mean? __________________

10-21-13, 09:43 PM	#2
Red October1984 Airplane Nerd Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 6,243 Downloads: 115 Uploads: 0	On a more serious note, I've seen the P.C. one before but I don't remember what it means...and the other ones I really have no clue. The swords look vaguely familiar... __________________

10-22-13, 09:19 AM	#5
TLAM Strike Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Rochester, New York Posts: 8,633 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 6	Thanks for the info. __________________

10-22-13, 09:39 AM	#6
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Interesting. I have seen the one with the Islamic crescent with stars before from dollars I got during a pit stop in the UAE I assume that is some bank emblem perhaps. Crossed swords looks to be Saudi (their flag has the crossed swords). The eagle makes me think Kazakhstan of course it could also be one of numerous other areas of central Asia where the eagle holds symbolism. I have also seen Hebrew chops usually with a Star of David and Hebrew letters. None of those looks like the type but I have also seen chops marks that surely must be used by criminal element as well I understand that drug cartels use chops marks as way to show to others how much money they exchange.In the link above the Walgreens "W"(North American drug store chain) bet you that is drug cartel chop or at least a lower level distributor. Last edited by Stealhead; 10-22-13 at 09:51 AM.

10-22-13, 01:11 PM	#7
fireftr18 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 2,528 Downloads: 77 Uploads: 0	I've seen bills with similar marks too. I just ignored them because I thought a business or bank did it for whatever internal reason they do things. Now I know, and will pay closer attention. __________________ Of all the forms of Martial Arts, Karaoke causes the most pain!

10-21-13, 10:11 PM	#3
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	That's what they called a 'Chop mark', most likely from it being from overseas, and at a guess I'd say somewhere in the middle east.

10-22-13, 02:57 AM	#4
TarJak Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 17,052 Downloads: 150 Uploads: 8	Oberon is right on the money.http://www.coinpeople.com/index.php/...rn-chop-marks/

10-22-13, 04:38 PM	#9
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	You know that one emblem you say is from Turkmenistan that makes since it not dissimilar to a motif that once appeared on Soviet money.Of the crescent was C.C.C.P. and it had a Soviet-ish reef inside rather than stars. Anyway in the US you will not see chops because those special pens are readily available.I would imagine in many places those markers are not available.Therefore someone who does have a means to ID legit money from counterfeit would use the chop mark. If you ever go to a US military base overseas and purchase anything from the base exchange you will find that the dollars serial numbers are in sequential order as well if you withdraw from an on base bank or ATM.