Benjamin Franklin's Fight Against Counterfeiters Paved the Way for the US Dollar

Benjamin Franklin's early work in printing colonial paper currency to combat counterfeiting has been revealed through advanced scanning techniques. Franklin used colored threads, watermarks, and imprints of natural objects like leaves to make it difficult for counterfeiters to replicate his paper bills. The research conducted by the University of Notre Dame sheds light on Franklin's methods and highlights his use of fillers, dyed threads, and nature printing. Franklin's innovative techniques set barriers for counterfeiters and influenced the inclusion of security features, such as colored threads, in modern U.S. currency.