The Last Counterfeiter: The Story of Fake Money, Real Art, and Forging the Impossible $100 Bill

by Jason Kersten

The true story of the mastermind counterfeiter who forged millions, replicated the impossible 1996 note, dodged the Secret Service, but couldn't escape the pain of his broken family.
When Art Williams Jr.’s father abandoned the family and his bipolar mother lost her mind, a life of crime in 1970s Chicago quickly claimed him. Parking meter theft led to robbing drug dealers before Art fatefully met a man nicknamed DaVinci who taught him the skill of counterfeiting money. In the following years, Art printed millions in counterfeit bills, selling them to criminal organizations, meanwhile trying to raise a family on the side. His greatest challenge arose with the Treasury Department’s new and most secure hundred-dollar bill ever, the 1996 note. After months spent painstakingly perfecting the new counterfeit bill, he created an indistinguishable copy to bypass the naked eye and security measures alike. While Art slipped by the Secret Service hunting him, he searched for his long-lost father, a path that ultimately led to his undoing and another prison sentence. In this new edition, thirteen years later, journalist Jason Kersten details how Art’s criminal knowledge caught up with him again as he found himself behind bars sharing a cell with his own son. Yet Art’s third prison sentence finally had the desired effect to convince him to start a new life. Upon finishing his sentence, he has reinvented himself, owning art galleries, and using the same techniques that locked him up for six and a half years, now as a successful artist.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Crime, History, Biography, Biography Memoir

336 pages, Paperback

Published March 26, 2024

About the author

I got into writing when I was eleven when I read The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. At the end I was astonished that printed words had created an intense emotional and physical reaction in me—a genuine magic spell! I wanted to learn the secret, to help me connect with others and understand our world.

I won an award for short fiction in college, then set off on the journalism trail after I began working in magazines. Long form journalism suited me. I started specializing in true crime because nobody where I worked was doing it, and I came from a family that included both lawyers and convicts, so I was familiar with the criminal justice system (that's another story).

Along with my books, I've published stories of all kinds in The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, Men's Journal, GQ, and numerous other magazines. I love the research process, discovering places and people I never knew existed and bringing their stories to life. Much is hidden beneath what we see right in front of us.

I hope you enjoy my books!

Reviews

[Shell · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I was reading this book, I had to keep reminding myself that it is a true story. Art Williams was a counterfeiting mastermind that eventually turned his artistic talent into real art. His story of how he got into counterfeiting and his life as a counterfeiter is compelling. He was apparently an expert at copying even the most securely made bills and, had he and his cohorts followed his original rules, he may have never gotten caught. It's a story of wanting to be a better man, but not knowing how. It's a story about our parole system not supporting parolees as they try for a better, non-criminal life. It's the story of a man eventually finding people to support him as he strives to go legit. A very interesting read. Makes me wonder, every time I pay with cash, is this bill ligit?????? #GoodreadsGiveaway

[Kadin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best non-fiction books I've read in a while. The story of Arthur "Art" Williams Jr., a poor, low-level thief turned counterfeiter extraordinaire, reads like a novel or a screenplay. Abandoned by his father, raised by an overwhelmed and mentally ill mother, and essentially left to fend for himself, Williams, at a relatively young age, learns the art of counterfeiting from a mysterious criminal mentor before said mentor disappears forever. Despite the little experience he has, Art is a smart, clever dude and he's determined: he's going to be a master counterfeiter and that's how he's going to provide for himself and his family. After many setbacks, false starts, and near misses with the law, Art finally succeeds and does what many think is impossible: he forges a nearly perfect counterfeit $100 bill. Nearly perfect.
Williams' story is one of family, love, heartbreak, addiction, determination, acceptance, and finally, after much is lost, success. I can't recommend this one enough.

[Mystery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway.

I didn’t think I’d enjoy the book so much. It was like diving into another world of crime. It was a good tell tale of how people get into crime and how they find it hard to get out of that cycle, especially when they were successful. It’s also really unfortunate how the world isn’t catered to help those who get out of prison. Arts OP just didn’t let him flourish. They didn’t want Art to become a speaker or be a realtor or be successful at all. And the system pretends that they’re not the ones encouraging you into a crime. Arts second sentencing could have easily been avoided and that annoyed me. Overall well written and precisely articulated.

[Matthew Gibb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book enough to have both read and listened to it. The counterfeiter turned artist after many years of crime and his stories are enthralling and exciting. I only wish the former audio version was available for purchase. I'd buy it on the spot today,but it no longer seems to be available. Read this book it's better than any action movie I've ever seen and the details of how he made the bills practically foolproof and the shopping sprees where they flipped 20% phony bills for 80% currency are legendary. They even donated brand new clothes from their exploits.

[Yvonne Marks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story about Art's life. He had a hard childhood and it is easy to see how he fell into the life of crime and how it is difficult to get out especially when he was successful and was able to make money quickly. The story also showed how it is hard to completely trust anyone as many of his family and friends (and even himself) broke some rules that were meant to help keep them from being caught in the crime.
Thanks for the free book.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually won a Goodreads giveaway! I'm not usually a nonfiction reader, but this sounded like a modern day Catch Me If You Can and I thought I'd enter the giveaway and give it a shot.
I was really pleasantly surprised. You honestly wouldn't believe this story isn't fiction - it's absolutely captivating. Even if you're not a regular non-fiction reader. I'd definitely recommend picking this up.

[Delmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I expected this to be one of those books a one picks up here and there and that might take a week or so to finish. The title makes it sound interesting but not gripping. It turned out to be one of those books I couldn't put down.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read and interesting about the art of the process. An era of the past. The physical idea of money is a concept that dwindles more and more every year.

[Ron McGuire · Rating 4 out of 5]

very well written and throughly enjoyed it.

[Sarah Cohen · Rating 4 out of 5]

inspired my undergrad thesis topic!