The Art of Counterfeiting Currency: CIA, China & Iran Sponsored Fake Money?

Is there evidence that countries have sponsored the creation of fake money? Have you ever wondered how counterfeit currency actually works? The US Department of the Treasury estimates that $70–200 million in counterfeit bills are in circulation at any given time. There’s also something called the “super dollar,” a counterfeit bill so perfect, not even banks can tell the difference. Could such perfect fakes be made by other governments, foreign powers, or criminal organizations (like China, North Korea, and Russia—or even America’s CIA itself)?

Maybe you’ve wondered how US currency is printed in the first place, which raises the question, “Who is printing money?” What illegitimate, back door deals have been made that granted access to US Intaglio printing machines?

Between claims from a man known as the “master counterfeiter” and even pop culture references like Rush Hour 2, the word on the street is that the CIA gave Iran a money printing machine in exchange for their oil and the creation of the petrodollar. Is there any truth to these claims? What would be the ramifications of another currency having the ability to print US currency?

Join Edge of Wonder for a deep dive into the art of faking money. At the end of the show, don’t miss the Live Q&A followed by a meditation/prayer. See you out on the edge!

Q&A: “Do you guys think the author of Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton, was onto something?” “Isn’t money basically fake?” “If you had a teleporter that could only go to one place, where would you want it to go?”