An identification method and apparatus for
paper sheet statistically
process information representing characteristics of a
bank note, condense these to a smaller number of characteristics, and determine the authenticity of the
bank note by using these characteristics. The method for identifying a
paper sheet comprises separately carrying out (a) a detecting step and (b) a
processing step, which are described below, for a genuine
paper sheet note and a paper sheet to be checked, creating reference data based on the detecting step and the
processing step carried out for the genuine note, and deter the authenticity of the paper sheet to be checked by comparing the data detected therefrom with the reference data. The identification apparatus for paper sheet, comprises
signal creating units D, LD, PD, IV, AD and M, which create a plurality of pattern signals to be checked for a plurality of physical characteristics representing a pattern which is printed on the paper sheet in a predetermined region thereof; a
processing unit J1; and a reference
data storing unit R and a determining unit J2.