The current family of banknotes incorporate advanced security features.
News Colombia.
In the pockets and wallets of Colombians, cash plays an essential role in acquiring goods, services or products. However, many are unaware of the complex process behind the manufacture of the banknotes they use every day.
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In Colombia, this important task is carried out by the Banco de la República, an entity that, in addition to preserving the purchasing power of the currency, collaborates closely with the country’s economic policy to maintain economic stability and employment at sustainable levels in the long term.
The Banknote Manufacturing Process
According to an article published by Canal Institucional, the Treasury Department of the Bank of the Republic delivers, between September and October of each year, to the production director of the National Printing Office a detailed report with the annual quantities of banknotes necessary to guarantee that the country has enough money in circulation.
The banknote manufacturing process involves several rigorous steps:
- Offset Printing: Specialized machines are used to apply the corresponding colors to each denomination of the banknote.
- Chalcography: At this stage, the main text, identifying numbers, complementary images and the portrait of the character are stamped according to the denomination of the banknote.
- Automatic Review of Printed Sheets: High-resolution cameras scan both sides of the paper to ensure that everything is in order.
- Manual Review of Printed Sheets: A team of trained personnel manually reviews each sheet as an additional security measure.
- Topographical Printing:After discarding the sheets that do not meet quality standards, the approved sheets undergo a ‘agglomeration’ process, where the series of each banknote is placed.
- Varnishing:To increase the durability of the banknote, the sheets are passed through a machine that applies a layer of clear varnish, a semi-plasticizing or lacquering process.
Innovations in Security and Technology
Since 2012, Colombia has been issuing a new family of banknotes that pays tribute to the country’s biodiversity and to prominent figures in culture, science and politics. These banknotes incorporate advanced security features to facilitate their identification and authentication:
- Security Inks and Threads: They use intense colors with color changing and movement effects.
- Watermark: Safety element visible when held up to the light.
- Matching Image: It presents images that match on the front and back of the banknote.
- Tactile Elements: They include high relief details and size differentiation by denomination.
- Additional Safety Features: They facilitate authentication at cash processing machines.
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