Guidelines for detection of Fake Currency

Guidelines for detection of Fake Currency

Eleven Parameters toward detection of fake currency: -

ü Water Mark

ü Security thread

ü Intaglio Printing

ü Identification Mark

ü See Through Register

ü Anti Photocopy feature

ü Micro Lettering

ü Latent Image

ü Optical Fibers

ü Fluorescent Ink

ü Optical Variable Ink

Water Mark

            All Mahatma Gandhi Series bank notes contain Mahatma Gandhi and denomination water mark with a light and shade effect in the watermark window on the left hand side of the obverse side of the note. The portrait of Mahatma Gandhi the multidirectional lines and an electrolyte mark showing the denominational numeral “500” appear in this section and these can be viewed better when the banknote is held against light.

All notes which printed prior 2005 contain only Mahatma Gandhi water mark and no denomination water mark was there.

Security Thread

            Security thread features include notes of denomination 100/500/1000 a security thread of 3 mm alternately visible on obverse with Bharat (in Hindi) and RBI written on it. On the reverse it appears totally embedded. When held against light, the thread can be seen as one continuous line on notes of denominations 100/500/1000. Rs.10/20/50 notes contain a readable fully embedded windowed security thread. It will fluoresce on the obverse under ultraviolet light.

            All notes which printed prior 2005 contain silver thread and on or after 2005 it appear GREEN but would change to BLUE when the note is held at an angle.

Intaglio Printing

It is raised printing. Following features will be available in the raised printing it can be felt by touch: -

i)                   Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi

ii)                 Reserve Bank Seal

iii)               Guarantee Clause

iv)               Promise Clause

v)                 Reserve Bank of India on top of the note

vi)               Ashoka pillar emblem on the left

vii)             RBI Governor’s signature

viii)           Identification mark.

Identification Mark

            An ID for each note is in the form of a geometrical shape –(Rs.20 –Vertical Rectangle, Rs.50 –Square, Rs.100 –Triangle, Rs.500 –Circle, Rs.1000 –Diamond). A special feature in intaglio on the left of the water mark window on all notes of Rs.20 and above. It helps visually impaired to identify the denomination. It can be felt by touch.

See Through Register

            It is a flower like design and located on the left side of the note and above identification mark. It is an additional security feature where printing requires perfect registration between front and back. When held against light denomination of note is visible.

            All notes which printed on or after 2005 half the numeral is printed on the obverse and half on the reverse. Both the printed portions have an accurate back to back registration so that the numeral appears as one when viewed against light. Prior 2005 there was only flower like design is appears.

Anti Photocopying Feature

            It is feature in all notes which cannot be replicated by photocopiers like water mark, micro lettering, latent image etc.

            All notes which printed prior 2005, the feature was available only in denomination of 500/1000 but on or after 2005 it is available 50 and above denomination.

Micro Lettering

            It is feature in all notes that RBI and/or denominations written in micro letters not visible to naked eyes between Mahatma Gandhi portrait and vertical band (carrying latent image) on the right side of the obverse of the note. It contains RBI only in the case of Rs.10. The notes of Rs.20 and above contain denomination and RBI in micro letters. It can be viewed with the help of a magnifying glass in the zone between the Mahatma Gandhi portrait and the vertical band.

Latent Image

            It is a image hidden in the vertical band on the right hand side of Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait on the obverse of the note. It shows the respective denomination value in numeral and is visible only when the note is held horizontally at eye level and viewed between 30to 45 degrees. It cannot be replicated by photocopiers.

Optical Fibers

            Number panels and optical fibers in the note shine when seen under U/V Lamp (Blue Light). These fibers are scattered in whole note.

Fluorescent Ink

            Fluorescent features of the notes are number panels ink and optical fibers in the    paper. It shines in red when seen under U/V Lamp (Blue Light). All notes which printed on or after 2005 it shine in dual colour.

Optical Variable Ink

            It is incorporated in Rs.1000/500 with revised colour scheme. The humeral in the centre on the obverse of the note is printed in optically variable ink. Colour of the numeral changes. Then the note is held flat it appears ‘Green’ but would change to ‘Blue’ when the note is held at an angle.

            It is being used which notes printed on or after 2005.