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Security Features on Bank notes

All Samoan bank notes have recently upgraded security features that are reliable, quick, and easy to use. By making it a habit to check two or more of these features whenever you accept cash, you can avoid being stuck with a counterfeit bank note.

Remember that verifying the mere presence of a security feature is not enough. You need to make sure that it works as it should when you tilt or look through the note. If a bank note seems suspicious to you, compare it with a bank note you know it's genuine.

Security Features of Samoa's $20 Tala Bank Note

	1. Watermark Portrait Hold the note to the light, and a small, ghost-like image of the Samoan head of State, Malietoa Tanumafili II appears. This watermark is embedded in the paper and can be seen from both sides of the note. If the note is not backlit, the watermark is not visible.
	2. Anti-fold Technology The Notes now have watermarked bars across their corners. This serves as a reinforcement against folded corners.
	3. Electrotype Text In addition to the watermark portrait is an electrotype, the Central Bank of Samoa's initials CBS, which shows as a light area in contrast to the dark tonality of the portrait watermark.
	4. Window Security Thread The new thread contains the text 'CBS'. This is visible from either side of the note when it is held up to the light. The thread is also windowed, which means that dashes of silver are visible on the front of the note, which show as a continuous line when the note is held up to the light.
	5. See-through Feature The Samoan flag is printed in perfect register on either side of the notes. To the right of the flag on the back is a star shape surrounding the watermark area. When held up to the light, this fills with colour from the front of the note.
	6. Colours Some colours are difficult to reproduce; you may notice a difference in tone when comparing a suspect note with a genuine note.
	7. Raised Print (Intaglio) If you run your fingers across the 'Faletupe Tutotonu O Samoa' title, it should feel crisp and raised from the paper and thicker to the touch.
	8. Fluorescence Place the note under UV light, fluorescent denomination numerals will appear on genuine notes.
	9. Serial Number A one-letter prefix followed by a six-digit number is printed twice on the bank of each note.

Other Bank notes with security features