Cool Science

American currency (and probably others?) is printed with magnetic ink. I wish I knew more about what components are incorporated into the ink to impart the magnetism but I'll have to research that and save it for another post. Instead I'm pleased to offer some fun pics using my big honking N45 magnet. Magnetic ink is probably not a major security feature, but is used in automated counting machines for example. A forgery so bad that they forgot magnetic ink probably will be easy to spot...but this is just cool so I'm happy to trim my fingernails and share.

Let's start with the bill held on one end and hanging:


Bring the magnet a little closer and bam:


Very slowly lift to get the money shot:

Huge thanks to Jenn for taking these pics!