Annual Report 2004

Integration of Payment Services in Europe and Consolidation
of Cash Distribution Structures in Austria
Verifying security
features without
special equipment
feits. In this respect, the OeNB (and
its subsidiaries) focus on
— producing high-quality banknotes
and coins (Oesterreichische
Banknoten- und Sicherheitsdruck
GmbH — OeBS; Mu‹nze O‹ sterreich
Aktiengesellschaft);
— continuallycheckingtheauthenticity
of the banknotes and coins
in circulation (GELDSERVICE
AUSTRIA Logistik fu‹r Wertgestionierung
und Transportkoordination
G.m.b.H. — GSA); and
— educating professional cash handlers
(cashiers at banks and retailers;
the police) and the general
public about the euro.
How to Check the Validity of Euro Banknotes
Feel
Run your finger over the front of the banknote and you
will feel the print to be raised in some parts. As a result of
intaglio printing methods, the initials of the European
Central Bank, the value numerals and the motifs of windows
and gateways will feel rough to the touch.
Look
Look at the banknote and hold it up to the light: the
watermark, the security thread and the see-through register
will then be visible. All three features can be seen from
the front and the reverse side of genuine banknotes.
Tilt
Tilt EUR 5, EUR 10 and EUR 20 banknotes to see the
moving image on the hologram stripe applied to the front
of the banknote: the hologram image will change between
the value and the € symbol. On the reverse side, if you tilt
the banknote, you can see a glossy gold-colored stripe.
Tilt EUR 50, EUR 100, EUR 200 and EUR 500 banknotes
to see the moving image on the hologram patch applied to
the front of the banknote: the hologram image will change
between the value and a window or doorway. On the
reverse side, if you tilt the banknote, you can see a colorshifting
ink feature, i.e. the value numeral in the right-hand
corner shifting color from purple to olive green or brown.
The OeBS prints the share of euro
banknotesallocatedtotheOeNBin
close coordination with the ECB
and the printing works of the other
euro area countries. A top priority
in producing euro banknotes has been
the integration of security features
anyone can check without special
equipment. People run a lower risk
of accepting counterfeit banknotes
when they know what the genuine
banknotes look like and when they
take the time to verify a few security
features. It pays to tilt the euro banknotes
to check for moving images and
color-shifting ink features, and to
watch out for the unique feel of bank-
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Annual Report 2004
Box 5