EEVblog #117 – Renesas Devcon 2010 Day 1

[Rhythmtech]

Dave are you genuinely mad at the US? Polymer vs paper currency seems like such an inane use of your brain power. The polymer money does look way cool, and has all kinds of security features that would be quite difficult to defeat. Not sure if I am down with it being made from a non renewable material though. 

[Mechatrommer]

i suck polymer (plastic like) money! i prefer the paper. once the plastic got folded, its very difficult to get it back straight. we use that kind of plastic money on our RM5 note only, the other still use paper and smell good as well. the plastic is odorless, and again, sux!

[Bored@Work]

There is a third technology for notes: fabric. More exactly, cotton. The Euro notes are made from 100% pure cotton fiber.

[JohnS_AZ]

I think most, if not all, the content of US currency is cotton rag.

[Mechatrommer]

There is a third technology for notes: fabric. More exactly, cotton. The Euro notes are made from 100% pure cotton fiber.

how about the fourth tech? paper + cotton + (a bit) of polymer (maybe) + ...... metal (with 3D laser printing) !
if you depart from our country back to your home, our security will know how much Malaysian money you are going to smuggle out just by passing the "IR Gate" in airport

top pic: (top) the sucker RM5 polymer notes, (bottom) our older version of RM50 (with metal 3D)
bottom pic: our latest version of RM50 (metal 3D flower)

you know, our government?... if its regarding money.... then they are talking!

[Bored@Work]

Ok, Euro basic material is 100% cotton. Then they add metal, plastic, special inks and whatnot:

* Tactile relief print (not only for security but also helps visually impaired)

* Watermark (visible)

* Watermark (digital pattern, some image processing software refuses to process images containing that digital watermark pattern)

* Security thread with embossed text

* Bar code
 
* Magnetic ink for some parts

* See-through register

* Foil strip (lower denominations) or foil patch  (larger denominations) embedded in the paper. Both with 3D holographic effect

* Iridescent stripe (lower denominations) or optically variable ink (larger denominations)

* Microprinting

* Ultraviolet properties

* Infrared properties

* Starch-free material (most normal paper contains starch, allows for a starch test)

* EURion constellation (a special pattern some color photocopiers recognize and refuse to copy)

* Since a few years rumors about RFID chips in the largest denominations 200 € and 500 €. The European central bank is careful not to confirm or deny the existence of the RFID chips. What they have confirmed is that they have an RFID project since 2001 which had the target of getting the RFID chips into the notes until 2005.

* More secret security features. It is believed to be over 30 features in total.

And still, counterfeiting is on the rise.

[logictom]

Ok, Euro basic material is 100% cotton. Then they add metal, plastic, special inks and whatnot:

Still looks like Monopoly money though

Just spotted this on firebox, you can buy the Poken in a number of animal 'prints' if anyone fancies parting with their cash for one...
http://www.firebox.com/product/2266/Poken