Abstract: A document to be verified or tested as a possible counterfeit is scanned by a system that optically senses a specific target area or aperture on the document. This area may include material deposited on the document or may be simply the document material. A reference grid is imprinted on the document to locate the same target area to be sensed each time the document is scanned, independent of the transport used to do the scanning. The reference grid is used to locate the target area both vertically and horizontally and signals sensed from the target area are combined to a representative composite.

Abstract: A system is disclosed including an authentication device as in the form of a document that is difficult to counterfeit and is individually identifiable. A sheet of medium comprising the document incorporates a section with a characteristic that specifically identifies the document as, for example, a section of varying translucency which will modulate a beam of light. Elements of such character identify the document as an individual unit. A visible mark or reference indicia on the document specifies the section of the document that serves to provide the characteristic identification. The visible mark is magnetic and records specific locations in the section and data on the document characteristic at such locations. An associated system is disclosed for producing and testing authenticator devices whereby the characteristic is sensed initially to be magnetically recorded in the mark and subsequently to be compared with the magnetically recorded data.