When Prop Money Is Legal

Prop money is perfectly legal when:

  1. It is clearly marked – with phrases like:

    • “For Motion Picture Use Only”

    • “Not Legal Tender”

    • “Copy Money”

  2. It is visibly different from real money in at least one way:

    • Slightly smaller or larger than real bills

    • Printed on only one side

    • Lacks security features (e.g., watermarks, color-shifting ink, threads)

  3. It is used in appropriate, lawful contexts, such as:

    • Film & TV productions

    • Music videos or photo shoots

    • Theater or live performances

    • Classroom financial literacy exercises

    • Police or military training

❌ When Prop Money Becomes Illegal

Using prop money can become a crime if:

  • You attempt to pass it off as real (even as a joke)

  • You modify or produce it to closely imitate actual currency

  • You possess or distribute ultra-realistic bills without proper markings

  • You use it in public without disclosure (e.g., to prank or confuse people)

  • You sell it in a way that suggests it could be used as real money

In the U.S., this falls under federal counterfeiting laws (like 18 U.S. Code § 474), which can result in:

  • Fines

  • Felony charges

  • Up to 20 years in prison