I found a Chinese (or maybe Japanese) symbol stamped on the back of one of my US $100 notes. I was wondering if anyone here can identify it or has seen something like this before: http://thesilversquirrel.blogspot.com/2011/06/mystery-symbol-on-my-100-frn.html Source:
The character is either Chinese or Japanese kanji (which is based on the Chinese language). In China or Hong Kong, the way its stamped in red and enclosed within a circle implies its a business brand or mark. The character itself appears to be a family name 'Wen/Wing', but is oddly proportioned and cannot be easily identified. Stamps like that are associated with old family businesses owned over a number of generations. I'm going to estimate the banknote was printed in the 1950s or earlier?
Looks like the Chinese character for vegetable or dish but some strokes are too straight for a 100% identification. This note must have passed through a Chinese restaurant.
Federal Agents have been known to use these symbols when tracing money laundering. The Chinese symbol is less likely to raise suspicion.
What you have there is a modern day "Chop mark". The Chinese use to put chop marks on old silver coinage, like the Spanish pillar dollar ect'. More information about chop marks is covered here: http://www.coinpeople.com/index.php?/topic/8551-a-study-in-modern-chop-marks/
And that is simplified Chinese, so it must be someone from mainland China stamped on it. HongKong and Taiwan use vs. My guess is somebody just stamped his/her family name on the note.
