If you spot a bow-and-arrow symbol on your $20 bill, it’s not graffiti—it’s a chop mark, part of a centuries-old system of trust in global trade.
Originating in ancient China, merchants stamped coins to verify weight and authenticity. As commerce shifted to paper currency, the practice adapted: U.S. bills traveling through Southeast Asia, Africa, or Latin America were often stamped by merchants or money changers to confirm legitimacy.
Today, these marks are harmless cultural artifacts. Banks accept them, and collectors treasure them as evidence of a bill’s international journey. They’re reminders that money is not just currency—it’s a social contract built on trust, preserved in tiny symbols like a bow and arrow.