CBB Counterfeit 2010

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The Central Bank of Barbados is once again reminding Barbadians to be careful when executing cash transactions.
Stating that the level of counterfeiting in Barbados remains low, Deputy Governor, Cleviston Haynes nevertheless advised the public to remain vigilant. “We urge persons to continue to check their money, especially at this time of the year, because unscrupulous individuals could seek to take advantage of the many nighttime events during Crop Over to pass counterfeit notes.”
The Deputy Governor recommended that the public use the same caution during the upcoming back- to- school period. He noted that authenticating a banknote is actually a quick process but when there are long queues behind them people often walk away from cashiers without checking their money: “We understand the need to determine the genuineness of a banknote as swiftly as possible and have always incorporated security features that take only a few seconds to use.”
Such features include:

1. A watermark of the map of Barbados on the left of the note. The image is visible when the note is held up to light.

1. A second small watermark-type image to the right of the map of Barbados watermark. On the $2, $5, and $10 note, the image is of the broken trident, while on the $20, $50 and $100 note, the image is of the Pride of Barbados flower.

1. Two easily distinguishable security threads:
   1. On the $2, $5 and $10, the thread is partially visible when lying flat. It is highly reflective and is wave-like in design with the text “CBB” and the note’s denomination printed on it. When held up to light, the thread becomes complete.
   2. On the $20, $50, and $100 the thread is partially visible when lying flat. It is wider and less reflective than previous threads, but like them is printed with the text “CBB” and the note’s denomination. When held up to light, the thread becomes a solid line. Under UV light, the thread fluoresces blue and the text fluoresces yellow.

1. A highly reflective foil image on the two highest denomination notes. On the $50 note, the image is of an aquamarine pelican, while on the $100 note, the image is of a gold dolphin. Overprinted on this foil is the Pride of Barbados flower. On genuine notes, these images are intricately detailed and highly reflective, but on counterfeit notes they generally lack the level of detail and appear flat and dull.

Detailed information about the security features of Barbadian banknotes can be found on the Central Bank of Barbados website at www.centralbank.org.bb .

The Central Bank of Barbados annually hosts free Know Your Money seminars for retailers and members of the public during which these and other security features are explained in detail.

July 16, 2010

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