Just collected my us dollars 5 days to go!
all my bills have a large head apart from the one dollar bills, is this ok? I know you all keep stressing the importence of the larger head

OOPS!pressed the wrong key hadn't finished also that they are new bills, they seem new but as they have no date how can I tell? You've guessed it!I'm a brit and am not familar with the dollar so all you guys and gals out there please help! don't want to get there and find my monies no good.

All bills should have a date on them...take another look...it is in CCYY format.

FOUND IT!My one dollar bills are 2003 is this ok? they have a smaller head

What on earth are you guys talking about?
Jess

2003 and later should be fine ...

Jess215, many countries see a lot of fake US currency, especially $100 bills ... the older ones with the smaller heads are apparently easier to counterfeit and some places will not accept them.

Two examples from our last trip ... at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam we were questioned for about 15 minutes while they checked a $100 bill we gave them for exchange (which was eventually determined to be good).

And in Tanzania at Ngorongoro crater the park officials would not accept the small head $100 bills but took five $20's instead ... so that's why keah05 is concerned.

Bill

Interesting; I've actually never taken my own (USD) currency to Europe or Asia (haven't been to Africa) - just the local currency and credit cards, because there are always ATMs.I guess if I am going to bring dollars, they would be larger denoms. to save space
Jess

Thanks Bill H guess I'm almost there now.
Jess215
The reason for taking some
smaller demominations it because I beleive it is difficult to get change and although not mean I don't wish to be tipping in $20 & $50 bills I will convert some cash to local currency but for the most part it seems they prefere the dollar At least that is what I have found reading this forum. Anyway shall find out soon enough only 5 days to go !!!!!!!!!

Jess,
If you're going to Kenya or Tanzania and planning to purchase visas on arrival, they do not accept local currency or credit cards. I usually bring enough USD for the visas plus emergency use and hit an ATM on arrival. Not all ATMs are compatible with multiple networks (as is common in US or Europe), so it may take a couple of tries before you find one that is compatible with your bank's network. FWIW, I've found Visa/Plus network is more commonly found than Mastercard/Maestro/Cirrus.

And as not mentioned yet, clean, not-marked on, crisp, bills are preferred.
regards - tom

I didn't have any problems with my $1 dollar bills - I didn't even look to see when they were printed. Just make sure they're not too dirty or torn.

Nobody in their right mind would try to counterfeit $1 bills. Too much work for too little reward. And, really, $1 bills are for tips, right? They're not going to turn down a tip like they might a regular payment for poor currency.

$100 bills, on the other hand, are perfect for counterfeiting. Though, I hear that the Euro is gaining popularity for counterfeiting purposes since they have so many large denomination bills to choose from that we don't have in the U.S.

One of the reasons that the "small head" large bills are probably frowned on from a counterfeiting standpoint, is the "counterfeit pens" don't work on them. I have done the same as Jess, and always go to the ATM in my host country and get local cash. I actually ran into this "counterfeit pen" issue right down the street from work/home. The clerk at the liquor store (I was buying a money order...HONEST!!!) ;-) wouldn't take my $100 bill that I had just received from the bank because the pen "didn't work" DUH!!! But she was young and inexperienced and unaware. Probably hadn't ever seen a "small head $100" before. I don't know if they use the pens overseas, but that could be one of their reasons. Just sayin'

Shane

When we were in Tanzania, they indicated that the date on the US bills had to be 2003 or later. We had some turned down that were dated 1996.

Thanks to all for your feedback I shall certainly be hitting the ATM for local currency as well. My safari outfitter recommended that I take the majority in US dollars.

Hello,

When I went to Tanzania I ordered a bunch of new USD notes from Barclays -- they took a day or two but were nice and crisp. Probably made last night...

Personally I never needed any local currency while I was in Tanzania -- my safari had been paid in advance and I brought enough USD for tipping and a bit of shopping.

Cheers,
Julian

You will not find any large head $1 bills because those are the same as they ever were. I guess nobody is too worried about counterfeiting of $1's.