Anti-photocopy among new features of RM50 note

Saturday December 22, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR: Certain features and background illustrations on the new RM50 note cannot be photocopied.

“This anti-photocopy feature is used in a few foreign currencies. With photocopy technology getting advanced, we needed to take cautionary measures,” said Bank Negara Governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz yesterday.

New and old: The reverse side of the new note (left) and the front of the old note.

Other security features are:

The watermark portrait can be recognised by tints that are lighter or darker than the surrounding paper. This watermark portrait has a three-dimensional effect, without sharp outlines. At the base of the watermark, the numeral 50 is visible;

The security thread is embedded in the paper and appears on the reserve side of the note as a silver dotted line. When the note is held against the light, it is seen as a continuous dark line and the text BNM RM50 can be read. When viewed under ultraviolet light, the thread is seen in various changing colours known as “rainbow effect”;

Micro letterings of “BNM RM50” can be viewed under a magnifying glass;

Invisible fluorescent elements can be seen through various elements on the background on both sides of the note. It will fluoresce in different colours when viewed under ultraviolet light;

Perfect see-through register feature – the graphic songket design will register perfectly with the same design on the reverse side when held against the light;

The multicoloured latent image of the denomination 50 can be seen when the banknote is tilted slightly and the colour changes when it is rotated; and

The holographic stripe features the denomination 50 and the hibiscus flower, with a multi-coloured pumping and matt-structure effect.

Bank Negara advised the public to take note of the security features and design of the new RM50 notes. For more information, go to www.bnm.gov.my.