By James Powell & Jill Moxley

Counterfeiting is as previous as funds itself, and stories of the crafty criminals attempting to outsmart the procedure have continually enthralled us and that is precisely what is going to occur as you learn Faking It! A historical past of Counterfeiting in Canada. This richly illustrated publication introduces the reader to the heritage of the crime and a few of the grisly punishments meted out some time past. It explores the "arms race" among the issuers of cash and the counterfeiters, in addition to instances of authentic counterfeiting in wartime. the focal point then strikes to Canada's event with bogus accounts and cash from the 17th century to the current day. whereas emphasizing that counterfeiting isn't really a victimless crime, the authors current interesting case stories and profiles of the criminals and their adversaries. this day, the financial institution of Canada and the RCMP are front line within the struggle to take care of self belief in Canada's forex. The altering face of financial institution notice safeguard is tested, culminating with the recent polymer...

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As another precaution, notes were also hand signed by senior bank officials. Despite such measures, pressure from counterfeiters forced issuers to constantly upgrade the security devices on their notes. In 1825, Michael Wallace, the provincial treasurer for Nova Scotia, wrote that although the province had up to then “escaped much loss due to counterfeiting,” it was now necessary to procure “some kind of stamp” to put on provincial notes to help deter imitation. ”16 Technological change left its mark on both the bank-note industry and counterfeiting, with new discoveries favouring either the issuer or the forger for a time.

Intaglio printing presses, which were expensive to build and required highly skilled operators, were thought to be beyond the reach of most potential counterfeiters. As another precaution, notes were also hand signed by senior bank officials. Despite such measures, pressure from counterfeiters forced issuers to constantly upgrade the security devices on their notes. In 1825, Michael Wallace, the provincial treasurer for Nova Scotia, wrote that although the province had up to then “escaped much loss due to counterfeiting,” it was now necessary to procure “some kind of stamp” to put on provincial notes to help deter imitation.

Despite such appalling penalties, the profits from counterfeiting and clipping coins were so large that forgers were willing to run the risk. Lord Macaulay writes: It was to no purpose that the rigorous laws against coining and clipping were rigorously executed. At every session that was held at the Old Bailey [London law court] terrible examples were made. Hurdles, with four, five, six wretches convicted of counterfeiting or mutilating the money of the realm, were dragged month after month up Holborn Hill.

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