Spanish Scientists Mod Optical Mouse Into Counterfeit Coin Detector

[jeff of pa]

Counterfeiting is as old as money itself, with the history of currency including a millennia-long arms race between mints and the forgers that copy them. While governments have finally crafted paper money so intricate that counterfeiting isn't a major problem, detecting counterfeit coins remains a challenge. Now, Spanish scientists have modified a regular optical computer mouse to create a cheap and easy device for sniffing out phony Euro coins.

The device utilizes the sensor on the mouse to detect the minute details etched into the surface of the coin. The user loads a coin into the detector, which then references the coin against a database of legit currency. The sensor can detect even the slightest mistakes on the engraved map of Europe on the back of every Euro coin, making it easy to detect all but the most perfect facsimiles.


http://www.popsci.com/technology/ar...s-mod-optical-mouse-counterfeit-coin-detector

 

[jeff of pa]

The 1 in 40 chance that the pound in your pocket is a fake

One in 40 pound coins in circulation is fake – making it the most counterfeited currency in Britain.
The figr 2ure, revealed by the Treasury, represents £37million – o.52 per cent of the total £1.4billion in the market – and is part of an ‘upward trend’ in forgery. Six years ago, one per cent of pound coins were bogus.
Yesterday, business leaders warned that unless urgent action was taken, the problem may undermine confidence in the currency.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1226062/The-1-40-chance-pound-pocket-fake.html#ixzz0XEtY1KZf


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1226062/The-1-40-chance-pound-pocket-fake.html

 

[artzstuff1]

Very awsome and informative story!!!!

thanks

arthur