General Information on Malaysian Banknotes: RM50 Commemorative Polymer Banknote

Bank Negara Malaysia in co-operation with Sukom Ninety Eight Berhad has issued a new RM50 note to commemorate the Kuala Lumpur '98 XVI Commonwealth Games. This banknote is the first polymer banknote to be issued in Malaysia.

The design of the note will remind the world of Malaysia as a world class sporting destination. The front side features the portrait of the first Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the right and the Kuala Lumpur city skyline with prominent landmarks in the centre. The Commonwealth Games Look Programme which features the stylised butterfly symbol and the gold-coloured Optical Variable Device (OVD) with the portrait of the first Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong in the clear window appear on the left. The logo of Bank Negara Malaysia appears in the other clear window on the right of the note. The Kuala Lumpur International Airport is featured as the central backdrop. To the right, the background design shows the artist's impression of the Multimedia Super Corridor connecting Kuala Lumpur City Centre to Putrajaya, Cyberjaya and the new Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

The back design shows the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil in the centre. The logo of the Kuala Lumpur '98 XVI Commonwealth Games appears on the left of the note.

The main security features of the RM50 polymer note are highlighted below as a guide to assist the public. It combines conventional security features commonly found in paper banknotes and innovative security features which are unique to polymer banknotes. These features provide protection against the use of contemporary high-resolution digital colour copiers and scanners.

The public is advised to look carefully for the security features to differentiate the genuine notes from the counterfeits.

RM50 Commemorative Polymer Banknote Security Feature

Click on any of the numbered features on the notes below for further detail:


Clear Security Windows (1)
Visible from both sides of the note, they are readily identifiable features, including under low light conditions.
(Webmaster's note: The transparent area is actually the black coloured area. This specimen note was placed on a black surface.) Section 1 of the obverse of the note:

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Optical Variable Device (2)
Positioned in the larger clear window and visible from both sides, a bright golden coloured diffractive Optical Variable Device features the portrait of the first Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Clearly visible optical shifts are generated when the note is tilted to the light.
Section 2 of the obverse of the note:

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Shadow Image (3)
A contrasted image appears when the banknote is held up to the light. It combines with the clear window to represent the stylised shape of a butterfly.
Section 3 of the obverse of the note:

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Security Vignette (4)
Bank Negara Malaysia's logo appears, printed in white in the smaller clear window and visible from both sides of the note.
(Webmaster's note: The transparent area is actually the black coloured area. This specimen note was placed on a black surface.) Section 4 of the obverse of the note:

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Intaglio Print (5)
The intaglio print is a raised printing effect produced by applying layers of tactile inks on various parts of the obverse and reverse sides of the note, such as the portrait of the first Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong, denomination figures, the signature, ornamental elements and the wording "BANK NEGARA MALAYSIA".
Section 5 of the obverse of the note:

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Perfect See-Through Registration (6)
When the note is held against the light, the butterfly on the obverse will register perfectly with the same butterfly on the reverse side of the note.
Section 6 of the obverse and reverse of the note:

 

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Intaglio Micro-Lettering (7)
Part of the background behind the portrait and the ring shape around the stadium contains micro-lettering of the words "KL98GAMES" which can be viewed under a magnifying glass.
Section 7 of the obverse of the note:

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Visible and Invisible Fluorescing Printing (8)
Elements of the background design, the Games logo and the two numbers will fluoresce when seen under ultra-violet light. Invisible under normal conditions, the denomination will also appear when exposed to ultra-violet light.
Section 8 of the obverse of the note when seen under UV light:
Section 8 of the reverse of the note:

[a] Normal appearance	[b] When viewed under ultra-violet light

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Anti-Scanner/Copier Patterns (9)
The note features certain areas, designed such that these will change appearance when copied or scanned.
Section 9 of the obverse of the note:

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Braille Feature (10)
The Braille marking features two diamonds printed horizontally in intaglio with a layer of tactile ink which can be felt by touch.
Section 10 of the obverse of the note:

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Novel Numbering (11)
Two two serial numbers are printed horizontally and vertically with assymetrical fonts and different colours to make them more difficult to counterfeit. They are also printed with special inks which penetrates the polymer substrate. As a result, the trace of the numbers can still be seen under ultra-violet light if the numbers were to be tampered with.
Section 11 of the reverse of the note:

[a] Normal appearance	[b] When viewed under ultra-violet light

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Overcoating
The special protective coating of the polymer notes will make the security features in the polymer notes stay in a good condition over the entire life of the note. The numbers are positioned in two rectangles, which have not been overcoated, and these can be seen when the note is tilted at an angle.