Polymer / Plastic Banknotes

Earlier, I started collected my banknotes randomly. But somehow my interests in polymer / plastic banknotes increases and now my main interest in to collect polymer banknotes. Unfortunately there are some countries that issues plastic banknotes in these days comparing to countries issuing paper banknotes. But this new phenomena of plastic banknotes are increasing with time. I hope and pray that in very few years, most of the countries / territories adopted to issue plastic banknotes.
Polymer banknotes were first issued by Australia (Reserve Bank of Australia) in 1988 with collaboration with Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO). These banknotes are made from the polymerbiaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) that enhances the durability of the banknotes. Plastic or polymer banknotes are come up with more security features, previously not available in paper money to make counterfeiting more difficult.



Countries issues polymer banknotes in alphabetical order:

Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Western Samoa and Zambia.

There are some countries that are planning to issue polymer banknotes in near future include India.

Security Features

The traditional printed security features applied on paper can also be applied on polymer. These features include intaglio, offset and letterpress printing, latent images, micro-printing and intricate background patterns. Polymer notes can be different colors on the obverse and reverse sides. Like paper currency, polymer banknotes can incorporate a watermark (an optically variable 'shadow image') in the polymer substrate. Shadow images can be created by the application of Optically Variable Ink (OVI) enhancing its fidelity and color shift characteristics. Security threads can also be embedded in the polymer note; they may be magnetic, fluorescent, phosphorescent, micro printed, clear text, as well as windowed. Like paper, the polymer can also be embossed.
The transparent window where the OVD is located is a key security feature of the polymer banknote. It is easily identifiable allowing anyone to be able to authenticate a banknote.

Because the polymer bank note contains many security features that cannot be successfully reproduced by photocopying or scanning, it is very difficult to counterfeit. The complexities of counterfeiting polymer banknotes are proposed to act as a deterrent to counterfeiters.

Origin of Term Polymer Banknote

The term polymer in place of plastic to describe banknotes was introduced by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) at the launch of its $10 note on 1 November 1993. Jeffrey Bentley-Johnston and his firm were retained to assist in the launch the $10 note after a cool reception for the preceding $5 note. He held the view that plastic and banknote were close to being oxymoronic. Having earlier worked in a firm that designed and constructed synthetic fiber plants, he recognized the polymer nature of the new banknote and so proposed use of the term. The transition from plastic to polymer is evidenced in the launch of the $5 note in July 1992 (plastic) to the launch of the $10 note in November 1993 (polymer).
The future of polymer banknotes is very bright because of their uniqueness, beauty and advance security features. If you are collector and would like to exchange / trade polymer banknotes then drop a line at r4rehan()gmail.com.

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History of Banknotes

Most of us use banknotes / Currency Notes / Paper Money every day without a second thought, but after take close look at banknote, one can easily find the richness, culture, probably the famous person of the native country etc. Infact Banknotes are probably the easiest way to express native country’s traditions or culture. I prefer Banknotes on coins, because the modern banknotes are more expressive and very colorful than coins or I just love colourful banknotes.

Collecting world paper money helps you travel around the globe without leaving your home. When you collect world paper money you explore different cultures, places, countries and continents, get to know many famous people of the native country, learn about nature, animals, birds, rivers and lakes that are plentiful in seven continents of our Earth. Collecting world paper money teaches you arts, geography, history, foreign languages even politics to some extent.

Banknote and paper money collecting is an exciting hobby which many thousands of people
all over the world enjoy so much (probably you one of them). If you are new to this beautiful hobby of collecting truly fantastic, magical collectibles ever collected in the world from all the mysterious countries
and places on our Planet Earth, 

People recently started to collect paper money in some organized manner and one new kind of collection (polymer banknotes) are also added recently.

Although collecting of paper money was going on for a long time, but that was done only on a very small scale. Only in late 1950's paper money collecting became more of a global phenomenon. By 1920's paper money began to be issued by significantly more countries around the world and in early 1960's practically the whole world was using paper money for buy or sell transactions between people, businesses etc. As a result more and more people started collecting paper money as beautiful collectible

items, for an investment or both. These days collecting world notes is growing very strong and very fast. There are millions of paper money collectors all over the world and every year new ones join in. Knowledge abounds with a multitude of general and specialized catalogues covering notes of all modern and no longer existing countries.

Prices and value of collectible paper money grows steadily and better notes now bring much higher prices than before making an idea of investing in banknotes as well as collecting attractive.

Various countries of the world have their own words for "paper money". These are translations of words "banknotes" and "paper money" into some world languages:

French: Billets, Papier Monnaie;
German: Banknoten, Papier Geld;
Italian: Cartamoneta, Banconota;
Japanese: Shihei, Okane;
Lithuanian: Banknotai, Popieriniai Pinigai;
Russian: Banknoty, Bumazhniye Den'gi;
Spanish: Notas de Banco, Papel Moneda.

Pakistani: Rupee

Bangladesh: Taka

Indonesia: Rupiah

Sierra Leone to issue resized notea 4 June 2010

 More information has been revealed about Sierra Leone’s plans to issue new notes. According to officials from the Bank of Sierra Leone disclosed to Parliament that new resized banknotes will be introduced 4 June 2010. “Presenting the resized specimen notes, Mrs. Kadie Saccoh, Director Banking Department said the decision to resize the notes was taken in 2008/9 as she stated that the current currency notes had short comings unlike the new ones. She also said the old notes were difficult in identifying with other denominations because of its easiness to mix with other notes.…Explaining the advantages of the new notes, she said it makes it easier to be separated from other notes and for the visually impaired to sort out as well as mixed denominations could be identified while they fit into wallets and also enhances the security features. The security feature of the resized notes is that it has a tilt feature visible only when tilted in a particular angle or direction. It also has a look feature for distant visual features such as the watermark, thread and ‘cricket legs.’ They are also unique and have a touch feature. The new ten thousand Leones notes have a mould made water mark of a lion’s head and also a hologram with the inscription of Le 10,000 and BSL. It has a blind recognition and a lift [Latent Image Family Technology] classic.” Current notes will continue to circulate for up to one year from the introduction of the new notes.

Currently In Circulation

Following banknotes are currently in circulation:

5 Rupees (P-New)	10 Rupees (P-45)
20 Rupees (P-New)	50 Rupees (P-New)
100 Rupees (P-48)	500 Rupees (P-49)
1000 Rupees (P-50)	5000 Rupees(P-51)

Feel free to contact me regarding any information or possible trade on r4rehan@gmail.com

Dear Collectors and Visitors!

Welcome on my Banknote Collection Page!

Collecting banknotes of various countries is my most favorite hobby. Earlier I started collecting banknotes randomly but now I am a little selected. However I am still interested in every banknotes as far as It attracts me. Most of the time I exchanges by face value. So If you would like to make a swap then contact me on my email address or leave a message on my blog. I will get back to you asap. 

Happy collecting!!