A banknote

Abstract

A tactile security feature for a banknote and a method for its production using in-line on a web-based process are disclosed. The security feature comprises a printed indicia layer including a design element and a printed enhanced tactility layer, which has at least a first enhanced tactility area overlapping the design element, such that the design element appears to have tactility due to the overlap with the enhanced tactility area. Preferably the tactile layer contains tactile particles. In addition, a banknote produced by the above method, a banknote having a single-ink system, and a coating for banknotes including a tactile security feature are disclosed.

1 . A banknote having a substrate with polymeric outer surfaces, including one or more coatings applied to at least one of the outer surfaces, at least one coating being a paper feel layer which provides a feel, substantially similar to that of a paper banknote, wherein the paper-feel layer includes tactile particles, to provide the paper-feel, and: the tactile particles are conductive and/or the paper-feel layer includes conductive particles; or at least one of the or each coating includes conductive particles, to improve anti-static properties of the banknote. 
     
     
         2 . A banknote as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tactile particles are 5 to 35 microns in depth, and/or, the particles have an aspect ratio between substantially 1 and 5. 
     
     
         3 . A banknote as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the tactile particles, at least on average, have a dimension in at least one direction which is greater than 150% of the smallest dimension. 
     
     
         4 . A banknote as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the paper-feel layer contains substantially 5% to 20% by weight of tactile particles to ink, or substantially 10% to 15%. 
     
     
         5 . A banknote as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the conductive particles are a fibrous conductive filler being a fibrous core material with a conductive layer formed thereon, the conductive particle containing at least a tin oxide and an antimony oxide. 
     
     
         6 . A banknote as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the fibrous conductive filler particles have an average length of 3 to 50 microns, and or the fibrous conductive filler particles have an average diameter of 0.01 to 5 microns, and or, the fibrous conductive filler particles have an average aspect ratio of 3 to 100. 
     
     
         7 . A banknote as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the amount of conductive particles is suitably determined so that the paper-feel layer has a surface resistivity of less than 10 11  Ohms per square. 
     
     
         8 . A banknote as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the conductive particles are provided in the coating at a concentration of substantially 10% to 15% by weight. 
     
     
         9 . A banknote as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the coating containing conductive particles is an outer coating, in at least the majority of the surface area. 
     
     
         10 . A banknote as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the or each coating includes a UV curable ink. 
     
     
         11 . A banknote as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the or each coating includes a solvent based ink.