To eliminate a defect that image data is not correctly detected by the existence of a deformed part such as a wrinkle or a fold on the surface of the banknote when image data of the carried banknote is detected by an image sensor provided with light emitting elements and a light receiving element, in a banknote counting device which discriminates banknote kinds and tells the real from the false by an identifying and counting part in a process for feeding and carrying the banknotes one by one from the bundle of notes set in a hopper.

The device comprises: the hopper 1; a banknote feeding means 2; the identifying and counting part 4 for counting and identifying the banknotes respectively; a carrier passage 20 provided with a carrier mechanism 21 for horizontally carrying, to a stacker the banknotes supplied from the hopper; and a control part. The image sensor 56 constituting the identifying and counting part includes: the two light emitting elements 120 and 121 for emitting detection light onto the surface of the banknote; and the one light receiving element 122 which is arranged between the two light emitting elements to receive light emitting from each light emitting element and reflected against the banknote surface. The two light emitting elements and the one light receiving element are disposed on a straight line in a banknote carrying direction.