I understand why currency bills have security features (to defeat counterfeiters.) What I don't get is why so many treasuries and national banks advertise their security features. It feels like they're just telling would-be counterfeiters what new hardware to buy to pull it off.
@valthonis it is a tough conundrum! They have to tell people about the appearance of the features so that people can conduct commerce with confidence that they aren't using counterfeit bills. If somebody at the register knows what a $100 bill is supposed to look like, and how to recognize the security features, they are less likely to fall for a counterfeit.
Of course this does tell the counterfeiters what they are up against, which keeps the arms race going.
@johnwsheldon@valthonis Also I think the strategy is that by layering the various security features it forces counterfeiters to concentrate on just one or two to try to replicate. It's gotten complex enough that they can't reproduce all of them. The absence of one is easier to notice than the presence of the others.
@valthonis also I really loathe the fact that the most cynical possible take is very likely to be the most correct. it helps explain a lot of stuff & is super depressing!
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