The Philippine Currency- How to Detect Counterfeit Bangko Sentral

Notes and Coins

The paper currencies are quite difcult to counterfeit. Security features
have been incorporated into the design. One of the best methods therefore,
of detecting a counterfeited bills it to compare it to a bill known to be
genuine. Key points to notice in detecting angko Sentral !ounterfeited
"otes and !oins is to study and familiari#e ourselves with the characteristics.
$esigns and distinct features of S% banknotes and coins by following these
steps&
A. BSP Notes
Steps in recognizing genuine BSP Bank Notes:
- PAPE
!eel the paper-The genuine note is printed on a special kind of
paper which is rough when you run your 'ngers through it. (t does
not glow under the ultra)violet light. $uring paper manufacture, the
watermark, security 'bers, security threads and iridescent band
are included.
- "ATE#A$ *a+
E%a&ine the water&ark on the unprinted portion of the
note- The watermark is the silhouette of the portrait appearing on
the face of the note. Sharp details of the light and shadow e,ect
can be seen when the note is viewed against the light. The
contours of the features of the silhouette can be felt by running the
'ngers over the design on relatively new notes.
- SEC'(T) !(BES
(nspect the security *+ers , -mbedded red and blue visible
'bers are scattered at random on both surfaces of a genuine note
and can be readily picked o, by means of any pointed instrument.
- E#BEDDED SEC'(T) THEAD -+.
/iew the e&+edded security thread , The embedded security
thread is a special thread vertically implanted o, center of the note
during paper manufacture. This can easily be seen when the note is
viewed against the light. (t appears as a broken line for ./s, 01/s
and 21/s and straight line for .1/s, 011/s, 211/s, .11/s and 0111/s.
- "(ND0"ED SEC'(T) THEAD -c.
/iew the windowed security thread on the i&pro1ed 1ersion
of 2334s5 6334s and 2333-piso notes and the new 733-piso
notes8 3 The windowed security thread is a narrow security thread
vertically located like 4stitches5 at the face of the note with
clearte6t of the numerical value in repeated sequence and changes
in color from magenta to green or green to magenta depending on
the angle of view.
- ((DESCENT BAND -d.
9ook for the iridescent +and on the i&pro1ed 1ersion of
2334s5 6334s and 2333-piso notes and the new 733-piso
notes 3 7 wide glistening gold vertical stripe with the numerical
value printed in series.
- P0TA(T -e.
ecogni:e the portrait 3 7ppears life)like. The eyes 4sparkle5.
Shadings are formed by the 'ne lines that give the portrait a
characteristic facial e6pression which is e6tremely difcult to
replicate.
- SE(A9 N'#BE -f.
Check the serial nu&+er 3 !omposed of 0 or 2 pre'6 letters and
8 or 9 digits. The letters and numerals are uniform in si#e and
thickness, evenly spaced and well)aligned: and glow under the
ultra)violet light. 7 banknote with si6 415 digit serial number is a
specimen note and not legal tender note.
- BAC$;0'ND<9ACE"0$ DES(;N -g.
Scan the +ackground<lacework design 3 The background
designs are made up of multicolored and well de'ned lines. The
lacework designs are composed of web)crisscrossing lines which
are continuous and traceable even at the intersection.
- /(;NETTE -h.
/erify the 1ignette 3 The lines and dashes composing the
vignette are 'ne, distinct and sharp: the varying color tone gives a
vivid look to the picture that makes it 4stand out5 of the paper.
- /A9'E PANE9 -i.
Check the nu&erals found at the four corners of the front
and +ack of the note8 The numerals denote the denomination of
the note.
- C090
ecogni:e predo&inant color of each deno&ination=
0111)piso lue .1)piso ;ed
.11)piso <ellow 21)piso Orange
211)piso =reen 011)piso >auve
01)piso? rown .)piso? =reen
*The BSP has stopped printing these
banknotes and are being replaced by coins;
however, the existing 10 and !piso notes
remain legal tender"
- !9'0ESCENT P(NT(N; ->.
9ook for the presence of the ?uorescent print when the
note is e%posed under the ultra 1iolet light , The @uorescent
print is the invisible numerical value located o, center of the face
of the note that glows when e6posed to ultraviolet light.
- #(C0P(NT(N; -k.
/erify under the lens the presence of the &icroprinting on
the deno&inations 635 2335 7335 633 and 2333 3
>icroprintings are the minute and 'nely printed words 4angko
Sentral ng %ilipinas5 or 4!entral ank of the %hilippines5 located at
the face or back of the note that are clearly printed and readable.
- C0NCEA9ED /A9'E -l.
Check the concealed 1alue on the 633-piso deno&ination ,
This concealed value is located at the lower left corner of the face
of the note and is recogni#able when the note is held at eye level8
- 0PT(CA99) /A(AB9E (N$ -&.
Check the optically 1aria+le ink on the 2333-piso
deno&ination, (t changes color from green to blue or blue to
green when the note is held at di,erent angles.
BSP Banknotes
B. Coins