Counterfeit detection
- Details of the Security features
- Quick test with feeling
- Quick test with tilting
- Videos for download
The counterfeits being spread at present can be detected by checking the security features. In most cases, counterfeiters focus on just one or only few security features. Therefore, it is advisable to check several features.
Banknote-"paper" consists of cotton. It feels crisp and firm. With some experience, genuine money can be detected just by the feel of the paper.
Details of the Security features
Please chose a banknote (front or reverse) by clicking on the image:
| Banknote | front side | reverse side |
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| 5 Euro | 
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| 5 Euro - second series (in circulation as of 2 May 2013) | 
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| 10 Euro | 
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| 20 Euro | 
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| 50 Euro | 
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| 100 Euro | 
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| 200 Euro | 
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| 500 Euro | 
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Quick test with feeling
For the "Feel"-test it is important where to take hold of the banknote. Take the banknote with thumb and index on the trapezoid field (see green arrow) to feel a strong raised printing. As you will have to adjust the orientation of the banknote anyway, use the second hand to draw the banknote, making the copyright line BCE, ECB, EZB, EKT, EKP slip between the fingers of the first hand.
Trapezoid field
(Source: Bundesbank)
Copyright line
(Source: Bundesbank)
Quick test with tilting
Depending on the situation, you might want to check a banknote discreetly, because you don’t want your customer to notice the check. Whereas the quick test itself can be done in fractions of a second, you must prepare by having a close look at some selected security features. The quick test consists of two separate parts: Tilt and Feel.
Each banknote has a "Tilt”-feature on the front and on the reverse side: A hologram on the front side and a colour-changing feature on the reverse side. Therefore, always a "Tilt”-feature is visible. Begin to look at the banknote when your vis-à-vis starts passing the banknote. When he stretches his arm, the viewing angle on the banknote changes. Often you can check the money before even touching it.
However, if the banknote was folded or you could not see the "Tilt"-feature for any other reason, then you have to unfold and adjust the orientation anyway. You should be able to include a discreet tilting in this movement while looking at the banknote.
Even marginal tilting is enought to see the colour change of the OVI (optical variable ink, 50 € - 500 €) or the iriodine stripe (5 € - 20 €). However, this way not all characteristics of the hologram can be checked in all detail. Therefore, you should focus on watching concentric cicles of prismatic colours moving inward or outward in the hologram of a 50 € - 500 €. On the 5 € - 20 € banknotes, the prismatic colours in the hologram stripe move upward and downward.
With some practise you should be able to include the "Tilt"-test into normal banknote acceptance movements.