|
The Reserve Bank of India will
shortly issue Rs.500 denomination banknotes in Mahatma Gandhi Series without
inset letter in numbering panel bearing the signature of Dr. Y.V. Reddy, Governor.
The new series 2005 banknotes will be of the same size and there is no change
in the design/images of the banknotes both at the obverse (front) and reverse
(back). While there is no change in the colour at the obverse (front), the colour
at the reverse (back) is different due to use of only offset printing.
The salient security features (both
additional/new and existing) of the Rs.500 banknotes are as under:
OBVERSE (front)
Security Thread: The security
thread appears on the left of the Mahatma Gandhi's portrait. The new banknotes
have a machine readable windowed demetalised clear text magnetic 3 mm wide security
thread with inscriptions 'RBI' with colour
shift from green to blue when viewed from different angles. It will fluoresce
in yellow on the reverse and the text will fluoresce on the obverse under UV
light. The thread is visible as a continuous line from behind when held up against
light.
See-through Register: The
floral design printed both on the obverse (front) and reverse (back) of the
Rs.500 banknote in the middle of the vertical band next to the watermark window
has been replaced by the denominational numeral 500. Half of the numeral is
printed on the obverse (front) and half on the reverse (back). Both the printed
portions have an accurate back to back registration so that the numeral appears
as one when seen against light.
Electrolyte Watermark: In
addition to the Mahatma Gandhi watermark, the denominational numeral 500 appears
alongside Mahatma Gandhi portrait in the watermark window.
Omron-anti photocopying feature:
The feature appears in the form of tiny yellow circles on either side of
the legend Reserve Bank of India. A banknote with this feature, when copied
by a colour photocopier, gives an output with a different colour shade.
Optically Variable Ink:
The numeral 500 in the middle of the banknotes is printed in optically variable
ink. The colour of the numeral changes from a particular shade of green to blue
when the banknote is tilted. The font (size) of the numeral is slightly smaller.
Latent Image: A vertical
band on the right side of the Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait contains a latent image
showing the denominational numeral 500. The latent image is visible only when
the note is held horizontally at eye level.
Intaglio printing: The portrait
of Mahatma Gandhi, the Reserve Bank seal, guarantee and promise clause, Ashoka
pillar emblem on the left, RBI Governor's signature and identification mark
for the visually impaired are printed in intaglio, i.e., in raised prints(felt
by touch), and have been made more prominent by raising the intaglio print.
REVERSE (back)
Year of printing: Year of
printing appears at the bottom on the reverse of the banknote.
Omron-anti photocopying feature:
The feature appears in the form of tiny yellow circles in the right hand margin
of the banknote.
Variation in colour scheme:
The overall colour scheme of the images and fine lines is altered due to resorting
to only offset printing. The earlier dark brown, light brown and green are replaced
with only dark and light brown. The overall look of the banknotes is brownish.
The language panel, numeral 500 and the design/motif at the top and bottom have
a light brown shade instead of the dark brown-green shade in the existing banknotes.
All the security features with
illustrations are displayed on the RBI website (www.rbi.org.in)
.
All banknotes in the denomination
of Rs.500 issued by the Bank after the year 1987 will continue to be legal tender.
G Raghuraj
Deputy General Manager
Press Release: 2005-2006/493
|