Security Features on Maltese Currency Notes

The following are some of the security features incorporated in Maltese currency notes:

Metallic Security Thread

Genuine notes have a windowed metallic security thread which runs from top to bottom on the right hand side of the note. This appears as a series of silver dashes on the front of the note, but is seen as a continuous line when viewed against the light.

The Watermark

The watermark which is a three dimensional image of an allegorical head found on the left hand side of the note, is recognisable for its sharpness and positive image when viewed against the light.

Pyramid Like Pattern

The Pyramid like pattern which appears on the back at the right hand side of genuine banknotes, is designed to confuse the 'electronic eye' of a colour scanner.

Tartan Design

Fine line patterns which appear on the front to the right hand side of the banknotes have been designed to confuse the reading mechanism of colour photocopiers which lack the resolution to reproduce accurately such structures.

Latent Image

The thickness of the ink layer deposited by the intaglio printing process permits the incorporation of a hidden image within the design. In our banknotes the letters BCM become legible.

On genuine banknotes the latent image incorporated on the front of the note at the bottom left hand corner is visible when viewed obliquely.

Micro Text Line

The intaglio process allows the reproduction of extremely fine detail. The micro text line will appear at first to the naked eye as a simple line. Closer inspection will render the text legible.

Optical Variable Ink

On the back of the Lm10 and Lm20 banknotes, on the lower right hand side, the denomination is printed in and over Optical Variable Ink respectively. This type of ink causes colour shifts when viewed from different angles. The colour shifts for the Lm20 is gold to green and for the Lm10 from green to blue.

Metallic Flourescent Ink

The wave like patterns shown to the left side of the banknote are printed in a metallic flourescent ink which gives a lustre and flouresces under ultra violet light.