Banknote Production and Security Features
"Banknotes are legal tender for all debts, public and private" Therefore, in order to maintain its reliability as medium of exchange, "banknotes" are to be produced with particularly anti-counterfeit features. Banknote patterns are specially designed with distinctive characteristics in the hope that people can easily recognize.
Three easy-to-follow methods to distinguish genuine national banknotes from counterfeit ones include FEEL, LOOK and TILT.
1. The Banknote Paper
The Banknote Paper is made of special paper manufactured from cotton fiber which makes it tougher and more durable. The thickness of each banknote denomination is differentiated allowing the distinctively tactile feel to the touch.
Series 17 Series 16
2. Raised Print
This happens when the specially designed printing press comes into contact with the banknote paper and the ink is forcibly drawn from the plate onto the paper under very high pressure. This process, called Intaglio, results in raised print and produces high quality clearly defined images. Intaglio printing is suitable for printing some areas requiring raised print such as the portrait of His Majesty the King or the numbers identifying value.
Raised prints can be easily sensed in the area of the royal emblem, the word “รัฐบาลไทย” (Thai Government), denomination in words and numerals .
Series 17 Series 16
HM the King's portrait watermark and the translucent denomination can be clearly observed on both sides when viewing the note against the light.
4. See-through Register
Such feature, a completed front and back registered design, is printed by a specially designed printing press at the dry offset printing stage. This printing press is able to print color patterns on both sides of the sheets simultaneously, which can be seen by viewing the design against the light.
5. Latent Numbers
The hidden Arabic numerals in the elaborate patterned are on the lower left corner of every banknote. These latent numbers can be seen when the note is viewed from the lower left corner towards the middle part of the note
Series 16 (500 Baht and 1000 Baht)
6. Special Ink
Metallic Glitter Ink
On the 100-baht banknote, the Thai ornament printed with a metallic glitter ink, will sparkle dazzlingly upon tilting.
Dynamic Color-shifting Ink
On the 500-baht and 1000-baht denominations, Thai ornaments with the denomination numerals is printed with special ink , when tilting the note, there will be a moving effect of geometric pattern and color changing from gold to green.
On the 500-baht and 1000-baht denominations, Thai ornaments are printed vertically with yellowish iridescent ink.
7. Security Thread (Metallic Color Thread)
The color-shifting security thread is embedded in every banknote. When held up against the light, the whole thread becomes visible. It also contains numerals and letters denoting the banknote’s denomination.
8. Metallic Hologram Foil stripe
On the front side of 100, 500 and 1000 Baht denominations, metallic hologram foil stripe is vertically embedded in the left of the note. Such foil stripe with indicating values can be seen in different reflecting colors and in various dimensions, when the note is flipped back and forth and viewed at different angles.
Banknote Examination Using Device
9. Special features visible under ultraviolet light
The solid distinguishing mark in the middle of banknote, denomination numerals, serial numbers become visible. The fibers embedded in the paper become visible in yellow, red and blue.
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