Counterfeit Eastern Caribbean (EC) $100 notes are being circulated within St. Kitts and Nevis. This has been revealed by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB).
According to the Central Bank, the notes bear the serial number “WB365443” and residents are asked to act accordingly, having been provided with this piece of information.
“Counterfeit notes have no value and persons in possession of them may be prosecuted. Vigilance should therefore be exercised when conducting cash transactions to ensure the authenticity of notes,” the ECCB release states.
The Central Bank has also provided information on the identifying marks of the genuine EC$100 so Kittitians and Nevis can differentiate between the real and fake. There are:
• Security Threads – when a banknote is viewed from the front under reflected UV light, the letters ECCB and the denomination value of the note are clearly visible in yellow, against a blue background. A second security thread is also present which is a narrow, continuous black line to the left of the Queen’s portrait.
• Raised Print Over Foil – The notes bear a highly reflective silver foil, which shows the denomination. The letters ECCB and the denomination can be seen in small print around the foil. For added security, the foil is over-printed with a raised print.
• Watermark – A mould-made watermark depicting Queen Elizabeth II appears three-dimensional, when held up to the light.
• Novel Numbering – Each individual banknote bears a unique serial number, which is printed vertically on the left hand side of the note and horizontally in “novel” numbering style on the right hand side.
See Through Feature – When the genuine note is held up to the light, parts of the fish fill in, as the area on the back of the note line up perfectly with the front