History Main / ForeignMoneyIsProofOfGuilt

* In ''Literature/AFeastForCrows'', Cersei Lannister discovers one of the jailers who was guarding Tyrion had a gold coin minted by House Tyrell, who were trying to marry their daughter to her son. Since Tyrion had just [[spoiler:murdered their father and escaped after being found guilty for killing Cersei's other son, Joffrey]], this made her suspect the Tyrells had bribed the jailer to free Tyrion, even though Lord Tyrell wanted Tyrion dead since his daughter could have died at his hands. It's implied that the jailer [[MasterOfDisguise was actually spymaster Varys]], who presumably left the coin there to encourage Cersei's paranoia about the Tyrells.

* In ''Discworld/{{Jingo}}'', the apparent assassin of the visiting prince is apparently paid in Klatchian currency. [[spoiler:This is in fact because the room was [[OrgyOfEvidence staged to make it look like an obvious frame-up]] against the Klatchians, so [[IKnowYouKnowIKnow Vimes would think they didn't hire the assassin]], because they did — in Ankh-Morpork currency, which was exchanged for Klatchian after their patsy was dead.]]

* [[Creator/MarxBrothers Harpo Marx]] was suspected of being a spy when he entered the USSR because he had rubles. But he had simply exchanged his dollars for rubles with another passenger on the train, not knowing that he had to do it through official channels. So in his case ''domestic'' money was proof of guilt.

* Riggs and Murtagh get on the case of the Afrikaaner villains in ''Film/LethalWeapon2'' after foiling an attempted "theft" (read: money laundering) and discovering that the money stolen was gold Krugerrands.

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TruthInTelevision in that possessing foreign currency was itself a crime in the USSR and some of its satellite countries, and bringing more than a specified amount -albeit usually quite a large one- without declaring it and paying excise is unlawful most other places.

Bit of a UndeadHorseTrope in that it's much better proof in the past, when rulers coined their own money -- both Marc Antony and Octavian issued their own currency, for example, although they shared rulership of the Roman Empire at the time.

* In one ''ComicBook/{{Blueberry}}'' story he stops a saboteur who was trying to slow down a railroad company. After arresting him they find gold coins of California Republic. This proves to them that the saboteur was hired by their rival railroad company, who uses those coins to pay their workers.

* In ''Film/ThreeHundred'', Theron is exposed when he is caught with Persian coins. In RealLife, Persian money was made from precious metals but Spartan money was made from iron; metaphor alert! While there's no clear reason that he would carry them with him, it does make sense since he fully expected the Persians to take over and make other currencies worthless. RealLife Spartan commanders were often bribed, but tended to keep the money in offshore banks... that is, foreign temples.
* ''Film/GirlInGoldBoots'' has Critter introduce himself by asking for change for a hundred, then a fifty. Buzz then tries to rob ''him'', inverting the trope. Later on, we learn that said money is actually Nepalese money. [[spoiler: But this trope is then played straight when it's discovered that Critter was hiding in Nepal and now here to keep from being drafted for the Vietnam War.]]

* In ''Discworld/{{Jingo}}'' the apparent assassin of the visiting prince is apparently paid in Klatchian currency. [[spoiler:This is in fact because the room was [[OrgyOfEvidence staged to make it look like an obvious frame-up]] against the Klatchians, so [[IKnowYouKnowIKnow Vimes would think they didn't hire the assassin]], because they did - in Ankh-Morpork currency, which was exchanged for Klatchian after their patsy was dead.]]
* In the Literature/XWingSeries, Dr. Edda Gast, a MadScientist, is captured by the New Republic and offers her complete cooperation in return for amnesty for her crimes, a new identity, and half-a-million credits in cash. Though she promises not to return to her previous ways, everybody knows she is lying through her teeth and will return to her previous activities as soon as she is released, and the fact that she demands Imperial credits simply reinforces that. However, the Republic honors their bargain, gives her the new identity and the money, and release her onto Coruscant...where she is promptly arrested by the customs agent at the spaceport. Since the New Republic and the Empire are at war, [[FramingTheGuiltyParty attempting to bring Imperial credits into the New Republic capital qualifies as smuggling, and since she is carrying]] ''[[FramingTheGuiltyParty so much value]]'' [[FramingTheGuiltyParty in Imperial credits the charge will actually include attempted sedition as well.]] Nawara Ven, the Twi'lek lawyer from the Republic that Gast had repeatedly insulted throughout their encounters, [[AreYouSureYouWantToDoThat had repeatedly asked her if she really wanted to take the money in that fashion]], and when Gast had refused any other alternative he had stepped back and let her walk into the customs entrance.
* In ''Literature/TheMasterAndMargarita'' there was a guy who got arrested because the police found foreign currency in his apartment; he had accepted a bribe from {{Satan}}, but in roubles. Woland/Satan then anonymously called the police, who found the currency, now mysteriously American dollars.
** Curiously, in times when the novel took place it ''wasn't'' a crime to possess and even trade in a foreign currency,[[note]]The novel was initially set during [[UsefulNotes/TheSovietTwenties the NEP]], when a lot more economic freedom was permitted[[/note]] the regulations were tightened much later, basically only ''after'' the Stalin's death, so the guy's only real crime was basically accepting a bribe. The police finding it in dollars would only be a minor problem, adding maybe a misdemeanor to his case.
* This came up a number of times in the ''Literature/{{Belgariad}}'' saga by David Eddings. In this case, however, it is not the stamp on the coins that is a giveaway, but the color -- the AlwaysChaoticEvil Murgos have access to a virtually bottomless gold-mine, which has iron contamination in it, giving the gold a red tinge. And they are quite free with it... as such, anyone caught with red gold in their pockets has probably been bribed by the Murgos.

* ''Rogue's Home'' by Creator/HilariBell has a variation. [[spoiler: A man the heroes suspect was bribed to leave town is found dead with foreign currency in his pockets. One of the coins is from a faraway town that only one merchant is known to trade in, implicating him as the briber.]]

* In ''Literature/AFeastForCrows'', Cersei Lannister discovers one of the jailers who was guarding Tyrion had a gold coin minted by House Tyrell, who were trying to marry their daughter to her son. Since Tyrion had just [[spoiler: murdered their father and escaped after being found guilty for killing Cersei's other son, Joffrey]] this made her suspect the Tyrell's had bribed the jailer to free Tyrion, even though Lord Tyrell wanted Tyrion dead since his daughter could have died at his hands. It's implied the jailer [[MasterOfDisguise was actually spymaster Varys]], who presumably left the coin there to encourage Cersei's paranoia about the Tyrells.

* Averted at least once in Creator/RobertJordan's ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' series. After a man who tried to kill Rand is found to have Tar Valon coins one of the Asha'man [[spoiler: who is a traitor himself]] argues that this is evidence that the Aes Sedai planned it. CoolOldGuy Davram Bashere promptly points out that many men in the area, including Davram himself, have more than a bit of Tar Valon currency.
** Another aversion happens with a riverboat captain who knows too much. His enemies try to silence him by giving him a packet of letters, a generously sized purse, and an address to which the letters need to be delivered. So far, nothing strange. However, when the captain decides on a whim to count the money, he realizes that all the coins are Tar Valon currency. He then becomes suspicious enough to open a letter and, as you might think, the letter contains accusations of him conspiring with the Aes Sedai. Realizing that the combination of the letters and the money would be enough to get him executed when he reaches his destination, the captain simply burns the letters and asks his first mate if he knows anyone at their destination who might be inclined to buy a large quantity of moody silver quickly and discreetly and not shaft him too badly.

* In ''Series/BabylonFive'' Garibaldi is [[FallGuy framed]] for a bombing, and as part of this a large quantity (somewhere along the line of two years' salary) in Centauri Ducats are planted in his quarters. Since Centauri are one of the few cultures that still mint physical currency, their coin is the currency of choice for dodgy deals in the setting. That Garibaldi actually ''spends'' said currency (the Centauri ambassador is a friend of his and helps him out when he's on the run) doesn't help.

* In ''Series/{{Castle}}'', a victim is suspected to be a spy involved in something highly questionable when his car is discovered with a large quantity of Euros in the trunk. [[spoiler: Subverted -- the victim was ''actually'' on a 'spy vacation' and the Euros were part of the game. And then double subverted; real foreign money was never used in-game — the money found in the car was actually more than the price of spy vacation itself. Eventually it turns out to be a side-scheme by one of the vacation company employees.]]
* When Phoebe was a Salvation Army bell ringer during the holidays on ''Series/{{Friends}}'' she was disillusioned by her customers and was rude back and her corner was taken away. When the new girl came to take over Phoebe said she would give her one piece of advice: to "watch out for that bitch" (a lady who tried to donate a Canadian coin).

* This trope collided with PoorCommunicationKills during U.S. Special Forces "Robin Sage" exercise in 2002, a month long war game/ final test for graduating Green Berets where several counties of North Carolina become "The People's Republic of Pineland", complete with police and local government participation. During a traffic stop, a participating Lieutenant and Sergeant attempted to bribe the Sheriff's deputy with "Pineland Don", the official Monopoly-esque currency of the exercise, not realising that the deputy had not been briefed. This led to an escalating series of events culminating in the Lt. getting a [[EyeScream full can of mace to the face]] and a fatal gunshot wound, and the Sgt. taking two non-fatal shots in the back while attempting to run to cover with his blank-firing machine gun.

* In ''Series/BabylonFive'' Garibaldi is [[FallGuy framed]] for a bombing, and as part of this Centauri Ducats are planted in his quarters. Somewhat justified in that Ducats seem to be the hard currency of choice for many races. The fact that he is actually seen ''spending'' said currency (the Centauri ambassador is a friend of his and helps him out when he's on the run) doesn't help.
** Though why there would be anything inherently suspicious about an officer posted to a major interplanetary trade hub possessing hard cash in various currencies [[FridgeLogic is not immediately obvious.]]

** Curiously, in times when the novel took place it ''wasn't'' a crime to possess and even trade in a foreign currency,[[note]]The novel was initially set during [[TheSovietTwenties the NEP]], when a lot more economic freedom was permitted[[/note]] the regulations were tightened much later, basically only ''after'' the Stalin's death, so the guy's only real crime was basically accepting a bribe. The police finding it in dollars would only be a minor problem, adding maybe a misdemeanor to his case.

* In ''Discworld/{{Jingo}}'' the apparent assassin of the visiting prince is apparently paid in Klatchian currency. [[spoiler:This is in fact because the room was staged to make it look "obviously" like the Klatchians paid him, so [[IKnowYouKnowIKnow Vimes would think they didn't]], because they did - in Ankh-Morpork currency, which was exchanged for Klatchian after their patsy was dead.]]

* This trope collided with PoorCommunicationKills during U.S. Special Forces "Robin Sage" excercise in 2002, a month long war game/ final test for graduating Green Berets where several counties of North Carolina become "The People's Republic of Pineland", complete with police and local government participation. During a traffic stop, a participating Lieutenant and Sergeant attempted to bribe the Sheriff's deputy with "Pineland Don", the official Monopoly-esque currency of the exercise, not realising that the deputy had not been briefed. This led to an escalating series of events culminating in the Lt. getting a [[EyeScream full can of mace to the face]] and a fatal gunshot wound, and the Sgt. taking two non-fatal shots in the back while attempting to run to cover with his blank-firing machine gun.

* In ''Film/ThreeHundred'', Theron is exposed when he is caught with Persian coins. In RealLife, Persian money was made from precious metals but Spartan money was made from iron; metaphor alert! While there's no clear reason that he would carry them with him, it does make sense since he fully expected the Persians to take over and make other currencies worthless.

* Averted at least once in RobertJordan's ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' series. After a man who tried to kill Rand is found to have Tar Valon coins one of the Asha'man [[spoiler: who is a traitor himself]] argues that this is evidence that the Aes Sedai planned it. CoolOldGuy Davram Bashere promptly points out that many men in the area, including Davram himself, have more than a bit of Tar Valon currency.

* [[MarxBrothers Harpo Marx]] was suspected of being a spy when he entered the USSR because he had rubles. But he had simply exchanged his dollars for rubles with another passenger on the train, not knowing that he had to do it through official channels. So in his case ''domestic'' money was proof of guilt.

* In one {{Blueberry}} story he stops a saboteur who was trying to slow down a railroad company. After arresting him they find gold coins of California Republic. This proves to them that the saboteur was hired by their rival railroad company, who uses those coins to pay their workers.

* In ''[[Film/ThreeHundred 300]]'', Theron is exposed when he is caught with Persian coins. In RealLife, Persian money was made from precious metals but Spartan money was made from iron; metaphor alert! While there's no clear reason that he would carry them with him, it does make sense since he fully expected the Persians to take over and make other currencies worthless.

* ''Film/TheGirlInGoldBoots'' has Critter introduce himself by asking for change for a hundred, then a fifty. Buzz then tries to rob ''him'', inverting the trope. Later on, we learn that said money is actually Nepalese money. [[spoiler: But this trope is then played straight when it's discovered that Critter was hiding in Nepal and now here to keep from being drafted for the Vietnam War.]]

* ''JusticeLeagueUnlimited'': When someone hired to kill ''ComicBook/{{Aquaman}}'' was caught, his payment clued the heroes to the fact the one who hired the hitman was [[spoiler:Orm]].

* In the Craetor/{{BBC}} series ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'', Franchise/SherlockHolmes suspects a car dealer of having lied about traveling overseas. He sneaks a peak in the man's wallet and sees a Colombian banknote, the final clue he needs to solve the case.

* When Phoebe was a Salvation Army bell ringer during the holidays on ''{{Friends}}'' she was disillusioned by her customers and was rude back and her corner was taken away. When the new girl came to take over Phoebe said she would give her one piece of advice: to "watch out for that bitch" (a lady who tried to donate a Canadian coin).

* In ''TheMasterAndMargarita'' there was a guy who got arrested because the police found foreign currency in his apartment; he had accepted a bribe from {{Satan}}, but in roubles. Woland/Satan then anonymously called the police, who found the currency, now mysteriously American dollars.

* In ''[[ASongOfIceAndFire A Feast for Crows]]'', Cersei Lannister discovers one of the jailers who was guarding Tyrion had a gold coin minted by House Tyrell, who were trying to marry their daughter to her son. Since Tyrion had just [[spoiler: murdered their father and escaped after being found guilty for killing Cersei's other son, Joffrey]] this made her suspect the Tyrell's had bribed the jailer to free Tyrion, even though Lord Tyrell wanted Tyrion dead since his daughter could have died at his hands. It's implied the jailer [[MasterOfDisguise was actually spymaster Varys]], who presumably left the coin there to encourage Cersei's paranoia about the Tyrells.

* There was a variation in ''{{Journeyman}}'' in which an FBI Agent caught on to the fact that Dan Vassar was a time traveller, part of his case being that Vasser was in possession of money from different eras.

* There is an urban legend of an influencial Soviet man who made a lot of money illegally and converted it to US dollars. However, thanks to his influence, the KGB couldn't even search his house for evidence. He was about to emigrate to the US, and invited many influencial friends to his going-away party, including the American ambassador. After the party, he boarded the plane and left. The KGB search his luggage and find no money. They then search his house and find a large pile of ash. Turns out he had the ambassador witness him burning all his cash and sign an official document that a certain amount of currency was indeed destroyed. All the man had to do was go to the nearest Federal Reserve bank in the States and show them the document to get his money back. (It ''is'' US government practice to replace ''provably'' destroyed currency.)

* This trope collided with PoorCommunicationKills during U.S. Special Forces "Robin Sage" excercise in 2002, a month long war game/ final test for graduating Green Berets where several counties of North Carolina become "The People's Republic of Pineland", complete with police and local government participation. During a traffic stop, a participating Lieutenant and Sergeant attempted to bribe the Sheriff's deputy with "Pineland Don", the official Monopoly-esque currency of the excercise, not realising that the deputy had not been briefed. This led to an escalating series of events culminating in the Lt. getting a [[EyeScream full can of mace to the face]] and a fatal gunshot wound, and the Sgt. taking two non-fatal shots in the back while attempting to run to cover with his blank-firing machine gun.

* Part of the evidence used to convict former South African {{Cricket}} captain Hansie Cronje of a match-fixing scandal was the fact that he was in possession of foreign money. In South Africa, it is illegal to possess foreign money unless one is travelling to or has recently arrived from a foreign country.

* In the Literature/XWingSeries, an evil scientist is captured by the New Republic and bargains with them, hoping to spill secrets in return for amnesty, anonymity, and half a million credits. They're the good guys, so she gets it, but the man dealing with her is a Twi'lek who deliberately infuriates her. When he takes her to Coruscant just prior to release she insists repeatedly on Imperial credits, not New Republic ones. The exchange rate's not mentioned[[note]]According to TheThrawnTrilogy by TimothyZahn (written earlier but set at a later time), as the New Republic and Empire are at war, and the Empire does not recognize the New Republic as a legitimate government, there ''is'' no official exchange rate[[/note]], but she does have a permit to carry that much. Then Coruscant security searches her, finds half a million Imperial credits, and arrests her, because that is illegal. The Twi'lek (who's also a trained lawyer) happily informs her that because she was caught [[FramingTheGuiltyParty trying to smuggle it into the capital]] the likely charge will be sedition and a mandatory life sentence, neatly preventing her from walking off and selling enemy her evil science skills under a new name. Given the fact that half a million credits is a shit load of money and Coruscant had just recently been taken by the New Republic this is a fairly legitimate crime. The Twi'lek did give her [[AreYouSureYouWantToDoThat plenty of opportunity to change her mind, though]].

* In the XWingSeries, an evil scientist is captured by the New Republic and bargains with them, hoping to spill secrets in return for amnesty, anonymity, and half a million credits. They're the good guys, so she gets it, but the man dealing with her is a Twi'lek who deliberately infuriates her. When he takes her to Coruscant just prior to release she insists repeatedly on Imperial credits, not New Republic ones. The exchange rate's not mentioned[[note]]According to TheThrawnTrilogy by TimothyZahn (written earlier but set at a later time), as the New Republic and Empire are at war, and the Empire does not recognize the New Republic as a legitimate government, there ''is'' no official exchange rate[[/note]], but she does have a permit to carry that much. Then Coruscant security searches her, finds half a million Imperial credits, and arrests her, because that is illegal. The Twi'lek (who's also a trained lawyer) happily informs her that because she was caught [[FramingTheGuiltyParty trying to smuggle it into the capital]] the likely charge will be sedition and a mandatory life sentence, neatly preventing her from walking off and selling enemy her evil science skills under a new name. Given the fact that half a million credits is a shit load of money and Coruscant had just recently been taken by the New Republic this is a fairly legitimate crime. The Twi'lek did give her [[AreYouSureYouWantToDoThat plenty of opportunity to change her mind, though]].

* Riggs and Murtagh get on the case of the Afrikaaner villains in ''LethalWeapon 2'' after foiling an attempted "theft" (read: money laundering) and discovering that the money stolen was gold Krugerrands.

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