It is evident how the use of digital money is growing. In fact, according to the latest numbers of the Córdoba Stock Exchange next to Economic Research Institute (IIE) Regarding consumption in supermarkets, only 30% of customers currently pay in cash.
Banknotes: a paradox between security and use
But, paradoxically, as their use decreases, the physical ticket security measures have to be increasingly greater. Because? It happens that, as reported to Ambit sources close to Exchange houseSeveral factors must be taken into account:
- on the one hand, the greater specialized labor available without work;
- he greater access to technological tools information is already available on the printing of banknotes for all people and,
- finally, the speed of circulation of money, the acceleration of exchange relations.
The first element is, perhaps the most curious, but the truth is that the fact that fewer banknotes are produced in the world every time encourages the supply of qualified labor for available for counterfeiting. “That is there are more people with know how on issuance of paper money without formal occupation in the world and available for counterfeiting networks”, notes the source.
On the other hand, the technological tools available for everyone are increasingly more sophisticated and allow better design and falsification. However, of course, the apocryphal bills They must be cheaper to produce than real money and they are. Therefore, they cannot imitate them as perfectly as a faithful copy.
In fact, the real bills they have many more security measures than those made known and that allows that, if a person takes a fake one to a bank, no matter how precise the copy is, there are always more sophisticated instances to verify if it is true or not.
Finally, the rspeed of transactions It is a key issue. As life accelerates, business relationships become more automatic or impersonal, and it is in that acceleration that ticket usersMany times, they are deceived by counterfeiters.
“In this context, it is necessary reinforce security precautions that are incorporated into designs around the world. And there are many levels of security that a ticket has,” comments a consulted voice.
Banknote security: different levels of complexity
This last point makes the speed to identify a real bill be an essential element when designing the security measures which will include. “Validation cannot take more than 1 and a half seconds”. How is that achieved? Through inclusion, symbols that can only be seen against the light, for example.
In the new line of banknotes that recovers the heroes in Argentina, for example, everyone has the “RA” watermark (Argentine Republic) in the lower right corner. But, in addition, it must perfectly complete the denomination located on the far left when seen against the light.
First security dimension of the banknote: human eye
In that sense, the magnetic screen printing ink Optically variable ink (OVI), also called color change ink, is an anti-counterfeiting measure used in many major modern banknotes, and those from Argentina fall into that group.
That dimension, of the human eyehas to be instantly detectable and is the first layer of complexity of the security measures included in the banknotes that Casa de Moneda Argentina prints, both in the plant located at the headquarters, and in Ciccone, located in Don Torcuato.
Second dimension of ticket security: devices
The second dimension of security is the one observed through the use of devices, such as magnifying glasses or iridescent or magnetic machines. For example, the ATMs They detect high security inks, which are not noticed by the human eye. These instruments are combined with special patterns that cannot be seen with the naked eyebut they must be observed with a magnifying glass to be able to identify them.
Second dimension of banknote security: forensic instruments
And finally, there is a third dimension, which is the forensic and, for example, contemplates the use of certain pigments recognized by the Central Bank (BCRA) because he is the only one who knows of its existence and use on banknotes.
These are the three dimensions or degrees of security involved in a bill in order to detect fake ones and discourage counterfeiting. “The reinvention has to be permanent to make them safer”says an expert voice on the subject.
Acceptance: key to the use of fake money
But he also mentions that A key fact for an apocryphal bill to be circulated is “acceptance.”. This variable is closely related to the famous “symbolic value”, a key component in the weight of the currency. If a person accepts the payment, it is enough to keep it circulating. What you have to do is take it to a bank and file a report.
Something that we often do not know is thatArgentine banknotes have a very good worldwide reputationbeyond being reviled for their punished value, so eroded by the permanent inflation. However, in what is monetary design, they are very prominent. In fact, several, such as the $100 one from Eva Perón and the one for $1,000, with the image of General José de San Martínhave been awarded internationally for their designs.
In the case of $1,000 billwho recovered the figure of General José de San Martín in its design and which is the first of the new family “Heroines and Heroes of the Homeland”, was put into circulation on Friday, July 14 and, as as Ámbito had anticipatedwas awarded as the safest of all within the framework of the Latin American High Security Printing Conference, an annual regional meeting in which the ticket categories.
In this framework, our brand new $1,000 paper received the regional “Banknote of the Year” award and it is important to highlight that, among its main security features, the watermarkwhich allows the portrait of the hero to be seen against the light, and his initials on the left half of the obverse, which are also seen with a more detailed look.
Likewise, it has intaglio printingthanks to which, the portrait, the name and the texts present relief perceptible to the touch. It has optical variability ink, which causes the motif located at the top right on the obverse to change from violet to bronze when the bill is tilted. Also the thread it has changes tone when changing the position.
A bill that Argentines reject, but the world stands out
Those, as said, are only the security measures that are observed with the naked eye, by the human eye. It also has other, tactile ones, such as the lines that are located on its margins, which serve as identification for blind people, for example, and other more subtle ones, which can be identified with a magnifying glass, such as the drawings in the background, which are not flat colors. , but designs carefully selected by a team of qualified designers.
For all these attributes, this ticket took first place in this competition that recognizes outstanding achievements in the designtechnical sophistication and security of a ticket. In addition, the evaluation criterion combines visual art, the relevance of the general design and the symbolism aimed at reflecting the cultural heritage of the issuing country.
Beyond the loss of monetary value and the idea of replacing the peso with the dollar that is growing in our country, there is no doubt that the countless economic and monetary crises have given Argentina a unique know-how in monetary matters. The reasons are sad, but an interesting opportunity to think about providing monetary printing services and key documents to the world. We undoubtedly already have the technical and knowledge capacity.
Source: Ambito
