Home » Products » Ultraviolet Lamp » Fabrizio Versus the Fluorescent World » banknotes UV Fluorescence

Fabrizio Versus the Fluorescent World: banknotes

Banknotes Under Ultraviolet Light
In this episode of Fabrizio vs the Fluorescent World, we explore an object everyone handles every day: banknotes.
Fluorescence plays an important role in the security features of modern currency. Many banknotes include fluorescent inks, fibers, and hidden designs that become visible only when illuminated with ultraviolet light. These features make counterfeiting much more difficult and allow quick authenticity checks using a UV lamp.
To explore this hidden world, we turn on the Fabrizio UV Lamp and examine banknotes from different countries.

Oman: fluorescent inks in the design

We begin with a banknote from Oman.
Under normal light, the design appears ordinary, but when the UV lamp is switched on, a large amount of yellow fluorescent ink becomes visible across the banknote. This type of ink is integrated into the printed design and glows strongly under ultraviolet illumination.

Switzerland: invisible patterns revealed

Some banknotes use a different approach: design elements that are completely invisible to the naked eye.
A good example comes from Switzerland. When we illuminate the banknote with UV light, a bright yellow circular design suddenly appears. This pattern cannot be seen under normal lighting conditions, but it becomes clearly visible under ultraviolet radiation.

Norway: hidden images

A similar feature can be observed in a banknote from Norway.
With normal lighting, nothing unusual is visible in a specific area of the banknote. However, once the UV lamp is turned on, a hidden bird design appears in bright fluorescence.
This type of invisible printing is a common anti-counterfeiting technique.

Malaysia: fluorescent designs on one side only

Next we examine a banknote from Malaysia.
Under ultraviolet light, the banknote shows a strong orange fluorescence. Interestingly, on the opposite side of the note there are additional fluorescent patterns that are completely invisible under normal light, only appearing when exposed to UV radiation.

Taiwan: denomination revealed by UV

Another interesting example comes from Taiwan.
When illuminated with ultraviolet light, the denomination of the banknote (500) appears clearly in fluorescence. Under normal lighting this element is completely invisible, making it a discreet but effective security feature.

Qatar: rare red fluorescence

Banknotes from Qatar reveal a particularly intense red fluorescence.
This is somewhat unusual. Most fluorescent security inks used in banknotes emit green, yellow, or orange light, while strong red fluorescence is less common.

Sweden: blue fluorescence

A banknote from Sweden (500 kronor) shows another relatively rare case: blue fluorescence.
Again, the most common colors used in banknote security inks are green and yellow, so blue emission is less frequently observed.

Euro banknotes: fluorescent fibers embedded in the paper

Finally, we examine a €20 euro banknote.
Unlike many other banknotes, euro notes contain fluorescent fibers embedded directly in the paper. Under ultraviolet light, these fibers appear as small colored particles distributed throughout the note.
In the euro series they often display rainbow-like colors, including blue, green, and red. These fibers are incorporated during the paper manufacturing process and represent another important anti-counterfeiting feature.

This brief tour shows how ultraviolet fluorescence reveals a hidden layer of design in modern currency. What appears to be ordinary paper and ink actually contains a complex system of materials engineered to glow under UV light, helping protect banknotes from forgery.

Fabrizio – UV lamp

Ultraviolet Lamp

Learn Technical Photography for Art Examination

Technical Photography is one of the most powerful—and often overlooked—tools for the scientific examination of art and archaeology. If you are a conservator, scientist, or art collector and you are not yet familiar with this method, it is truly a missed opportunity. Using simple, affordable equipment and a clear methodology, Technical Photography allows you to reveal underdrawings, retouchings, material differences, and conservation issues in a completely non-invasive way. Far from being complex or inaccessible, it is an easy entry point into scientific analysis. In many cases, Technical Photography represents the first essential step toward a deeper understanding of artworks and archaeological objects.