Banknotes with phosphorescent properties

Phosphorescence is when something continues to glow even when the stimulant that triggers it is removed. A typical example is UV fluorescence: if that continues after the UV light is switched off, it is phosphorescence. Even if it happens for only one or two seconds after the light is turned off, it still counts.

By intention or by accident, some banknotes have phosphorescent properties. I started this thread so we can have a list that hopefully grows over the years.

30 000 Riels (Paris Peace Agreement) - Cambodia – Numista

This note was designed to phosphoresce on the reverse where the ៣០ is.

It was the first time GSI used their MOUVE ink on a commercial note.

Under UVA the ៣០ glows yellow. Under UVC it glows red.

Regardless of which light was used to trigger it, it then phosphoresces a green colour when the light is switched off. The phosphorescence lasts several minutes.

First Banknote including new feature “mouveINK“ issued | Gleitsmann Security Inks

500 Sucres - Ecuador – Numista

That pattern on the obverse that fluoresces gold is also phosphorescent.

I tested several notes from all three series of this note and they all do it: Series GX, GZ and GY. 

The phosphorescence only lasts a few seconds.

It is only this 500 Sucres from 1988 that does it, the 500 Sucres from 1984 does not do it. I also tested one 500 Sucres from 1982 and it did not phosphoresce either.

I tested other denominations from the same year and so far I haven't found another note that does this.

It is possibly unintentional. I contacted De La Rue via their web enquiry form to ask about it but I have not had a reply so far.

100 Intis - Peru – Numista (the 1987 note only, P# 133a)

This note has a phosphorescent security strip. After you turn off the UV light the strip continues to glow for at least 8 seconds. The glow is visible on both sides. See below, the left image is UV fluorescence under 365nm and the right image is a plain photograph with a long exposure with all the lights off:

I've checked six of the 1987 notes, it happens with all of them.

I have one 1986 note and three 1985 notes and these show no phosphorescence.

1 Ringgit - Malaysia – Numista

I checked a 1989 note I recently acquired and the central yellow block with BNM 1 on it is phosphorescent for about 3 seconds.

What's interesting is that the last three notes are all from the 1980s. I am wondering now if there was some unintentional problem with a batch of gold UV ink. Two are TDLR notes and the Peru one was printed by Bundesdruckerei in Germany.

100 Zaïres - Zaire (1971-1997) – Numista

I have a 1985 version of this note and it has a security thread that fluoresces orange. This can be seen on both sides of the note, bright under 365nm and very faint under 254nm.

That thread is phosphorescent, for only a few seconds, but noticeable.

Edit - these 1985 notes are also phosphorescent:

5 Zaires - Zaire (1971-1997) – Numista

10 Zaïres - Zaire (1971-1997) – Numista (1982 and 1985 checked)

50 Zaïres - Zaire (1971-1997) – Numista

1000 Zaïres - Zaire (1971-1997) – Numista

Also the 1983 issue of the 100 Zaïres - Zaire (1971-1997) – Numista

500 Shillings - Kenya – Numista

The 2019 note has phosphorescent denomination blocks. I first found out about this on the Regula forensics page, they have a YouTube video of the note phosphorescing. It is very rapid, not very bright, on the two 500 blocks

What's interesting is that I see also a blue phosphorescence on the security strip…but, this does not fluoresce on initial lighting with UV. These are images of phosphorescence:

An interesting update on this. 

I got a second 2019 note and had a look at it, straight away with UV. I photographed it a bunch of times, confirming that it is phosphorescent.

Here's what happened:

1. Initially the denomination blocks only phosphoresced very dimly, but this became brighter the more I lit the note. My light is 365nm

2. Initially I could not get the security thread on this second note to fluoresce. I tried a long time, no dice.

3. I then inspected the note with a bright white light.

4. I went back to the UV and found a faint blue fluorescence on the security thread. Successive lighting with the 365nm light then made this more obvious, it is an obvious blue phosphorescence.

5. The weird thing is: that thread does not fluoresce at all. It is not glowing whilst being lit with the UV, but it phosphoresces after. I've never seen this before!

This is how it ended up, which matches my first note. This is with all lights out, meaning it is phosphorescence only:

Note that my two 2019 notes were bought from different sellers and one is an AA prefix, the other one is AS.

What it looks like to me: the note has to be illuminated first with a strong white light if the security thread must phosphoresce. But the two green denomination blocks fluoresce under UV straight away and then phosphoresce.

100 Pesos Oro - Colombia – Numista

That fluoresces the same as the Ecuador 500 Sucres note. It has a gold fluorescence that persists after the UV light has been switched off, lasts about 4 seconds. This a January 1991 note:

Edit: 1983, 1985 and 1990 versions of this note also phosphoresce, but the 1983 and 1985 do it for a very short time, less than 2 seconds

Edit: 200 Pesos Oro - Colombia – Numista was checked, a 1992 note and it also phosphoresces for 2 seconds

100 Zarin - South Ossetia – Numista

Reverse under UVA:

The red emblem phosphoresces green:

That ink shows up under infrared by the way:

10 Lempiras - Honduras – Numista

Phosphorescing 10s on the obverse. The one I have is a May 2024 issue. I may get other years to check later.

20 Shilingi - Tanzania – Numista

That gold 20 that fluoresces under UV on the obverse is also phosphorescent (glow lasts less than 2 seconds)

25 Piastres - Sudan – Numista

Obverse gold UV ink is phosphorescent for 1 to 2 seconds

Goznak - Sea Life - Jellyfish - Russian Federation (1991-date) – Numista

It is exonumia but very nice: the obverse has phosphorescent ink that changes colour from red to green.

Other notes that phosphoresce, also exonumia:

Goznak - 100th Anniversary of the birth of Maya Plisetskaya - Russian Federation (1991-date) – Numista

Goznak - 100th Anniversary of the birth of Galina Ulanova - Russian Federation (1991-date) – Numista

Panda - Russian Federation (1991-date) – Numista