On a family vacation last week my 9-year-old grandson was using a bookmark that astonished me. It was a reproductionissued by a Cleveland pizza store of a current US $5 bill.

I asked him if I could have it, I would give him a real $5 bill for it. "No" he said. But he did accept $6. I taught my children how to negotiate, but was pleased the next generation had caught on so fast.

Illustrated here is the front of the piece with the firm's name and details of redeeming this on a $25 pizza order, details worked into the design but closely resembling a real $5 bill, complete with Lincoln's portrait and denomination's figures.

It's the back, however, which caught my attention. So close to the real thing, in fact, I could not scan it to send it along with the illustration of the front. It is an exact, total copy, embargoed by photocopy technology!

It differs in two respects: it is oversize and printed on what feels like a Palomar plastic. The size is 150% larger than the original- permitted years ago - more than 150% or less than 75% but not in color. I am unaware of the current restrictions. The back was printed in color.

Daughter-in-law stated she had received three of these, but the firm went out of business before she could redeem them! Did they give away two many of these faux fives, or did the Secret Service pressure them so much they had to close?