Counterfeit Detection: Lousy Lions and Terrible Tigers

While the competition between banknote issuers and counterfeiters today is centered on advanced technology, much of the battle in the past was more elegant: an arms race of artistry. Vignettes of scenes on banknotes were not simply aesthetic; they served as a considerable impediment to would-be forgers, limiting counterfeiting to those who had a certain level of artistic talent.

Anyone who has attempted to draw a familiar animal knows it’s harder than it sounds! Let’s take a look at some counterfeits where the rendering of large cats went astray.

Ireland 1880 10 Pounds

On this Contemporary Counterfeit of a uniface Ireland 1880 10 Pounds, the vignette of the lion is a dead giveaway that the note isn’t genuine. On the genuine note, the lion’s eyes give off a vigilant vibe, while on the counterfeit, the lion simply looks overcaffeinated. The counterfeiter also failed to accurately capture the young head portrait of Queen Victoria, which was borrowed from an engraving by William Wyon for the 1839 Una and the Lion 5 Sovereign gold coin, considered the pinnacle of numismatics.

At its sole discretion, PMG certifies certain Contemporary Counterfeits that are of interest to the collecting community. This one can be found in a Heritage Auctions sale in December 2025.

Straits Settlements / British Administration 1901-24 5 Dollars

Tigers are a recurring theme on the paper money of the Straits Settlements, a group of British colonies in Southeast Asia that included Singapore. The counterfeiter of this note struggled to capture the tiger on the prowl, making his ear appear too large and failing to accurately replicate the pattern of stripes. (You can find this Contemporary Counterfeit in a Heritage Auctions sale in December 2025.)

India ND (1943) 5 Rupees

The Reserve Bank of India seal on this note is based on a design from a century earlier used by the East India Company for its 2 Mohur coin, featuring a maned lion in front of a palm tree. It was decided the Reserve Bank of India seal should swap out the lion for a tiger, an animal native to that country — though that effort appears to have been lacking a bit in the execution. At any rate, the animal on the counterfeit is a shabby imitation of the creature on the genuine note.

Spain 1875 50 Pesetas

Two poorly done lions can be found on this Spain 1875 50 Pesetas Contemporary Counterfeit, with the amateurish eyes (especially on the lion to the right) betraying the note’s spurious nature. You can see what the lions are supposed to look like in an image here.

New Jersey Colonial Note - 1764 30 Shillings

There are instances where the issuing authority (including those in the colonial and early post-colonial United States) relied on whatever talent was available. This resulted in some cartoonishly bad renderings on genuine notes, such as the lion on the left side of the front of this New Jersey Colonial Note - 1764 30 Shillings. Therefore, it is important to know what a genuine note should look like for comparison. If you are ever unsure of the authenticity or grade of a banknote, remember that PMG backs its determinations with the PMG Guarantee.

You can read more PMG Counterfeit Detection columns here.