If someone steals banknotes from, for instance, a security transport, the perpetrator of the crime should not be able to use the notes. This is why ink cartridges are packed in with the banknotes and if the transport is attacked the cartridges discharge and colour the banknotes so that they can no longer be used as a means of payment. You should therefore refuse to accept a banknote that is discoloured.
Several different colours of ink dye are used in security devices for banknotes; red, black, blue, purple, pink and green as well as combinations of these colours. The amount of dye can vary and can also have been bleached or washed, which leads to other nuances.
Discolouration can occur on any part of the banknote, but is most often found along the edges. The notes sometimes have only small specks of colour. Some ink dyes glow when an ultraviolet light is shone on them.
Some examples of discoloured banknotes are shown below.
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Banknote discoloured by green ink dye.
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Banknote discoloured by blue ink dye.
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Banknote discoloured by purple and pink ink dye. |
Banknote discoloured by purple and green ink dye.
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Banknote discoloured by green and purple ink dye. |
Banknote discoloured by red and black ink dye.
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Banknote discoloured by red and black ink dye.
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Banknote discoloured by pink and black ink dye.
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Banknote discoloured by green ink dye. |
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Burnt sections or edges of a banknote can be evidence of crime. It is important to be extra vigilant when parts of a banknote have been cut or torn off. This could indicate an attempt to remove ink stains in order to try to redeem the note. There are also cases where the ink dye has been painted over to disguise the discolouration.
Banknotes that are discoloured by ink dye may also have been washed which means that both the ink dye and the note itself may have more or less faded. Washing banknotes can also damage the foil strip.
Some examples of banknotes manipulated in various ways are shown below.
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The banknote has been washed and the foil strip has been completely destroyed.
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The ink dye has been painted over on the upper edge of the banknote.
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The banknote has been washed, but the foil strip is still discoloured by the pink ink dye.
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The banknote has been washed and the left edge has been cut off.
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The banknote has been washed and the foil strip has been damaged.
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If you have a discoloured banknote
A banknote that is discoloured with security ink dye cannot be redeemed. If, on the other hand, the banknote is discoloured by something other than security ink dye you can replace it at a bank. You can read more about this under the heading "Discoloured and stained banknotes" on the left.
Do you have any questions?
If you have any questions, please contact the Riksbank's office in Mölndal, telephone: +46-31-334 28 06.