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SECURITY FEATURES OF CURRENCY NOTES/

PRIZE BONDS

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The Objective

Provide knowledge of Security Features of Currency Notes

Provide a little technical knowledge about the Printing process

To discuss the differentiating features of Currency Notes / Prize Bonds

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Security Features

There are three categories of security features:

Paper Features Design Features Ink Features

• Paper• Watermark• Threads• Embedded features

• Rainbow Print• See through• Micro text

• Color Choice• Fluorescence• Metallic• Optical Variable Ink (OVI)

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Security Features:

- Water Mark- Security Threads- Small Particles- Portraits- Security Fibers

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Paper Features

Banknote paper is made from cotton . Its has better durability and a very distinctive

feel. Under Ultra Violet light it is dull/non

fluorescent.

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Paper Types

Characteristics Security Paper Commercial Paper

Made of Cotton Wood / grass

Weight/ Grammage High Low

Life Long short

Ultra Violet Lamp(U.V.L)

Non-Fluorescent Usually Fluorescent

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Paper Types

Characteristics Security Paper Commercial Paper

Stiff/Smooth Comparatively Strong

Smooth

Rough/Soft Rough Soft

Folding Endurance

Greater Lesser

Colour Usually Off-White

White / Bright etc.

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WATER MARK

– Made during the production of papers.

– A critical security feature of banknote.– Image can been seen against light.

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Security Threads

Simple ThreadMicro Printed ThreadsMicro Printed Fluorescent to U.V.L.Color Shift Security Thread

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SECURITY THREAD

Two types of threads embedded within the paper.

One is visible (window thread) & the other is invisible.

(Specimen)

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SECURITY THREADS

In new design notes, all security threads are micro printed with den. of notes and are fluorescent under UV light.

Rs.10 Yellow, Rs.20 Bright Yellow, Rs.100 Blue & Green, Rs.500 Yellow & Pinkish Red, Rs.1000 Yellow Turquoise and Rs.5000 Yellow & Blue.

Thickness of Security Threads:Rs.10 & 20 (1.2 mm), Rs.100 & 500 (1.5 mm) and Rs.1000 & 5000 (2 mm).

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EMBEDDED FEATURES

Security Hilites:The security hilites appear in National

Prize Bonds. Hilites of various colors i.e. green, red, yellow & blue can be seen under UV light in denominations of Rs.1500, Rs.7500 & Rs.40,000 Prize Bonds.

Security Fibers:Invisible color security fibers are

fluorescent under UVL in Currency Notes and Prize Bonds.

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Design Feature Rainbow Printing

• Each color printed during the litho process require a different printing plate.

• Possible to divide the ink duct feeding plate into various sections and place different colors side by side.

• The printing process, inking rollers, oscillates leads to a natural blending of the colors.

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Design Features

Rainbow Design.Continuous Offset Background with line

thickness & color graduation.Geometrical Patterns:Decorative Ornamental Pattern appear at

the front & back of the notes.Anti copy / Anti scan area.Raised lines appear at a extreme right &

left of the notes (Rs.20 & above).

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Design Feature Rainbow Printing

Latent Image.Braille Features.Micro Text.Guarantee & Promissory Clause.Vignette.Intaglio Tip High Tactility Pattern.

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Micro Printing

Tiny messages can be worked into designs and printed by both the intaglio and litho printing processes.

Difficult for forger and protection against forgery.

(Specimen)

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Ink Features

Provides security and not available commercially

High performance and be very resistant to environmental conditions such as sunlight, heat, moisture, etc.

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Fluorescent Inks

Materials that fluoresce under UV light can be added to most inks. They can be incorporated into a visible or invisible design element. This when viewed under UV light is fluorescent.

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Metallic Inks

Metallic inks produce a sheen effect when printed as compared to the matt effect seen with other inks.

They are generally used in large areas of soiled color so that their effect is maximized.

They offer good protection from color copy counterfeiting.

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Optical Variable Inks (OVI)Optical Variable Inks (OVI) changes colors, when

the viewing angle is changed. It is an expensive ink and is generally used in a small

portion of note. Unique protection against counterfeiting. It is used in

Rs. 40,000/- Prize Bond & Rs. 5000/, Rs. 1,000/, and Rs. 500/- den. notes only.

(Specimen)

Rs. 40,000 Prize Bond Rs. 5,000 Note

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RS.10 BANK NOTE (Old Design)

Furnish

100% cotton rag, 95 GMS Cylinder Mould-made Water Mark paper.

Watermark

Three-dimensional Quaid-i-Azam portrait.

Security Thread

1.0 mm Silver Thread.

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RS.10 BANK NOTE (New Design)

Furnish 100% cotton based.

WatermarkPortrait of Quaid-i-Azam in National Dress .(Sherwani).

Micro Text Security ThreadWords “State Bank of Pakistan” & denom. “10” can be seen embedded thread. Security thread appears fluorescent yellow under U.V.L.

Year of ProductionYear of production appears at the right side of the note.

VignetteKhyber Pass, Peshawar forms the vignette of the note.

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(Specimen)

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RS. 20/- BANK NOTE

Furnish 100% cotton based.

Colour : Brown

WatermarkPortrait of Quaid-i-Azam in National Dress.

Micro Text Security ThreadWords “State Bank of Pakistan” & denom. “20”

can be seen embedded thread. Security thread appears fluorescent yellow under U.V.L.

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RS. 20/- BANK NOTE

Year of ProductionYear of production appears at the right side of the note.

VignetteMohen-jo-Daro, Larakana forms the vignette of the note.

Braille Feature: A raised line appears horizontally at the left side which

enable the visually impaired persons to recognize the value of the note.

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RS. 50/- BANK NOTE

Furnish

100% cotton rag, 95% GSM Cylinder Mould made Water Mark paper.

Watermark: Three-dimensional Quaid-i-Azam portrait.

Security Thread 1.0 mm Silver Thread.

Other Security Features

Small Particles of different shapes are printed on the

front side of the Note.

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RS. 100/- BANK NOTE

Furnish100% cotton rag,95 GSM Cylinder Mould- made Water Mark paper.

WatermarkThree-dimensional Quaid-i-Azam portrait.

Security Thread 1.0mm Silver Thread.Other Security Features

Small Particles of different shapes are printed on the front side of the Note.

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RS. 500/- BANK NOTE

Furnish

100% cotton rage, 95 GSM Cylinder Mould-made Water Mark paper.

Water Mark

Three-dimensional Quaid-i-Azam portrait.

Security Thread

1.2 mm Micro printed florescent to U.V.L. Thread

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RS. 1000/- BANK NOTE

Furnish

100% cotton rag,95 GSM Cylinder Mould- made Water Mark paper.

Watermark

Three-dimensional Quaid-i-Azam portrait.

Security Thread

1.2 mm Micro printed florescent to U.V.L. Thread.

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RS.1000/- BANK NOTETwo half circles of orange color, each on right

and left side of the note, fluorescent to U.V.L.One round shape in the centre of the note

fluorescent to U.V.L.Portrait of Quaid-i-Azam, is printed with

invisible ink in the centre of the note, which is fluorescent under U.V.Lamp.

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RS. 5000/- BANK NOTEFurnish

100% cotton based.

Colour : Mustard

Watermark

Portrait of Quaid-i-Azam in National Dress.

The denom.of the note appears below the portrait of Quaid-i-Azam.

Window Security ThreadPartially embedded window security thread into the paper runs from top to

bottom at the front left side of the Banknote denom. Numeral “5000” can be seen in thread. The thread appears as sliver dashes. The security thread appears fluorescent yellow & blue under U.V.L.

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RS. 5000 BANK NOTE

Braille Feature: Three raised circles appear vertically at the left side which

enable the visually impaired persons to recognize the value of the note.

Year of ProductionYear of production appears at the right side of the note.

VignetteFaisal Mosque, Islamabad appears vertically at the left bottom of the

note.

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(Specimen)

FORGED PRODUCTION

Methods: Camera, Printing, Scanning, Coloured Photocopying.

Defects of Forged Notes/Prize Bonds: Dotted Printing, No Abrasiveness, Fully Fluorescent, No See Through.

Forged Water Mark and Security Features Light:

Colors Wax, Fluorescent Ink, Dull Ink in Reverse Between Two Sheets, Embossing Water Mark.

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