Reserve Bank guide to fake banknotes
A holographic window, raised ink, and shining bar on the country’s newer bright banknotes are helping keep counterfeit rates low here, the Reserve Bank says.
But being able to properly identify the notes, which slowly went into circulation from late 2015, is an important part of their security.
The Reserve Bank has therefore released a video to identify the security features on its bright banknotes.
The key message was to look, feel and tilt the notes: an approach used by central banks around the world.
A holographic window on the notes should have a map of the country, a bird’s silhouette, and a threedimensional feature of its value, all within the smooth edges of the window.
People should be able to feel raised ink on the denomination and letters at the top, while tilting the note should roll a bright shining bar across the bird’s silhouette and shift the colours in the holographic window to reveal fine details.
The Reserve Bank’s head of currency, property and security, Steve Gordon, said being able to identify the bright banknote was important to maintaining the country’s low counterfeit rate.
‘‘New Zealand has a low counterfeit rate by international standards and the bank wants to keep it that way.
‘‘One of the ways we can do this is by ensuring the public know how to identify the security features on our banknotes.’’
New Zealand’s newer $5 note was named Banknote of the Year in an international competition last April at the International Bank Note Society’s annual meeting.
The new banknotes were designed and are printed by Canadian Banknote Company in Canada. –Stuff