The Hidden Story Behind Arrow and Stamp Symbols Found on U.S. Dollar Bills

Ink replaced metal stamps, but the meaning stayed the same.

What the Symbols Can Look Like

Chop marks don’t follow a universal design. They vary widely depending on who applied them and where.

Some look like arrows, triangles, or abstract shapes.
Others include initials, numbers, or symbols from local writing systems.
Some are bold and dark. Others are continue reading …