Those little pale colored spots in the margins on banknotes

Can anyone tell me what those little colored spots are that one finds
on banknotes form several countries? They appear in random positions,
are about 1/16" in size and are always most noticable when they appear
in the margin. They always seem to be in faint pastel hues.

Are they a security feature?

Some notes on which these dots appear: Brazil P151b, China P118Canada
P185b, P75b, P77b, P84b, P87a, P93c, P93a, P93c, P94c.

Thank you,

Alwyn

AL wrote:
Can anyone tell me what those little colored spots are that one finds
on banknotes form several countries? They appear in random positions,
are about 1/16" in size and are always most noticable when they appear
in the margin. They always seem to be in faint pastel hues.

Are they a security feature?

Some notes on which these dots appear: Brazil P151b, China P118Canada
P185b, P75b, P77b, P84b, P87a, P93c, P93a, P93c, P94c.

Thank you,

Alwyn

They serve the same purpose as the little colored fibers in USA banknote
paper. They makes the paper harder to duplicate.

--
___________________________________________ ____ _______________
Regards, | |\ ____
| | | | |\
Michael G. Koerner May they | | | | | | rise again!
Appleton, Wisconsin USA | | | | | |
___________________________________________ | | | | | | _______________

In article , wrote:

Can anyone tell me what those little colored spots are that one finds
on banknotes form several countries? They appear in random positions,
are about 1/16" in size and are always most noticable when they appear
in the margin. They always seem to be in faint pastel hues.

Are they a security feature?

Some notes on which these dots appear: Brazil P151b, China P118Canada
P185b, P75b, P77b, P84b, P87a, P93c, P93a, P93c, P94c.

They are called planchettes and are an anti-counterfeiting
security device. The American Bank Note Company has used them
in banknote and stock certificate paper for decades. They have
also been used on U. S. Military Payment Certificates. I've
heard that some planchettes fluoresce when illuminated by a
black light, but I've never tried it myself ...

--
Ken Barr Numismatics
P. O. Box 32541 website: http://www.kenbarr.com
San Jose, CA 95152 (souvenir cards, MPC, Hickey Bros tokens)
408-272-3247 Next show: NCNA show, Fremont 12/03-04 (no table)

"Ken Barr" wrote in message
...
In article , wrote:

Can anyone tell me what those little colored spots are that one finds
on banknotes form several countries? They appear in random positions,
are about 1/16" in size and are always most noticable when they appear
in the margin. They always seem to be in faint pastel hues.

Are they a security feature?

Some notes on which these dots appear: Brazil P151b, China P118Canada
P185b, P75b, P77b, P84b, P87a, P93c, P93a, P93c, P94c.

They are called planchettes and are an anti-counterfeiting
security device. The American Bank Note Company has used them
in banknote and stock certificate paper for decades. They have
also been used on U. S. Military Payment Certificates. I've
heard that some planchettes fluoresce when illuminated by a
black light, but I've never tried it myself ...

--
Ken Barr Numismatics
P. O. Box 32541 website: http://www.kenbarr.com
San Jose, CA 95152 (souvenir cards, MPC, Hickey Bros tokens)
408-272-3247 Next show: NCNA show, Fremont 12/03-04 (no table)

The fibres on some notes light up like a Christmas tree under UV light, as
do many Scottish notes going back to the 1960's. Billy