A few U.S. dollar bills bear strange marks — small stamps, pentagrams or a small pair of initials not found on the official symbol. People call them chop marks, and they bear witness to a global journey through foreign markets and money exchanges.

Chop marks are small, clipped symbols stamped on U.S. bills by money changers or currency handlers. They are an indication that a bill has been scrutinised and found to be authentic. Widespread in Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America, these patterns of markings help ease distrust in economies where fake bills are more common.

From China to the Ottoman Empire The word “chop” has its roots in China, a world leader in production of stamped silver coin, and thousands of merchants competed with one another to produce the best

-stamped coin as unequivocal evidence of its weight and authenticity. People have incorporated paper money into the practice, especially the American dollar, which is so widely used outside the United States. Read more below