Can you photocopy banknotes

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Articles tailored to your interests and optional alerts about important changes. Receive priority invitations to relevant webinars and events. Your Organisation We need this to enable us to match you with other users from the same organisation. Already registered? Login here. If the circles are not clear, the pattern can also be disguised as numbers or musical notes. The EURion constellation is a pattern of symbols incorporated in the design of many notes around the world.

Although there is no certainty at the time when banks began implementing this feature, experts believe that this has been in practice since the mids. So, as you can see, global governments have been able to keep this pattern a secret for a number of years.

It was only in , when the computer scientist Markus Kuhn discovered this eccentric pattern, that their secret was revealed. Most photocopiers will detect this EURion pattern and immediately stop printing in an attempt to stop counterfeit attempts. Well, today, an even more robust security feature is in place that even prevents you from using currency note images on popular imaging software, such as Adobe Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro. Since the time the photocopier machine was invented, central banks have been wary of its potential misuse in forging currency bills.

They managed to come up with a protection mechanism very early to prevent forgery. They issued special orders to Xerox and other imaging companies to ensure that their machines could not be used for counterfeit currency bills. The main defensive weapon used to deter counterfeiting was the use of the EURion constellation. Office Machine Specialists has been servicing and selling office equipment since A family run business that has dedicated our efforts to providing the best equipment options and after-sales service to our clients.

Our goal is to ask the right questions and guide our customers to make smart decisions about new machine leases and purchases. We were servicing copiers long before the internet was a viable resource, and have transitioned to the digital workflow environment of color printing, scanning, account control and fleet management.

With over 20 years in the industry we have extensive experience with many brands and consider OMS to be a valuable resource to any organization. Counterfeit banknotes It is also an offence to: make a counterfeit banknote without lawful excuse or with the intention of passing or tendering it as genuine.

Find more about counterfeit banknotes These offences are covered under sections and 18 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act , section 12 of the Currency and Banknotes Act , section of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act , section 92 of the Trade Marks Act , and section 2 of the Fraud Act Our banknote reproduction conditions If you plan to use an image of one of our banknotes, you must meet our conditions.

These conditions apply whether you are reproducing: all or part of a banknote the front or the back of a banknote current or withdrawn Bank of England banknotes. Conditions for physical and digital reproductions For physical reproductions, conditions 1, 2, 3 and 4 must be met and at least one of 5a to 5c.

For digital reproductions, conditions 3 and 4 must be met and at least one of 5b to 5c. Reproduction condition Physical reproductions eg books, newspapers, banners. Digital reproductions eg on screen only. Required Not required 2 Reproductions must not be the same size as actual banknotes.

Required Not required 3 Reproductions may not appear in an offensive or inappropriate context or in such a manner that we, in our sole opinion, believe would undermine the integrity of the currency. Required Required 5a Reproductions must be printed on a material clearly different and distinguishable from materials we use to print current series Bank of England banknotes. SPECIMEN markings must be in bold grey font, at a degree slant through the centre of the banknote, not less than one-third the length and one-tenth the height of the note.

At least one of conditions 5 a to c must also be met At least one of conditions 5 b to c must also be met. Free banknote images you can use You can download images of banknotes that meet our conditions from our current banknotes image library and our withdrawn notes gallery. Inappropriate or novelty reproductions We do not allow inappropriate or novelty reproductions because they could affect the integrity or public image of our banknotes, cause offence, or infringe copyright.

This includes reproductions that: show the destruction of banknotes eg banknote images being cut or burned or producing products that will be destroyed eg tissues associate banknotes with inappropriate content eg sexually explicit images distort the Queen or any of the people featured on banknotes in a way that we think is disrespectful. Banknote reproductions frequently asked questions FAQs. Do I need to request permission from the Bank of England for my reproduction?

No — as long as you have met our conditions you do not need our approval. My banknote reproduction permission has expired, how do I renew it? Our banknote reproductions policy was updated in February so formal application and approval is no longer required. We also no longer impose a time limit on our reproduction permissions. Can I replace the image of the Queen or the character on the back of the note for someone else? This is considered a novelty banknote and does not meet our conditions.

There have been cases of banknotes that have been altered in this way being mistakenly accepted as genuine. Can I change the text on the banknote? A solid text box can be added to the note or text can be printed on the back.

What does on a slant of more than 20 degrees mean? Incorrect The incorrect use of a banknote image: Correct The correct use of a banknote image with a slant greater than 20 degrees:. In bold grey font, at a degree slant through the centre of the banknote, for example:. Who can I speak to about my reproduction? If you have any questions, please contact our enquiry team: enquiries bankofengland.

What material is considered different and distinguishable from that used to print current series of Bank of England banknotes? Can I use some of the features from your banknotes on my reproduction?

Banknote reproductions must either be an exact copy or bear no resemblance to our banknotes or contain any of the design elements. I would like to reproduce coins, do these conditions still apply?

No — we are only responsible for Bank of England banknotes.