When I was in college, I had the opportunity to meet with staff from the US Bureau of Engraving, which designs and produces paper money for the United States government. During our meeting, I learned about several different tools and strategies that can help people with visual impairments (inclusive of low vision and blind) identify currency, ranging from high-tech apps to ideas for organizing cash. Here are my tips on how to identify money with low vision, along with information on qualifying for free assistive technology for reading currency.
Large print labels
In recent years, US paper money now is printed with large print labels on the back of the bill in the lower right corner. This is available for $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 bills, but not available on $1 bills. This is another strategy that can be used for identifying money with low vision, and aids such as magnifiers can be used to enlarge numbers even further- I personally use my phone for quick magnification tasks.
Related links
- How I Use My Phone As Assistive Technology In Class
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Smartphones
- Reading Handwriting With Assistive Technology
Bill folding method
Bill folding is a method frequently taught by teachers of the visually impaired as part of the expanded core curriculum. Wikipedia also has an entire article devoted to bill folding techniques for blind and visually impaired people to help with identifying money, with the following folding method being the most common:
- Leave $1 bills unfolded.
- Fold $5 bills lengthwise.
- Then fold $10 bills by width
- Fold $20 bills lengthwise and then by width, and/or put them in a separate compartment
An image credited to the US State Department appears below that demonstrates the bill folding method in action.
Click Pocket
Got braille? The Click Pocket allows users to emboss braille on paper bills by placing the edge of the bill into the portable embosser. This does not damage the bills and can be used in addition to the folding method if needed. I received a Click Pocket for free at a conference, though they can also be purchased on Maxi-Aids or at similar stores for $6.
Related links
- Click Pocket on Maxi-Aids
- A to Z of Assistive Technology for Reading Digital Text
- Free Braille Art and Tactile Image Libraries: World Braille Day 2024
iBill currency reader
The iBill currency reader is a small device that identifies US currency either by announcing the value of the bill with a synthesized voice or through haptic/vibration feedback. It took a couple of tries for me to get it to work at first, but after ten minutes the device was working great and identifying all of the money in my wallet. It runs on a triple A (AAA) battery and fits easily in a purse or pocket. It’s easier than using a smartphone to identify money, and also more discreet when haptic/vibration feedback is enabled.
Get the iBill for free
While you can buy the iBill currency reader on Amazon for about $130, US citizens or legal residents can also get one for free through the US Bureau of Engraving. This is the exact same device that is sold on Amazon and requires users to mail in a form. The form does require certification from another authority that the person is visually impaired, which can be certified by doctors, case managers, rehabilitation teachers, counselors, and similar.
Related links
- U.S. Currency Reader Application Form | Bureau of Engraving and Printing (bep.gov)
- US Government Programs For Blind/Low Vision Residents
- Vocational Rehabilitation for College Students
- Services Provided By State Department/State Unit for Visual Impairment
EyeNote
The EyeNote app for iOS identifies paper money by having the user point their device camera at a bill, and also indicates whether it is the front or back side of the bill. It also continuously scans, meaning that users don’t have to do anything with the app other than open it to have money identified. This app was developed by the US Bureau of Engraving and cannot be used to determine if money is counterfeit.
Related links
Google Assistant
Users with Android phones can use either the Google Assistant camera or Google Lens feature to identify money with low vision, which is accessed by tapping the camera icon in the bottom right corner of the Google Assistant screen or by opening the Lens view in the phone’s Camera app. Another option is to use Google Lookout, which is a separate app that identifies currency placed in front of the device camera.
Related links
- How I Use Google Assistant While Traveling
- Google Lens Review For Low Vision
- Google Lookout App For Low Vision
Seeing AI
Microsoft’s Seeing AI app supports identifying currency for the US and over 15 different international currencies, but I had mixed results with having it identify US coins- it works best for paper money. I like that I don’t have to switch to another app if I am using Seeing AI already for something else, and that it also works for currency from countries other than the US.
Related links
- Microsoft Seeing AI And Low Vision Review
- Recognizing Images With Seeing AI
- Visual Assistance Apps: Post Round Up
Identifying Coins
Fun fact- the US Bureau of Engraving does not design or produce coins, that is done by the United States Mint. For identifying coins with low vision, examples of strategies to use include:
- Feeling the edge of the coins with a fingernail. Nickels and pennies have smooth edges, while quarters, dimes, and half dollars have ridged edges
- Identifying the sizes of coins. A nickel is larger than a penny, while a quarter is larger than a dime. Half dollars are larger than quarters
- Each coin is a different size, though all coins are the same color with the exception of the penny
- Dollar coins are larger than half dollars, but cannot be consistently identified based on size since they come in more than one size. However, these coins are less common than others
Some people may choose to avoid using coins and collect all of their loose change at home, and then bring it to a coin machine or bank to have it converted to paper currency or a gift card. However, I keep a few quarters in my purse for shopping carts or vending machines, which are in a zippered pocket.
Related links
- Adapting Coin Activities: Math Problems For Low Vision
- Teaching Coins and Money Skills to Students Who are Blind or Visually Impaired | Perkins eLearning
In the future— tactile bill
While many countries have tactile currency, the United States is in the progress of adding tactile and high-contrast labels to their next redesign for paper bills. This was supposed to begin rolling out in 2020 and not many details have been released, so I am not sure what the progress is on the release schedule for the new tactile currency.
Related links
Summary of how to identify money with low vision
- With the exception of the $1 bill, all paper currency includes a large print label on the back with the bill’s value
- Fold bills in different ways to indicate currency values
- Add braille to the edge of bills with the ClickPocket
- Use a currency reader app such as EyeNote to identify bills
- Visual assistance apps such as Google Lookout and Microsoft Seeing AI can recognize paper bills and non-US currency
- Coins can be identified by size and feeling the ridges on the side
- The US is planning to add additional tactile labels to money in the future, though no formal date has been announced
Published April 17, 2018. Updated May 2024