What’s the Difference between the MV1, MV2, and MV3 Cash Counters?

There are a ton of cash counting machines on the market, and sometimes the selection can be a bit overwhelming, leaving you with a decision to make: do you save a bit of money upfront and omit some counterfeit features, or do you invest a bit more for added protection? What about a thermal printer? Is CIS scanning really valuable? What exactly do all these technical features mean, and why do they matter? Do I even need a cash counter at all?

In this article, we hope to address all of your questions regarding the differences between the popular MIXVAL money counting machines. With a proper comparison, you will be able to easily determine which model will best suit your individual business needs, so you can get the best cash counting machine for your business, instead of buying something that is lacking important features you could use, or spending too much on a machine that has way more features than you would ever need.

We will go over three different money counting systems, including the MIXVAL models MV1, MV2, and MV3. Each is intended for various volumes or industry-types, and each has an array of various features that can make your life easier.

 

First, let’s go over some terminology you may see as you shop online for a money counting machine.

• BPM - Bills per minute. Used as the rate of speed for money counting machines. Listed as 800bpm.
• CAD - Canadian dollar; the currency used in Canada.
• CIS - Contact image sensor. Acts as a form of bill recognition and counterfeit detection. This feature enables the cash counter to recognize denominations.
• Counterfeit Detection - A feature that offers one or more verifications to look for security measures included in banknotes that help differentiate between authentic and fraudulent bills.
• Denominations - Refers to the value of individual bills.

IR - Infrared scanning is a counterfeit detection method. Infrared security markings are

 

• invisible to the naked eye and can only be seen when placed under an infrared light source.
• MG - Magnetic ink verification is a counterfeit detection method. MG scanning detects traces of iron particles in the ink characters printed on US banknotes.
• Mixed Money - Indicates that a stack of bills can have various denominations and not require pre-sorting before running through a counting machine.
• MR - Magneto-resistive sensor is a counterfeit detection method that scans for magnetized portions of bills.
• MT - Magnetic thread scanning is a counterfeit detection method that scans for magnetic threads woven into the bills.
• MXN - Mexican Peso; the currency used in Mexico.
• Serial Number - Every banknote has a unique, 11-digit serial number printed on it.
• Size & Thickness - Refers to the precise dimensions of a banknote.
• Thermal Printer - A fast, ink-free method of printing that is used to produce serial number logs.
• USD - United States dollar; the currency used in the United States of America.
• UV - Ultraviolet light is used as a counterfeit detection measure. It reveals hidden markings, watermarks, ribbons, and images that are not visible under normal lighting. It is the most common form of counterfeit detection.

Note: You can learn more about counterfeit detection measures at our Counterfeit Detection Explained article.

 

Okay, so now that we know a bit more about some of the common terms used in the cash counting industry, we can move onto the product comparison; the thing you came here for.

First up, we have the MIXVAL model MV1. This little machine is compact and easy to travel with, while offering counting speeds up to 1,200bpm when counting separated denominations or 800bpm when counting mixed money. It is considered to be the perfect entry-level machine; ideal for small businesses who are looking to improve efficiency while staying in their budget, as well as for companies that are just starting out and need a quick solution for their cash handling requirements. It offers a four-point counterfeit detection scan that utilized UV, IR, MG, and CIS functions.

Next we have the MIXVAL model MV2. This slightly larger machine is still mobile, and offers the same impressive counting speeds for both sorted and mixed stacks of cash. It is actually a bank-grade alternative that offers the same four-point counterfeit detection scan, but with an

added CIS sensor; so you get the protection offered by a UV, IR, MG, and 2 CIS scanners. This machine remains affordable, but is built with the durability to withstand higher volumes, such as those used in banks, credit unions, and other money management businesses.

And lastly we have the MIXVAL model MV3, which is the professional all-in-one money counting solution. It is a bit larger still, but not too heavy or bulky so you can move it when needed. Integrated into the machine itself is a thermal printer to handle your serial number logging with ease; this means you don’t have to buy a separate printer to hook up to your machine, you just print straight from the same unit. It offers the same counterfeit detection as the MV2 with UV, IR, MG, and 2 CIS scanners. Plus, even though it offers the same cash counting speed as both models for sorted bills, the mixed speed is actually higher, at 1000bpm. This system can handle high volumes of counting, and also features two buckets so you can sort a specific type of bill away from the main stack. This machine is essentially three systems in one; a cash counter, a bill sorter, and a thermal printer. It is built with the durability to withstand heavy volumes of cash handling.

Each of these cash counting machines also offers a three-currency acceptance, allowing for the counting of USD, CAD, and MXN. These currencies cannot be mixed, but the machine will automatically detect which currency has been inserted and adjust the screen count accordingly. This means there is no more converting confusion or fiddling with change-over settings; just place your stack of either US, Canadian, or Mexican dollars into the hopper and it automatically adjusts for you.

They all also offer mixed bill counting, so you can place any variety of fives, twenties, tens, fifties, ones, or any other denomination into the hopper and let the machine do the counting for you. You do not have to pre-sort your bills and count one stack at a time; just place your entire stack into the hopper and you are good to go.

Both of the above features offer an important time-saver for your users, and can help with a quick ROI when you consider the payroll investment.

The MV1 and MV2 can be hooked up to a separate thermal printer, called the MVPR1. They have USB and SD ports for PC hookup and serial number tracking. The MV3, however, has a thermal printer built into the machine, so you can print your serial number log whenever you need.

Now that you have an overview of the primary differences and similarities for these cash counters, let’s compare some of the specifications, side-by-side, for an easy look at more pinpoint features.

 

Model	MV1	MV2	MV3
Intended User	Entry-Level	Bank-Grade	Professional, Bank-Grade
Accepted Currencies	USD ($/US Dollar) CAD (Can$/Canadian Dollar) MXN (Mex$/Mexican Peso)	USD ($/US Dollar) CAD (Can$/Canadian Dollar) MXN (Mex$/Mexican Peso)	USD ($/US Dollar) CAD (Can$/Canadian Dollar) MXN (Mex$/Mexican Peso)
Accepts Mixed Bills	Yes	Yes	Yes
Counterfeit Protection Measures	4-Step Process: UV, MG, IR, CIS	4-Step Process: UV, MG, IR, 2 CIS	4-Step Process: UV, MG, IR, 2 CIS
Speed	Adjustable; 800, 1,000, or 1,200 bills per minute	Adjustable; 800, 1,000, or 1,200 bills per minute	Adjustable; 800, 1,000, or 1,200 bills per minute
Speed (Mixed)	800 bills per minute	800 bills per minute	1,000  bills per minute
Serial Number Scanning	Yes	Yes	Yes
PC Hookup	Yes	Yes	Yes
Printer	Connectable, sold separately. Compatible with MVPR1 printer	Connectable, sold separately. Compatible with MVPR1 printer	Yes, integrated thermal printer
Pockets	1	1	2
Manufacturer’s Warranty	3 Year Limited	3 Year Limited	3 Year Limited
Dimensions	11.3” x 10.6” x 9.3”	10.8” x 9.3” x 11.2”	10.5” x 10.5” x 11.8”

 

 

If your business is looking for a more convenient, safe, and accurate way to count the money you take in, then MIXVAL has the solution for you. Whether you decide to keep it simple with the easy-to-use MV1, upgrade to bank-level counting with the MV2, or step it up even more with the built-in printer MV3 system, you are assured a top-quality machine built only with the best parts available. All of the MIXVAL money management machines are designed in the USA to meet the specific needs of US businesses. The various denominations they can handle from one unit, the mixed counting abilities of different value banknotes, and the impressive speed performances make MIXVAL the premier source for your next cash counting machine.