Security features of the modern Russian banknotes
(with the example of 500 roubles issued in 2001)
(1)
Element of variable colour - the emblem of Central Bank of Russia. When looking straight at the banknote, it's colour is golden; at a different angle it becomes green (available only on 500 and 1000 roubles).
(2)
Russian banknotes of 1997 and 2001 all have a security thread of insider type (not visible on the surface of a note). The thread has CBR 500 inscriptions on it.
(3)
The background ornament of the Russian roubles is a complex one. It is of various types - offset printing (on the pic), overlapping layers of different colours, gradient coloured ornament.
(4)
Most of the dark claret drawings on the banknote are made in the technique of intaglio printing. They are raised above the note and can be felt with fingertips. It's achieved by a high pressure applying a thick layer of paint.
(5)
Banknote number is always unique. Russian banknote numbers go in the following format AA 0000000, and the letters can be small and capital.
(6)
Watermarks on the serie of Russian notes issued in 1997 and 2001 depict the main element of the notes, and the denomination. Main element is displayed in the larger field and denomination appears in the smaller one.
(7)
Hairlike fibres of different colours are present all over the banknote. They glow under the UV rays with different colours.
(8)
Latent image that appears visible when a banknote is held at one angle to the light, shows the letters PP (RR) standing for the Russian Rouble.
(9)
Matching elements on the Russian notes are quite large: the vertical line with the ornament comes in full height of the note - such thing rarely appeares on other countries' money.
(10)
The lines and dots in the lower left corner of the banknote are a mark for the visually impaired people. It's raised above the note and can be felt with fingertips. Each denomination has it's own mark so that it can identify the note.
(11)
Several elements on the obverse are made with silver glittering paint - like the "500" inscription in the lower left corner and the lower right. This paint also glows bright under UV rays.
(12)
All general images on the banknotes have very many details and are extremely difficult to counterfeit. This refers both to obverses and reverses.
(13)
Microtext positive line goes in the top row on the reverse, and it reads as a continious line of "500" inscription. Can be viewed with a magnifying glass only - the letters are 0.25mm high.
(14)
Microtext negative line goes in the bottom rows on the reverse, and it reads as a continious line of "CBR500" inscription. Can be viewed with a magnifying glass only - the letters are also 0.25mm high.
(15)
Tone lines on the banknotes are polygonal sections on the reverse. The lines go at different angles there and such positioning makes the copying equipment draw spectacular "rainbow" lines instead.
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