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.

 

General Information on Malaysian Banknotes: RM100

Bank Negara Malaysia is issuing a new RM100 note, the highest denomination in a new design Malaysian currency notes series (3rd series). The new series incorporate new security features and retain some of the existing security features to deter counterfeiting. The new series will circulate alongside the existing series until the existing series are gradually phased out.

The theme of the new series, "Wawasan 2020" reflects Malaysia's economic development and achievement towards a fully developed country. For the RM100 denomination, the background motif depicts the manufacturing sector. This is represented by a car production line, next to which is shown a close-up of a Proton car engine. The centre of the note depicts a gear wheel and cam-patterns from the side and above - everything in rotation. The new series will also use RM as the currency symbol for the Malaysian Ringgit.

The security features of the RM100 denomination are highlighted here as a guide to the public. These features include the security thread  with the repeated "BNM RM100" text, three-dimensional watermark portrait, optical variable strip known as "LEAD®", anticopy feature known as "PEAK®" and security fibres in the paper. The new RM100 note retains the brown and purple predominant colours of the existing design RM100 note. The size of the note is also slightly reduced to facilitate easier handling and to be consistent with size reduction of other denominations in the new series. The intaglio (raised printing) of the portrait of the first Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong is retained as a dominant feature.

The design layout for the Bank's logo in the top left hand corner, the denomination numeral and serial numbering, matches already established layout for the RM2, RM10 and RM50 new design denominations. Also, the perfect see-through hibiscus (in register with the front of the design) has been included on the central top and bottom edges as a common feature in the new series.

A horizontal "novel" style serial number is positioned in the top left hand corner, printed in black magnetic fluorescent ink. On the right hand edge of the note (to the right of the portrait watermark), a vertical "novel" serial number is printed in red fluorescent ink.

The public is advised to look carefully to differentiate the genuine notes from the counterfeits based on the features as outlined.

RM100 Security Feature

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


Watermark Portrait (1)
The shaded watermark can be recognised by tints that are lighter or darker than the surrounding paper. This watermark portrait which has a three-dimensional effect appears soft and shady without sharp outlines. At the base of the watermark, the numeral 100 is clearly visible.
Section 1 of the obverse of the note:

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Security Fibres (2)
When viewed under ultra-violet light, the security fibres in the paper become visible in three colours: red, yellow and blue.
Section 2 of the obverse of the note:

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Security Thread (3)
The thread is embedded in the paper and appears on the reverse side of the note as a silver coloured dotted line [a]. When the note is held against the light, it is seen as a continuous dark coloured line and the repeated text BNM RM100 can be read [b]. When viewed under ultra-violet light, the thread is seen in various changing colours known as the "rainbow effect" [c].
Section 3 of the reverse of the note (Click to view a larger representation of the image):

[a] Normal appearance	[b] When held against the light	[c] When viewed under ultra-violet light

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PEAK® (Printed and Embossed Anticopy Key) (4)
When changing the angle of view by shifting the note, the numeral 100 will be revealed in the centre of the PEAK® square. The whole square will glow under ultra-violet light. When held against the light, three open spaces on the obverse side will register perfectly with equal printed markings on the reverse side.
Section 4 of the obverse of the note (Click to view a larger representation of the image):

[a] Normal appearance	[b] When held at an angle	[c] When viewed under ultra-violet light

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LEAD® (Longlasting Economical Anticopy Device) (5)
Its holographic design represents the same motifs as used in the purple area with which the LEAD® strip is partially overprinted as well as the words "RM100" and "BNM". The colours of these elements change when the view angle is shifted. On both sides of the strip, a dedicated print pattern becomes visible under ultra-violet light.
Section 5 of the obverse of the note (Click to view a larger representation of the image):

[a] Normal appearance	[b] When held at an angle	[c] When viewed under ultra-violet light

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Intaglio Print (6)
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 notes, such as the portrait of the First Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong, denomination figures, ornamental elements and the wordings "BANK NEGARA MALAYSIA".
Section 6 of the obverse of the note (Click to view a larger representation of the image:

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Phosphoresence Square (7)
In this square, the letters "BNM" and the numeral 100 will become visible under ultra-violet light.
Section 7 of the obverse of the note:

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

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Perfect See-Through Register (8)
When the note is held against the light, the hibiscus flower on the obverse will register perfectly with the same flower on the reverse of the note. This flower will also glow under ultra-violet light.
Section 8 of the obverse of the note:

[a] Normal obverse appearance	[b] Normal reverse appearance	[c] When held against the light

Section 8 of the reverse of the note:

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

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Invisible Fluorescent Elements (9)
Various elements of the background on the obverse and reverse will fluoresce in different colours when viewed under ultra-violet light.
Section 9 of the reverse of the note:

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

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Novel Numbering (10)
The serial numbers increase in size to make it more difficult to counterfeit. The numbers fluoresce under ultra-violet light.
Section 10 of the reverse of the note:

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

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Braille Feature (11)
The diamond shape braille markings feature a layer of tactile ink printed in intaglio that can be felt by touching.
Section 11 of the obverse of the note:

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Anti-Scanner/Copier Features (12)
The note features certain areas, designed such that these will change appearance when copied/scanned.
Section 12 of the obverse of the note:

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Modulated Micro-Letterings (13)
In this tactile rectangle, the micro-letterings with the text RM100 are all legible under a magnifying glass and collectively form the word "BNM" if viewed from a distance.
Section 13 of the obverse of the note:

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Background Micro-Letterings (14)
The pattern of the purplish rectangles contains legible micro-letterings of "BNM" when viewed under a magnifying glass while some of the purplish rectangles will fluoresce under ultra-violet light.
Section 14 of the obverse of the note:

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Micro-Letterings (15)
Line at the end of the car assembly lines contain legible micro-letterings of the word "BANKNEGARAMALAYSIA" in light purple when viewed under a magnifying glass.
Section 15 of the reverse of the note: