New banknotes bearing the signature of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. start circulating this month, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
Marcos’ signature appears for the first time in new P20, P50, P100, P500 and P1,000 bills. Of course, the 17th president of the Philippines did not sign each piece, which is impossible. Instead, a copy of his signature is replicated by the millions through a printing machine.
Coincidentally, United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s signature starts appearing for the first time in US dollars. Yellen did not sign each bill, which bears just a copy of her signature.
Other famous people like actors, athletes, and singers also give their signature to fans but in a personal way, by writing it down themselves in autographs. Autographing poses a challenge, however, to celebrities with millions of fans. Such stars can personally sign only a few autographs.
Defying the task to please fans, and sell mementos, is music legend Bob Dylan. The “Blowing in the Wind” composer and singer gamely agreed to autograph each of his new, limited-edition book, Philosophy of Modern Song, for its 900 buyers.
Each copy of Philosophy of Modern Song is worth $599 and Dylan hand-signing it was a gesture of thanks to fans. Unfortunately, those who bought the autographed books were not pleased. Comparing their signed books online, they deduced that Dylan’s signatures were all identical, CNN reported.
Fans expressed their outrage at being duped on social media, forcing Dylan to issue an apology through his Facebook page.
In his post last 26 November, the musician revealed that a “bad case of vertigo” prevented him from being able to sign the books himself, according to CNN.
Dylan admitted that his signature on the books were made by an autopen, a device that automatically writes a signature.
Publisher Simon & Schuster also issued a statement confirming Dylan did not hand-sign some copies of the book, released earlier this month, and promised customers a refund, CNN said.