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I remember a long time ago that a website was found and discussed on here where you could get printable images of bank notes.

I am looking for just such a thing for part of my Bank Night routine. Anybody got any ideas?

The Bank Of England website has images of all the current banknotes but they are all marked 'Specimen' - you will need to photoshop that wording off and replace those parts with the scan of a second banknote.
It used to be possible to photocopy banknotes but the new ones appear to have some security feature on them that makes the copied image come out all black. You can try to scan them and print them off using an old computer, maybe that will get round the current security features that prevent copying. The duds that you produce would be good enough to pass on stage or a few metres away but obviously no where near good enough for someone to try and spend.

Eitherway its still illegal so make sure you don't get caught by Mr Plod.

If scanning doesn't work, take a photograph of a bank note. That will work. The best place to use them is in a busy bar with dim lighting, preferably one where you are not known. Brightly lit supermarkets will spot them.

V.E. Day wrote:Eitherway its still illegal so make sure you don't get caught by Mr Plod.

Yep, under section 18(1) of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981. You may be able to get permission from the Bank of England. Look here.

However, one would ask why use copied notes? After all, presumably there is no chance that the volunteer will actually win the money.

Yes but if you are cutting them in half then it is best to use duds, otherwise the show becomes a bit expensive.

If it's acceptable to the routine, you could leave one side blank, so there is no chance people would say you were counterfeiting money.

Jing wrote:If it's acceptable to the routine, you could leave one side blank, so there is no chance people would say you were counterfeiting money.

Once upon a time I worked in bars. A fellow bartender asked me to check the £10 drawer for fakes as he had a feeling he'd taken a duff.

Printed on (and cut out from) normal printer paper was a £10 printed only on the queen side.

Oops.

Printed on (and cut out from) normal printer paper was a £10 printed only on the queen side.

That's a ballsy move to spend that one!

Extremely!
Well thought out mind, as he picked the guy on the busiest station in the place so got the one least likely to check... but serious guts.
Complete scumbag tho. The guy who took it ended up put of pocket to cover the mistake he made.
It's funny how often guts and scumbaggery coexist.

I use a copy of a note in my version of whats in essence a burnt and restored routine - I print off a photograph of a bank note (UK) and (used to) have the duplicate note showing the code through the slightly frosted window of a pay envelope. Switch envelopes etc, get spectator to note the code (almost as an after thought) you can figure the rest.
Now I'm much bolder and simply switch a folded note for a folded print. much cleaner and I use more audience managment than before too. it's still a very strong effect.

I've thought of using flash paper money but could never justify the reason the money vapourises in a blinding flame (as visually stunning as it is!) for my routine, plus I find the slow burn gives time for comedy and/or misdirection. I now only use flash money where there are smoke alarms!!!

jackleg wrote:I've thought of using flash paper money but could never justify the reason the money vapourises in a blinding flame (as visually stunning as it is!) for my routine, plus I find the slow burn gives time for comedy and/or misdirection. I now only use flash money where there are smoke alarms!!!

I'm sure I've said this before, but a slow burn is also more convincing. A quick burn a-la flash paper screams "I made it disappear, it's not really gone"

Thanks guys for all the ideas.

I will be using real money for the climax I just thought that a few duds being pulled out of the other envelopes with so0me messages on them would make for a comic routine.

If the idea is for a comedy routine, why not use Monopoly money, or similar?

If you're going to write on them anyway...

I just did a google picture search and got loads of images....