What is this bow and arrow on my 20?

If you have ever closely inspected the paper cash in your wallet, you might occasionally spot a tiny, mysterious ink stamp that definitely wasn't put there by the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

As seen in the image, a $20 bill features a clear black stamp of a bow and arrow (resembling the zodiac symbol for Sagittarius) right on the back corner of the note.

If you are wondering if you stumbled upon a rare printing error, a secret society mark, or a counterfeit bill—don't worry. This little symbol is known in the financial world as a chop mark.

What is a Chop Mark?

A chop mark is a small stamp applied to paper currency by foreign banks, exchange houses, casinos, or money changers.While this practice is incredibly rare within the borders of the United States, it is a daily standard in parts of Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East, where U.S. currency is widely circulated but counterfeit bills are far more common.

When a high-volume cash handler—like a casino cashier or a major exchange bank—receives a U.S. banknote, they put it through rigorous authentication tests. Once they are 100% satisfied that the bill is legitimate, they stamp it with their own unique "chop".

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