Protective elements – CZK 100 – 1997 and 1995 version
A detailed general description of protective elements visible in daylight, with illustrative examples of individual elements on the 100 CZK note, 1997 version
- Watermark
- Windowed thread with microtext
- Coloured fibres
- Front-to-back register
- Latent image
- Colour-shifting ink - the banknote does not contain this protective element
- Iridescent strip - the banknote does not contain this protective element
- Microtext
1. Watermark
face side reverse side
The watermark is clearly visible when the banknote is held against the light. A “localised” stepped watermark (i.e. a combination of positive watermarks – visible as dark areas – and negative watermarks – visible as light areas – with various shades between the darkest and lightest parts) is used. The watermark is located in the middle of the wide unprinted margin and consists of the portrait of Charles IV as depicted on the banknote. When viewed from the face side of the banknote, the watermark portrait is mirror reversed.
2. Windowed thread with microtext
face side through-view
The windowed thread is a strip of metallic plastic embedded into the paper of the banknote. On the banknote’s face side it protrudes from the surface in segments 5 mm apart. These “windows” of silvery colour are each 5 mm long and bear a readable negative microtext indicating the banknote’s nominal value. When the banknote is viewed, only the protruding part of the strip on the face side is visible. When viewed against the light, the whole strip is visible on both sides as a continuous dark line with the microtext “100 Kč” showing through.
3. Coloured fibres
Orange fibres, 6 mm long, embedded in the paper and visible to the naked eye. They can best be seen on the white unprinted margins of the banknote.
4. Front-to-back register
face side reverse side through-view
On each side of the banknote only a portion of this mark is visible. The complete mark, with precisely matching individual lines, is visible when the banknote is viewed against the light. The front-to-back register is a circular mark created by the letter “C”, with an interposed letter “S” for the 1995 version, and by a similarly composed pair of letters “ČR” for the 1997 version.
5. Latent image
The latent image becomes visible only when the banknote is tipped horizontally at eye level and held against a light source. It consists of figures indicating the banknote’s denomination. When the banknote is looked at transversally (the long side nearer the eyes), a positive (dark) pattern is visible, and when viewed longitudinally (the short side nearer the eyes), a negative (light) pattern is visible. The latent image is located on the banknote’s face side in the decoration on the portrait’s shoulder.
6. Colour-shifting ink
The banknote does not contain this protective element.
7. Iridescent strip
The banknote does not contain this protective element.
8. Microtext
face side reverse side
Printed in offset printing. The basic microtext is concealed in the strip of basic colour near the right-hand white margin to the right of the portrait on the face side, consisting of figures indicating the banknote’s denomination. On the reverse side, microtext is also concealed in the strip of basic colour between the state symbol and the right-hand margin, consisting of words indicating the banknote’s denomination.