Accepting a counterfeit note at your till means losing the full face value — there is no bank compensation, no recovery mechanism, and no second chance once the customer has left. For a business processing hundreds of notes a week, the question is not whether machine-based detection is worth it. It is which machine provides reliable protection without creating friction in your daily workflow.
In this guide we rank the 7 best money counters with built-in counterfeit detection available in Australia in 2026. Every machine reviewed is from the Cashcom range — machines we have supplied to Australian businesses, banks, clubs, and CITs since 2015. Each review includes real specs, honest pros and cons, and a clear verdict so you can match the right machine to your situation quickly.
| 🔑 How to read this guide:
Picks are ranked by overall suitability for most Australian businesses — balancing detection capability, speed, practical features, and value. Pick #1 is not necessarily the most expensive or most technically advanced — it is the machine that delivers the best combination of reliable counterfeit detection and everyday usability for the widest range of business situations. |
Quick Overview: All 7 Picks at a Glance
| Machine | Best For | Speed | Dual CIS | 18ch MG | Ultrasonic | Sorting | LAN |
| #1 H110 | Small–med business | 720/min | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| #2 H210 | Counter + sorter | 900/min | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| #3 LS-200 | High-speed multi-till | 1,500/min | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| #4 LS-300 | All-day professional | 1,200/min | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| #5 K2 Recycler | High-volume + recycle | 1,000/min | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | Contact |
| #6 H-880 | 60-currency coverage | High speed | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| #7 H-890 | ECB-certified forex | High speed | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Before the Picks: What Makes Counterfeit Detection Reliable?
All 7 machines in this list include UV detection. That is the baseline. What separates them — and what determines whether your protection is adequate for $50 and $100 Australian polymer notes — is what they add on top of UV.
- UV (Ultraviolet): Checks UV-fluorescent security markings. Fast, widely used, but increasingly replicable by high-quality fakes. Necessary but not sufficient alone.
- MG (Magnetic): Reads magnetic ink patterns unique to each denomination. Very difficult to replicate commercially. A critical secondary layer.
- IR (Infrared): Measures infrared absorption of note inks. Denomination-specific profiles that counterfeit inks cannot replicate accurately. Highly reliable.
- Dual CIS (Colour Image Sensor): Full colour imaging of both note faces, compared against a genuine note database in real time. The gold standard for comprehensive detection. All 7 machines use Dual CIS or equivalent full-image processing.
- Ultrasonic: Detects physical anomalies — double notes, thickness irregularities, tears. Not a primary counterfeit detection method but an important error-prevention layer. Present in LS-200 and LS-300.
| 💡 Bottom line on detection: Any machine that only uses UV is not adequate for serious business use with $50 and $100 Australian polymer notes in 2026. Every machine in this list uses UV + MG + IR + CIS — the minimum reliable standard. The LS-200 and LS-300 add 18-channel MG and 21-channel ultrasonic for maximum depth. |
The 7 Best Money Counters with Counterfeit Detection in Australia (2026)
| #1 H110 Cash Counting Machine
🥇 BEST OVERALL — Best for: Small to medium business Bank-grade Dual CIS detection in a compact, affordable, everyday machine. The starting point for serious counterfeit protection. Detection: Dual CIS + UV + MG + IR Speed: 720 notes/min (detection simultaneous) Hopper: 500 notes | Stacker: 200 | Reject: 100 Serial Numbers: Full logging — analysis and statistical reports Connectivity: 2× USB, 1× serial, 1× LAN, optional printer Compliance: CE, CB, FCC certified ✅ What we like • Dual CIS imaging — same core technology as banking and Reserve Bank equipment • 12-type fitness detection including soil, tape, graffiti, stain, hole, tear, watermark, dog-ear, double notes • Serial number logging — complete audit trail for every note processed • LAN connectivity — data can feed into accounting or reporting systems • 720 notes/min with detection running simultaneously — no throughput penalty • CE, CB, FCC certified — commercially verified performance ⚠️ Worth knowing • No physical denomination sorting — notes collected in a single output stack • 720 notes/min is adequate for 1–2 tills but may feel slow for 3+ tills daily • No touch screen interface — button-operated (simple, but less intuitive for infrequent users) Our verdict: The H110 is the machine we recommend most often to Australian businesses starting their counterfeit protection journey. Bank-grade Dual CIS detection at an accessible price point, with LAN connectivity and serial number logging that larger operations would pay significantly more for elsewhere. For any business counting $50 and $100 notes daily, this is the right starting point. View product → https://www.cashcom.com.au/product/h110-cash-counting-machine/ |
| #2 H210 Money Counter and Sorter Machine
🥈 BEST COUNTER + SORTER — Best for: Businesses needing detection AND denomination sorting All the counterfeit detection of the H110, plus physical denomination sorting and damage detection in a single pass. Detection: Double-face counterfeit ID — full dual-face authentication Speed: 900 notes/min counting | 750 notes/min sorting Sorting: Denomination, face/orientation, damage — all in one pass Hopper: 500 notes | 2 sorted exits + 1 rejection outlet Serial Numbers: Real-time ID — queryable by serial, time, operator, batch Structure: Vertical — 1 entry, 3 output pockets ✅ What we like • Double-face counterfeit identification — both sides authenticated simultaneously • Three-pocket output — 2 denomination-sorted exits + 1 dedicated rejection outlet • Comprehensive damage detection: dirt, tape, dog-ear, hole, crack, dimension, double notes • Serial number logging — queryable by serial, time, operator, batch number • 900 notes/min counting, 750 notes/min sorting — genuine business throughput • Fake notes physically separated into rejection outlet — not mixed with counted stack ⚠️ Worth knowing • No LAN connectivity — count data not exportable to networked systems • No touch screen — English interface display • Slightly heavier workflow setup than pure counter if sorting is not needed Our verdict: If the H110 is the right machine for businesses that just need reliable counting and detection, the H210 is the right machine for businesses that also need to sort by denomination. Detection runs simultaneously with sorting — counterfeit notes go to the rejection outlet while fit notes separate into denomination piles. One pass, complete output. View product → https://www.cashcom.com.au/product/h210/ |
| #3 LS-200 Note Counter Machine
⚡ BEST HIGH-SPEED — Best for: Multi-till retail, 1,200 notes/min with 18-channel MG The speed and detection depth step-up for businesses where throughput matters — 1,500 notes/min counting, 18-channel magnetic detection, and 21-channel ultrasonic. Detection: Dual CIS + UV + MG 18ch + IR + Ultrasonic 21ch (F ver) Speed: 1,500/min (piece) | 1,200/min (value + auth + serial OCR) Hopper: 600 notes | Stacker: 200 | Reject: 100 Serial Numbers: Real-time OCR — 1,200 notes/min Connectivity: LAN, USB, RS-232 Display: 4.3-inch wide touch screen ✅ What we like • 1,200 notes/min in value + authentication mode — significantly faster than the H110 and H210 • 18-channel magnetic detection — scans the full note width, not just a central stripe • 21-channel ultrasonic (F version) — detects double notes, thickness anomalies, partial notes • Dual CIS + UV + MG + IR + Ultrasonic — most complete detection combination in the range • LAN connectivity — count data, detection events, and serial logs exportable to networks • 4.3-inch touch screen — easy to operate across multiple staff members and shifts • 600-note hopper — fewer reload interruptions for high-volume counting ⚠️ Worth knowing • Higher price point than H110 and H210 — justified for multi-till, not necessary for single-till • Fitness sorting requires LS-200F variant — confirm specification at time of purchase • Linux OS means firmware updates follow a specific process — straightforward but worth noting
Our verdict: The LS-200 is the machine for businesses that have outgrown the H110 or H210 — either in volume, in the need for network-connected reporting, or in wanting the deepest detection capability available at this tier. The 18-channel MG system is the specification that matters most: it provides full-width magnetic scanning that narrower sensors miss, catching sophisticated fakes that fewer-channel systems can overlook. View product → https://www.cashcom.com.au/product/ls-200-note-counter/ |
| #4 LS-300 Note Counter Machine
🏆 BEST PROFESSIONAL — Best for: Banks, large retail, all-day continuous operation The flagship machine — full detection depth with remote currency updates, dust-free continuous-duty design, and real-time network monitoring. Detection: Dual CIS + UV + MG 18ch + IR + Ultrasonic 21ch Speed: 1,200/min (value + auth) | 1,000/min (serial OCR) Currency DB: 48 currencies — remote upgrade without service visit Connectivity: LAN, USB, RS-232 — real-time monitoring + remote upgrade Display: 4.3-inch touch screen + stacker side LED Build: Dust-free vertical path — all-day continuous use
✅ What we like • Dual CIS + UV + MG 18-channel + IR + 21-channel Ultrasonic — top-tier detection combination • Remote currency database upgrade — stay current as new note series are issued, no service visit needed • Dust-free vertical path — dramatically lower jam rates under all-day continuous operation • Stacker side LED display — monitor counts from across the room without standing at the machine • Real-time network monitoring and remote management via LAN • 1,200 notes/min value + authentication, 1,000 notes/min serial OCR — sustained high-speed operation • 48-currency support with 20-currency auto-recognition — covers multi-currency environments ⚠️ Worth knowing • Highest price point in the range — appropriate for large operations, not entry-level • More capability than a single-till small business needs • Larger physical footprint than H110/H210 — designed for back-office or dedicated cash room use Our verdict: The LS-300 is the machine for operations where downtime is not acceptable and detection standards must remain current as note series evolve. The remote upgrade capability alone justifies it for any large retail, banking, or CIT operation — maintaining protection accuracy without scheduling service visits every time Note Printing Australia updates a denomination. View product → https://www.cashcom.com.au/product/ls-300-note-counter/ |
| #5 K2 Cash Recycler Sorter Machine
♻️ BEST HIGH-VOLUME — Best for: Large-volume retail, 1,000-note hopper, full sorting The largest hopper in the Cashcom range with full 4-method detection — built for operations that process large daily volumes without constant reloading. Detection: UV + MG + IR + CIS — full 4-method Speed: 1,000/min (value) | 800/min (fitness sorting) Hopper: 1,000 notes — largest in Cashcom range Sorting: Denomination, orientation, facing, fitness Currency: Up to 7 currencies simultaneously with auto-detect Display: 4.3-inch touch screen ✅ What we like • 1,000-note hopper — the largest in the range — process an entire day’s notes in a single load • UV + MG + IR + CIS — full 4-method detection on every note • Denomination, orientation, facing, and fitness sorting — all in one pass • Up to 7 currencies simultaneously with auto-detect — handles multi-currency volumes • 4.3-inch touch screen — simple navigation, minimal training required • Compact design — relatively portable for its performance level • Optional barcode and ticket detection — useful for entertainment, gaming, and TITO environments ⚠️ Worth knowing • 1,000 notes/min value counting — slightly slower than LS-200’s 1,500 notes/min in piece mode • No 18-channel MG system — uses standard magnetic detection rather than the 18-channel system in LS-200/300 • LAN connectivity requires direct enquiry — confirm at time of purchase Our verdict: The K2 is for businesses where volume is the primary constraint — the 1,000-note hopper means a day’s takings often fit in a single load, eliminating the mid-count reloading that smaller machines require. For clubs, gaming venues, large retail, and entertainment operations processing $5,000–$15,000 in daily notes, the K2 is the most operationally practical machine in the range. View product → https://www.cashcom.com.au/product/k2-cash-recycler/ |
| #6 H-880 Note Counting Machine
🌍 BEST MULTI-CURRENCY — Best for: 60-currency coverage, tourism, duty-free 4-method detection across 60 currencies — the specialist pick for any business where international currency handling is regular. Detection: Image (CIS) + Magnetic + Infrared + UV — all 4 methods Currency: Up to 60 currencies — USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, AED, SGD + more Compliance: 100% ECB pass rate Serial Numbers: Real-time OCR reading across all currencies Display: Large TFT touch panel Connectivity: RS-232, USB, SD card ✅ What we like • 60-currency support with full 4-method detection on every currency — not just AUD • 100% ECB (European Central Bank) pass rate — independently verified detection accuracy • Real-time OCR serial number reading — audit trail across all supported currencies • Large TFT touch panel — intuitive for staff who switch between currency modes • Error detection: double note, half note, chained note — across all currencies • SD card export — count data and detection logs easily transferred ⚠️ Worth knowing • No physical denomination sorting — single output stack • No LAN connectivity — USB, RS-232, and SD card are the connectivity options • No ultrasonic detection — H-880 does not include the LS-200/300 ultrasonic layer Our verdict: If your business regularly handles foreign currencies alongside AUD — a tourism-area café, duty-free store, airport retail, or city hospitality venue — the H-880 is the right specialist machine. The 100% ECB compliance confirmation means detection accuracy is independently verified against the most stringent international standard, not just manufacturer claims. View product → https://www.cashcom.com.au/product/h-880/ |
| #7 H-890 Note Counting Machine
🌐 BEST FOREX SPECIALIST — Best for: Currency exchange, ECB-certified international detection The upgraded multi-currency specialist — same 60-currency 4-method detection as the H-880 with an enhanced specification profile for high-volume international currency environments. Detection: Image (CIS) + Magnetic + Infrared + UV — 4-method Currency: Up to 60 currencies with auto identification Compliance: 100% ECB certified pass rate Serial Numbers: Real-time OCR across all supported currencies Display: Large TFT touch panel Connectivity: RS-232, USB, SD card ✅ What we like • Full 4-method detection (Image + MG + IR + UV) across up to 60 currencies • 100% ECB pass rate — independently certified accuracy • Real-time OCR serial number reading — creates per-note audit trail across all currencies • Large TFT touch panel — designed for environments where currency switching is frequent • Double note, half note, chained note error detection • USB and SD card connectivity for data export and currency database updates ⚠️ Worth knowing • Like the H-880, no physical denomination sorting or LAN connectivity • Specialist multi-currency machine — not the first choice for AUD-only operations where H110 or H210 are better matched • No ultrasonic detection layer Our verdict: The H-890 and H-880 occupy the same specialist niche. The H-890 is the preferred choice for higher-volume international currency environments — currency exchange kiosks, large tourism operations, or any environment where the volume of foreign note processing justifies the enhanced specification. For ECB compliance requirements specifically, both are verified. View product → https://www.cashcom.com.au/product/h-890-note-counter/ |
How to Choose the Right Pick for Your Business
Seven machines is still a choice to make. Use this framework to identify your pick in under a minute:
Start Here: What Is Your Primary Requirement?
- Reliable detection for a single till, compact machine: → Pick #1 H110
- Detection AND denomination sorting in one pass: → Pick #2 H210
- High speed (1,200+ notes/min) AND deepest detection (18ch MG): → Pick #3 LS-200
- All-day continuous operation, remote currency updates: → Pick #4 LS-300
- Largest hopper (1,000 notes), high-volume without reloading: → Pick #5 K2
- Multi-currency detection, 60 currencies, ECB certified: → Pick #6 H-880 or Pick #7 H-890
By Business Type
- Small café, boutique, single-till retail: H110 — everything you need, nothing you don’t
- Medium retail, 2–3 tills, daily denomination prep: H210 or LS-200
- Large retail, franchise, multi-location: LS-200 or LS-300 with LAN reporting
- Club, gaming, entertainment venue: K2 Cash Recycler — 1,000-note hopper handles the volume
- Tourism retail, duty-free, international hospitality: H-880 or H-890 — 60-currency coverage
- Bank branch or credit union: LS-300 — remote management and all-day continuous operation
- Not sure yet, want to start right: H110 — clear upgrade path to any other machine in the range
Frequently Asked Questions
| Q: What is the best money counter with counterfeit detection for a small business in Australia?
The Cashcom H110 is the best starting point for most Australian small businesses. It uses Dual CIS imaging combined with UV, MG, and IR detection — the same technology standard as banking equipment. At 720 notes/min with serial number logging and LAN connectivity, it provides reliable protection in a compact, daily-use machine. Call Cashcom on 0451 353 676 for a direct recommendation based on your volume. |
| Q: Is UV detection enough for Australian polymer notes?
No — UV detection alone is no longer adequate for Australian $50 and $100 polymer notes in 2026. High-quality counterfeits can replicate UV fluorescence. Every machine in this guide uses UV combined with magnetic (MG), infrared (IR), and CIS image detection — the minimum reliable standard for Australian polymer note authentication. |
| Q: What is the difference between the H110 and LS-200 for counterfeit detection?
Both use Dual CIS + UV + MG + IR detection. The key difference is depth: the LS-200 uses an 18-channel magnetic detection system (versus standard MG in the H110) that scans the full note width rather than a central stripe — catching fakes that pass narrower sensors. The LS-200 also adds 21-channel ultrasonic detection (F version). The LS-200 is the upgrade when volume demands higher speed or maximum detection depth is a priority. |
| Q: Do all 7 machines work with Australian currency?
Yes. All machines reviewed in this guide are supplied by Cashcom configured for the Australian market — AUD denominations, Australian polymer note detection profiles, and Australian power supply specifications. This is an important distinction from importing unconfigured machines, which may have incorrect detection calibrations for AUD polymer notes. |
| Q: Can these machines detect all counterfeit notes?
No detection system can guarantee 100% catch rates for all possible counterfeits — this is true of any technology, including banking equipment. What multi-method detection (UV + MG + IR + Dual CIS) provides is reliable protection against the full range of commonly circulating Australian counterfeit notes. The combination of these four methods makes replication of all detection signatures simultaneously extremely difficult for counterfeiters. |
| Q: What happens to a flagged note — does it go back into the counted stack?
No — all 7 machines route flagged notes to a dedicated reject pocket that is physically separate from the counted output stack. The flagged note is removed from the count automatically. You end the count with a clean stack of authenticated notes and any flagged notes isolated in the reject pocket for separate examination. |
| Q: Do these machines count and detect simultaneously or in separate passes?
Simultaneously. Detection runs on every note as it passes through the sensor array — at the same time as counting and mixed-value denomination recognition. There is no separate detection pass required. This is why throughput speed in value counting mode (which includes detection) is marginally lower than piece-count mode — the processing is running concurrently, not sequentially. |
Our Final Recommendation
For the majority of Australian businesses accepting $50 and $100 notes daily, the right pick is clear: start with the H110. Dual CIS detection, full UV + MG + IR coverage, 12-type fitness detection, serial number logging, and LAN connectivity — at a price point that makes the protection accessible to any business that handles regular cash.
If you need denomination sorting alongside detection, move to the H210. If you are processing 3+ tills daily or need 18-channel magnetic detection, the LS-200 is the right step. For all-day professional operation with remote management, the LS-300. For volume-first environments, the K2. For multi-currency, the H-880 or H-890.
The one choice that is not recommended for any Australian business in 2026: a UV-only machine. The protection gap versus multi-method detection is significant. Every machine in this list provides the multi-method standard that genuine protection requires.
To enquire about any of the 7 machines in this guide, visit cashcom.com.au/products, call 0451 353 676, or email sales@cashcom.com.au. Our team is available Monday to Friday, 9am–6pm, and can match the right machine to your specific volume and detection requirements.