Counterfeit Detection

Security Features

So far we have learnt all about the printing processes that are used to produce a bank note. In some respects the printing itself is a security feature..... but what do we mean by a security feature?

A security feature is an element within the note which is difficult to reproduce, ie an anti counterfeit measure.

There are four categories of security features

Substrate Features	Design Features	Ink Features	Shiny Features
Paper Watermark Threads Embedded features Plastic	Rainbow Printing Anti Copy See through Microtext Intaglio Detail Latent Image Blind Embossing Blind recognition	Colour Chioce Fluorescence Metallics Metamerics Magnetics OVI Iridescent Coating	Holograms Foils

No one security feature will ever give complete protection against counterfeiting but combining them can result in a note that becomes more difficult and time consuming to reproduce.

It is an ongoing process to develop new ways to protect against counterfeiting, to keep pace with the technology available to do so. Most countries will redesign their notes fairly frequently, allowing new security measures to be incorporated within them.

It is also very important that the features stand the test of time and every day wear and tear that currency encounters.