THE Bank of Zambia has announced that it will be issuing into circulation banknotes that have been upgraded with new security features.
BOZ said the new features would strengthen the security of the banknotes against counterfeiting and for easy verification by members of the public.
However, the bank says it will start circulating the upgraded banknotes in a phased manner, starting the with K2 and K5 denominations this month.
“As you are aware, advances in technology have provided counterfeiters with ever improving methods for imitating genuine banknotes. The Bank therefore will always take measures that ensures the Zambian banknotes are adequately protected from counterfeiting. This includes continually adopting more advanced security features that safeguard the integrity of the national currency. At the same time, the authenticity of the banknotes must be easy to verify,” it stated.
The Bank upgraded the K20, K50 and K100 denominations with new security feature called SPARKLIVE that has been incorporated in the figure on the lower right hand side to further shield the banknotes from being counterfeited.
It stated that that security feature would exhibit three overt visual characteristics; color- shift properties, optical brightness, and dynamic light effects.
BOZ stated that a 5mm optically visible four window security thread with micro optical dynamic effects had replaced the hologram on the three denominations while the ‘birds in flight’ feature had shifted from the right edge of the back of the banknote to the left edge.
It stated that “The tactile mark” for the visually impaired have now been put on both edges of the banknotes to enhance tactility or the feel effect.”
For the K10 denomination, a new four-window security thread would replace the hologram on the front of the banknote, tactile marks for the visually impaired have been put on both edges of the banknote to enhance tactility.
For the K2 and K5 denominations, different images (dove, text K2 and K5) appear as a new glossy varnish with a blind embossing for ease of identification and tactile marks for the visually impaired have been put on both edges of the banknotes to enhance tactility.
BOZ also advised the public that all other features on the banknotes would remained the same.
“The Bank will not withdraw the existing banknotes until the end of their circulation life. This means that the existing banknotes will co-circulate with the upgraded series and will continue to be honoured at full value,” stated BOZ