Counterfeit notes and coins in 2024: the numbers are declining, but it’s important to remain vigilant

The counterfeit Czech banknotes detected by the Czech National Bank in 2024 were of poor quality. Most of them had almost no imitations of security features. The number of fake banknotes and coins dropped significantly compared to the previous year. The two-thousand-koruna note remained the most frequently counterfeited banknote.

The CNB detected a total of 1,158 counterfeit and altered Czech banknotes and coins in 2024, of which 704 were banknotes and 454 coins. This represents a decline of around two thirds compared to 2023.

“Czech banknotes are well protected against counterfeiting. At the same time, the vast majority of counterfeits are of a very low technical quality. What’s more, compared to euros and dollars, koruna banknotes are counterfeited far less often. That’s why anyone who takes a moment to check a banknote and its security features should have no trouble spotting a fake,” said Bank Board member Karina Kubelková.

Counterfeit banknotes

The CNB identified 688 Czech banknotes worth almost CZK 1.2 million as counterfeit in 2024. Most of them were two-thousand-koruna notes (38%) – the banknotes most in circulation – followed by one-thousand-koruna notes (19%), five-thousand-koruna notes (13%) and one-hundred-koruna notes (13%).

The most counterfeit notes were detected in Prague (293), which has a large volume of cash transactions and the densest network of banks. Most of the counterfeit banknotes were detected while being handled in banks, followed by bureaux de change and, to a lesser extent, shops.

The quality of counterfeit banknotes seized in the Czech Republic has long been low, and this was the case again last year. A total of 680 banknotes were given a grade of 4 or 5 on a five-point security scale. The counterfeit security scale is similar to the marking system in Czech schools. Banknotes with a grade of 4 or 5 either had no security features at all or very poor imitations of them. This category also includes banknotes whose reverse side and face side orientation are wrong, monochrome banknotes and one-sided banknotes. Only eight of the counterfeits seized had relatively high-quality printing and a good imitation of several security features, corresponding to grade 3 on the security scale. No highest-grade counterfeits (grades 1 and 2) were detected among the banknotes seized last year.

Checking banknotes takes only a moment and can be done in three simple steps. “When you hold a banknote, you’ll notice that the high-cotton-content paper has a different texture than ordinary office paper. You can also feel a distinct raised relief created by the intaglio printing on each banknote,” explained Karina Kubelková. The second step is to hold the banknote up to the light. “When you look through the banknote, you can see, for example, the watermark and the continuous windowed security thread,” she continued. The final step is to check the optically variable colour elements that appear in several areas of the banknote. “Pay close attention to the play of colours which becomes visible when you tilt the banknote,” added Karina Kubelková.

The CNB continuously monitors the incidence of counterfeits and protects banknotes against counterfeiting. “The Bank Board has commissioned experts to draw up an analysis of new security features. This year, they will submit proposals for possible innovations for the Bank Board to assess,” said Karina Kubelková.

Counterfeit coins

In 2024, 452 counterfeit twenty-koruna coins worth a total of CZK 9,040 were seized. They have relatively high-quality minting, but the quality deteriorates from the centre toward the edges. A counterfeit can be distinguished from the original by a visible groove between the raised rim and the field of the coin. In one case, a simple counterfeit fifty-koruna coin was also detected.

Altered banknotes and coins

Last year, 16 altered banknotes and one altered coin were also seized. These are genuine banknotes and coins that have been altered to show a higher numerical and/or written value. They were all of poor quality.

Foreign currency counterfeits

People may also come across counterfeit foreign banknotes and coins. In the Czech Republic, these are mostly euros and US dollars. These widely circulated currencies are typically counterfeited at a higher quality, making them more difficult to detect. In 2024, the CNB identified a total of 1,200 fake and altered foreign banknotes and coins as counterfeit. Of these, 812 were euro counterfeits, with most rated at grade 3 on the security scale. Another 379 were counterfeit US dollars, the majority of which were rated at grade 2 on the security scale.

Find out more about Czech banknotes and coins and their security features at the CNB Visitor Centre exhibitions in Prague and Brno. Entry is free of charge. Information is also available on the CNB website (Banknotes and coins).

Petra Vlčková
CNB spokesperson