“The Doubtful Note,” Illustrated Times, July 23, 1859.
Forged bills were best exchanged in the shops of small business owners who were less adept at spotting fakes, especially at sundown, when it was more difficult to see. Counterfeiters often hired women to pass or “shove” their notes, not only because they were more likely to need the income, but also because women were convincing customers in the retail environment. Here, a woman in a dry goods store hopes to make a purchase with her counterfeit bill, converting the fake into legitimate change and a piece of new cloth.
