cutting cups

News: Welcome to the Canadian Paper Money Forum.

I know almost nothing about Canadian currency as I collect primarily US notes, but I am interested in getting an UNC CAD $20 note .... can you tell me what a "cutting cup" is?

Welcome to the forum peiper1

Cutting Cups: "This anomaly is a series specific condition, existing only on notes with an interwoven security strip. When the blades of the cutting machines apply pressure on this area, it slightly bends the metal security strip before the pressure is enough to cut it. The buckling of this security strip before it cuts causes the paper to adopt a half moon shaped dome, rarely larger then a centimetre across, that envelopes the areas where the security strip and the edge meet."

Source: Banknote Certification Service (BCS) http://banknotecertification.com


Example of Cutting Cups.
http://banknotecertification.com/images/cuttingcusps1_large.jpg
http://banknotecertification.com/images/cuttingcusps2_large.jpg

Thanks cuda, I always wondered what that mark was, and had always assumed it was from some kind of counting machine.  I have noticed this mark on other countries currencies (Saudi Arabia comes to mind) as well.  Now I also know why one doesn't see this on American currency as their security strip is non-metallic.