Chop marks are small ink stamps found on some U.S. dollar bills, added by foreign money handlers to verify authenticity in global trade. After checking security features, merchants stamp bills as proof they are genuine.
This practice comes from old Asian trade traditions and is common in international currency circulation. Even with chop marks, U.S. dollars remain legal tender and keep their full value, though they may sometimes be rejected by machines or closely inspected.
These marks simply show a bill’s journey through the global economy.