Protective elements – CZK 2000 – 1999 and 1996 versions
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A detailed general description of protective elements visible in daylight, with illustrative examples of individual elements on the 2000 CZK note, 1999 version
- Watermark
- Windowed thread with microtext
- Coloured fibres
- Front-to-back register
- Latent image
- Colour-shifting ink
- Iridescent strip
- Microtext
1. Watermark
face side reverse side
The watermark is clearly visible when the banknote is held against the light. A “localised” stepped watermark (i.e. a combination of positive watermarks – visible as dark areas – and negative watermarks – visible as light areas – with various shades between the darkest and lightest parts) is used. The watermark is located in the middle of the wide unprinted margin and consists of the portrait of Ema Destinnová as depicted on the banknote. When viewed from the face side of the banknote, the watermark portrait is mirror reversed.
2. Windowed thread with microtext
face side through-view
The windowed thread is a strip of metallic plastic embedded into the paper of the banknote. On the banknote’s face side it protrudes in six places from the surface. These “windows” of silvery colour are each 5 mm long and bear a readable negative microtext indicating the banknote’s nominal value. When the banknote is viewed, only the protruding part of the strip on the face side is visible. When viewed against the light, the whole strip is visible on both sides as a continuous dark line with the microtext “2000 Kč” showing through.
3. Coloured fibres
Orange fibres, 6 mm long, embedded in the paper and visible to the naked eye. They can best be seen on the white unprinted margins of the banknote.
4. Front-to-back register
face side reverse side through-view
On each side of the banknote only a portion of this mark is visible. The complete mark, with precisely matching individual lines, is visible when the banknote is viewed against the light. The front-to-back register is a circular mark. It is created by the letter “C”, with an interposed letter “S” for the 1996 version, and by a similarly composed pair of letters “ČR” for the 1999 version.
5. Latent image
The latent image becomes visible only when the banknote is tipped horizontally at eye level and held against a light source. It consists of figures indicating the banknote’s denomination. When the banknote is looked at transversally (the long side nearer the eyes), a positive (dark) pattern is visible, and when viewed longitudinally (the short side nearer the eyes), a negative (light) pattern is visible. The latent image is located on the banknote’s face side in the decoration on the portrait’s shoulder.
6. Colour-shifting ink
This protective element is based on an optical effect. The colour of the strings of the lyre printed with special ink changes depending on the position of the banknote when held against incidental light. The colour normally visible on the face side of the note changes colour from gold to green when the note is tipped against the light.
7. Iridescent strip
face side against the light
The iridescent strip is about 20 mm wide and located on the face side close to the right-hand margin of the banknote. It is straight and monochrome. At first glance, it seems to be transparent with a slight ochre hue. When the banknote is tipped against the light, the strip gains a slight gold hue with a metallic reflection. Negative (i.e. light) figures 2000 are on the iridescent strip to the right. When the banknote is tipped, the figures appear dark on the glossy strip. The iridescent strip is absent from the 1996 version.
8. Microtext
face side reverse side
The microtext is printed in both offset and intaglio printing. Microtext in the form of words indicating the banknote’s denomination outlines from above the field of the latent image on the face side, and microtext in the form of figures indicating the banknote’s denomination is also located to the right of the portrait in the strip of basic colour near the right-hand white margin. On the reverse side, microtext is also concealed in the strip of basic colour between the state symbol and the right-hand margin, consisting of words indicating the denomination. More microtext in the form of figures indicating the banknote’s denomination is located inside the capital D to the left.