Have you ever noticed a U.S. dollar bill with small stamps or inked markings that seem unusual? While they may look mysterious at first, these marks often tell a real story about where the bill has been. These markings are known as chop marks. They are not graffiti or damage, but stamps added by money changers, traders, or currency handlers to confirm that a bill was checked and accepted as genuine. Each mark reflects a stop in the bill’s journey through different hands and locations.