Promotional fake United States currency isfantasy "currency", adapted fromUnited States currency that makes no assertion of beinglegal tender and is often created by individuals as a way to promotepractical jokes, or social statements. It is legal to print so long as it makes no assertion, whether by appearance or statement, of authenticity.[1] Promotional United States fake currency is not to be confused withcounterfeit currency or conflated with legitimate currency that has beendemonetized.
In the 1970s, copper coins known asNixon pennies were made about one-quarter the size of a regular U.S. cent and depicted PresidentRichard M. Nixon on the obverse. The reverse showed theWatergate Hotel. They were issued as novelty items and as political commentary on inflation that occurred under President Nixon.[2] Other types of coins have been similarly miniaturized before and since as souvenirs or collector's items. Though a goldthree-dollar coin was produced in the 1800s, and theBahamian dollar (which is pegged to the US dollar) has a $3 banknote, no three-dollar bill has ever been produced in the United States. Various fake US$3 bills have also been released over time. These generally poke fun at politicians or celebrities such asRichard Nixon,Michael Jackson,George W. Bush, bothBill andHillary Clinton, andBarack Obama in reference to the idiomatic expression[3] "queer as a three-dollar bill" or "phony as a three-dollar bill". In the 1960s,Mad printed a $3 bill that featured a portrait ofAlfred E. Neuman and read: "This is not legal tender—nor will atenderizer help it."Mad writerFrank Jacobs said that the magazine ran afoul of theUS Secret Service because the $3 bill was accepted bychange machines atcasinos.[4]
The United States has never issued a million dollar bill. However, many businesses print million dollar bills for sale as novelties. Such bills do not assert that they are legal tender. TheSecret Service has declared them legal to print or own and does not consider themcounterfeit.[1] TheLibertarian Party makes an annual tradition of handing out informational fliers made to look like $1,000,000 bills on April 15 to draw attention to its anti-income tax platform. A notable example of a 7-figure bill is currency fromThe Mad Magazine Game which features a $1,329,063 bill that serves as anOld Maid in the game. Players compete in this game to lose all their money. The bill features a portrait ofAlfred E. Neuman.[citation needed]
