The National Bank of Kazakhstan has received Reconnaissance International’s Regional Banknote of the Year Award, recognizing outstanding achievement in “the design, technical sophistication, and security” of a banknote, for its 20,000 Tenge bill.
The banknote features secure color shift optical thin film (OTF) technology developed by the British Columbia-based Nanotech Security Corp. Its magenta-to-green color shift OTF thread was used in the note’s composite substrate. The security firm claims it’s one of the most durable overt security features available today.
Kazakhstan’s elaborately decorated bills are regular winners of banknote design awards. This 20,000 tenge banknote commemorates the Kazakh Eli monument to Kazakhstan’s independence on one side and the presidential palace on the opposite side.
“We are pleased to have our colour shift OTF in the Bank of Kazakhstan’s award winning banknote,” said Doug Blakeway, Nanotech CEO. “Our colour shift OTF threads and patches have now been designed into more than 10 banknotes around the world and we continue to see strong interest from issuing authorities for our colour shift OTF and other security feature platforms.”
Nanotech offers six standard color shifts and more than 200 shades of colour that can be fine-tuned to meet specific requirements. The color-shift OTF threads can also be used with both composite paper-polymer substrates as well as cotton banknote paper. These color-shift threads and patches have been designed into more than 10 banknotes around the world.