Muscat: Oman’s commemorative 45th National Day one rial banknote has won the Special Achievement Award at the Security Currency Printing Conference held on Tuesday in Baku the capital city of Azerbaijan.
The banknote was issued by the Central Bank of Oman for circulation for the 45th National Day, and is characterized by a number of security features. The obverse design of the banknote is adorned with the photograph of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos.
The most prominent details are the raised tactile marks which can be felt from both sides of the note to assist the blind or visually impaired in recognising the denominations.
The note also has security thread in two metallic colours (copper and aluminum) with metalised images of the Omani Khanjar and “ONE RIAL” and number “1” written in both Arabic and English.
In addition the banknote depicts a watermark/electrotype portrait of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos and the numeral “1” clearly appears as the note is viewed towards the light.
An Optically Variable Ink, a colour shift between green and gold/brown, is revealed when the note is tilted towards the light.
The transparent feature includes the coloured Khanjar on the back of the note and the image of the white Khanjar on the backside of the note when viewed against the light.
Regarding the feature of the “hidden photo” of the number “1”, it appears when viewing the note indirectly.
Also minute details appear on the note that can be read clearly by using a magnifying glass on the original banknote, while the note cannot be copied by coloured copiers or scanners.
The number “1” also appears in Arabic micro-lettering and in white. This was printed on the note to confuse coloured copiers and scanners.
The Omani Rial banknote also is characterised by a secure background composed of detailed and complex patterns and printed in similar and coordinated manner.
The counter scanning pattern is printed on the banknote in pale colour to be seen clearly on the fake banknote.
Among the most prominent features depicted on the banknote are Al Alam Al Amer Palace in Muscat on the obverse side of the note and also Sultan Qaboos University on the reverse, which also depicts an image of the pontia glauconome, a desert white butterfly native to Oman.