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Incidence of counterfeit and damaged Czech banknotes

The Czech National Bank points out that Czech banknotes have been counterfeited in the Czech Republic, so-called innovated issue 500 CZK pattern 2009 and 1 000 CZK pattern 2008, which are imitated by a protective strip by sticking fragments from the right protective strip of lower denomination banknotes (100 CZK model 2018 and CZK 500 design 2009).


Counterfeit banknotes 500 CZK pattern 2009 and 1 000 CZK pattern 2008

So far, counterfeits have occurred only in small quantities, and only in Moravia (Olomouc, Sumperk, Brno, Ostrava) can they quickly spread to a greater number of other regions. In the other parameters, counterfeits are not of good quality, in the five-degree scale they are ranked 4 as less successful, only one type is rated 3 as successful.

Counterfeits are printed by inkjet printing instead of a combination of depth printing, area printing, and high print, so the counterfeit pattern is not composed of print lines, but the structure of ink droplets. Instead of spot colors characteristic of genuine banknotes (eg brown and red for 500 CZK, purple and yellow for 1,000 CZK, etc.), the counterfeit pattern always consists of four identical colors - cyan, magenta, yellow and black.


Three different details of the right banknote and counterfeit print pattern

The basic security features are either totally absent and not imitated (watermark, hidden image, iris print), or are printed simultaneously with the banknote pattern and thus lack their distinctive features (optically variable feature does not change color, registration mark as seen against light on face) and underside). The microtexts are unreadable, nor are the security elements in the ultraviolet and infrared light spectrum imitated.

Detail of the protective strip on the right banknote of CZK 1,000 (CNB microtext CZK 1,000) and counterfeit CZK 1,000 (CNB microtext CZK 100). The different horizontal and vertical positions of the security strip against the print pattern and the different microtext on the portions of the security strip exiting the paper surface are the technological nature of making genuine banknote paper;

Independently of these counterfeits, the Czech National Bank also recorded the occurrence of genuine banknotes of the so-called innovated issue of CZK 100 design 2018 and CZK 500, of which the protective strip was partially or completely removed by cutting out some or all of its protruding portions on the paper surface ( the whole of the banknote. The two remaining parts of the banknote were then glued together or presented as non-genuine. It cannot be ruled out that the stripes removed in this way were used on counterfeit notes of higher denominations. The damaged banknotes were then put into circulation for payments for goods and services, or attempts were made to exchange them as commonly damaged money.


Genuine 100 CZK banknotes with partially and completely removed protective strip

100 CZK banknotes glued from two parts from the left and right edges without the middle part with a protective strip. According to the natural fluctuation of the protective strip, the place of cut and sticking (red arrows) on individual specimens is different.
Source: cnb.cz

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