How to identify a banknote from a photo

Lay the note flat, photograph the full face, crop out the background, and read the country, denomination, series, and — when it can be matched — a Pick catalogue number. You can do this by hand with catalogues, or with a banknote identifier on Android.

The problem

World paper money uses many scripts, similar portraits, and overlapping colour schemes. Searching “green bill with a building” rarely works. Identification is about capturing the design cleanly enough that country, denomination, and series can be read.

Step-by-step

1. Work on a plain surface. A dark or light table is fine. Avoid patterned cloth that competes with the note.
2. Photograph one face, filling the frame. Hold the phone parallel to the paper. Turn off flash if it creates a hot spot on the ink or security foil.
3. Crop to the edges. Background, fingers, and wallets confuse both people and software. Leave only the rectangle of the note.
4. Read country, denomination, and series. Series years, signatures, and printer marks often distinguish look-alike issues.
5. Look up a Pick number if you need a catalogue ID. That is the usual reference for world notes. See what a Pick number is.
6. Photograph the reverse if the first face is ambiguous. Serials and reverse vignettes often settle close matches.

Useful tips

• Daylight or even indoor light beats a single overhead glare.
• Unfold corners and flatten folds so lettering stays readable.
• If text is tiny, take a second tighter crop of the portrait and serial area after the full-face shot.

Common mistakes

• Shooting at an angle so the note looks trapezoid.
• Leaving a large table margin around the paper.
• Expecting authenticity or “is this fake?” answers from an identifier. That is a different task.

How Banknote & Coin ID helps

The app is a banknote identifier: you photograph or pick from the gallery, crop, and send the image over HTTPS. It returns country, denomination, series, condition, and a Pick reference when it can be read with confidence — plus an honest score when it cannot. Results save to a collection on your phone. Identification needs a network connection; saved items still work offline.

It does not detect counterfeits. Collector value ranges are a Pro feature and are estimates, not appraisals. Learn more on the how it works section of the homepage.

Related guides

FAQ

Can I identify a banknote from a gallery photo?

Yes, if the note fills the frame and is in focus. Crop before you identify.

Do I need both sides?

One clear face is often enough. The reverse helps for serials and look-alike series.