20 Sk Banknote Description

Basic characteristics

Description

The front side of the new banknote shows the portrait of Prince Pribina, the first known Slovak ruler whose seat was in Nitra until AD 833.

The design on the back side illustrates Nitra Castle, a witness to the rich history of the town of Nitra, which has been the centre of a significant political formation – the Principality of Nitra – until the 11th century. Several times the main design is overprinted by part of a coral necklace dating from the 9th century with a crescent-shaped bronze locket, which was found by archaelogists at Nitra-Lupky.

On the occasion of Bimillennium in December 1999, the National Bank of Slovakia issued banknotes with a metallized silver foil with a symbol and text commemorating the year 2000 applied at the bottom of the coupon. The 20-koruna Bimillennial banknotes were issued in limited quantities of 330,000.

Gallery

Examples of security features

• Watermark
• Intaglio
• Latent image
• Microtexts
• See-through feature
• Metallic lustre
• Security line structure

• 

  Watermark
  It is the design of banknote portrait put onto the paper using a special technique. The picture is visible only when the paper is held against the light. Slovak banknotes have localized and graded watermarks, the darker and lighter parts of which are formed by different thicknesses of paper.

• 

  Intaglio
  The print represents another basic distinguishing mark of genuine banknote. Four techniques are used in printing Slovak banknotes: intaglio, lithography, letterpress printing, silk-screen printing.
  Elements printed on the front and the back of the banknote by intaglio are embossed and are rough to the touch, or they are raised (texts on both sides of the note, signs for the blind and the portrait and other elements of the banknote design).

• 

  Latent image
  It is a security feature based on the optical effect under light produced by a special arrangement of plastic lines printed by intaglio technique. The picture becomes visible only when the note is held at the eye level in a horizontal position against a source of light. On the front of the note, the effect produces a dark or light picture of the abbreviation “Sk”.

Microtexts
There are several microtexts on both sides of the note. The primary function of these microtexts is the protection against forgery, as they cannot be reproduced by using a photocopier. They also contain some information.

Microtexts
There are several microtexts on both sides of the note. The primary function of these microtexts is the protection against forgery, as they cannot be reproduced by using a photocopier. They also contain some information.

Microtexts
There are several microtexts on both sides of the note. The primary function of these microtexts is the protection against forgery, as they cannot be reproduced by using a photocopier. They also contain some information.

• 

  See-through feature
  It consists of two different patterns printed simultaneously on both sides of the banknote. The pattern can only be seen when the banknote is held against the light. The see-through feature of the banknotes creates the letter “S”.

• 

  Metallic lustre
  The characteristic metallic lustre of the ink used in this part of the banknote cannot be reproduced by photocopying.

• 

  Security line structure
  It is formed by colours printed by using the lithographic technique a background of fines lines.