A security gate mechanism for a currency handling apparatus having a currency passageway includes a rotatable gate having a slit therein. The slit is aligned with the currency passageway when the rotatable gate is in an initial position. A drive wheel is coupled to the rotary gate for driving the rotatable gate in first and second directions, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction. A positioning member is selectively engageable with the drive wheel for positioning the rotatable gate in the initial position such that the slit in the rotatable gate is substantially aligned with the passageway. The positioning member is arranged to be engageable with the drive wheel when the drive wheel rotates the rotatable gate in the second direction, but it is not engageable with the drive wheel when the drive wheel rotates the rotatable gate in the first direction.