Look: Print Quality
Lines should be sharp and well defined with no blurred edges. Colours should be clear and distinct.
Look: Transmission
As the note is a polymer there is no watermark, however due to the substrate used when the note is held up to the light you should be able to see visible images from the opposite side.
Look: See Through
There are two clear polymer windows at the top of the note. The larger window runs horizontally across the top of the note when viewed from the front and contains the holograms. The second window in the shape of a Gorse Flower can be found below the hologram of the Ulster Bank logo on the right-hand side. This window contains the rotate feature.
Look: Microprint
Microprinting features in various locations throughout the note and some examples which you can see using a good quality magnifying glass are given here.
- Tthe words: ‘ULSTER BANK LIMITED’ can be found running along the outside edge of some of the Gorse flowers.
- The number"50" appears repeatedly in the shaded sections in all 4 corners of the note.
Look: Serial Numbers
Each note has a unique serial number which is printed twice in black on the front of the note, horizontally across the top, reading right to left and vertically in the bottom left corner. Serial numbers for the £50 note consist of two letters followed by six numbers, the vertical serial number will fluoresce blue and the horizontal green under Ultraviolet Light.
Look: Denomination Numerals
The number ‘50’ accompanied by a ‘£’ appears in the top right and bottom left corners of the note. The ‘50’ also appears as part of the Hologram in the left of the large clear window and also within the Rotate feature in the smaller window.
Look: Rotate
You will see the number ‘50’ within the leaf which sits within the smaller clear window on the right side of the note. When the note is viewed from the back you will see the Ulster Bank logo.
Feel: Polymer Quality
The note should feel smoother than a paper note, though this will reduce over time. Like paper notes, polymer notes have raised print giving them a tactile quality.
Feel: Raised Print
On the front of the note you will feel subtle raised print if you run your finger along:
- Ulster Bank name and logo
- All writing including signatures and denomination numerals
- The Gorse flowers and butterfly image
- The red band at the bottom of the note
Feel: Embossed Numeral
You will see a small number 20 embossed into the clear window. You can also feel this with your fingertips.
Feel: Tactile Feature
Four arrangements of four dots in square formation can be found running along the top left edge of the note when held in portrait formation, this will enable physical identification for the visually impaired.
Tilt: Holographic Foil
On the front of the note within the large clear window you will see Holographic foil images. From left to right these are the number 50, the outline of Lough Foyle and depth contours, a butterfly and the Ulster Bank logo. If you tilt the note back and forward you will see images of a butterfly and Gorse flowers appear within the solid part of the lough and an orbital effect of colours within the Ulster Bank Logo. You will also see Holographic microtext running along the edge of a gorse leaf reading ‘ULSTER BANK 50’. The holographic foil images are visible from the front and back of the note.
Tilt: Spark® Orbital™
The Ulster Bank logo set over the transparent polymer window is printed in shiny metallic ink which changes colour from purple to gold and can be seen from both sides of the note. You will also see an orbital effect as the note is tilted.
Check: Compare
Always compare both sides of a suspect note with another note that you know to be genuine, looking for differences between the two. Make sure you check the size of a suspect note against a known genuine note.
Check: UV Fluorescence
If you place the note under a good quality ULTRA-VIOLET light you will see a solid rectangular block below the signature that will fluoresce. Within the block you will see a pinecone. The Gorse flowers and spines and both serial numbers will also fluoresce. A £50 will also appear in the space between the Gorse flowers and the butterfly.
Check: Gemini UV Printing
If you place the note under a good quality ULTRA-VIOLET light, you will see there are areas of the note that appear as a single colour in daylight but fluoresce as two separate colours under ultra-violet. An example of this are the Gorse flowers and spines, and the ‘£50’ and surrounding area.
Look: Print Quality
Lines should be sharp and well defined with no blurred edges. Colours should be clear and distinct.
Look: Transmission
As the note is a polymer note there is no watermark, however due to the substrate used when the note is held up to the light you should be able to see visible images from the opposite side.
Look: See Through
There are two clear polymer windows at the top of the note. The larger window runs horizontally across the top section of the note when viewed from the back and contains the holograms. The second window can be found below the holographic foil of the Ulster Bank logo on the left-hand side. This window is in the shape of a Gorse flower and contains the rotate feature.
Look: Microprint
When examined closely with a good quality magnifying glass you will see the ‘50’ written repeatedly within the pink background areas at the top and bottom of the note. You will also see the numbers ‘1’ and ‘0’ in written in different binary patterns within the background in the centre area of the note.
Look: Denomination Numerals
The number ‘50’ accompanied by a £ sign appears in the top right and bottom left on the back of the note. The number ‘50’ on its own can also be seen in reverse through the clear window.
Look: Rotate
On the back of the note, you will see the Ulster Bank logo within the small polymer window. When the note is viewed from the front you will see the number ‘50’.
Feel: Polymer Quality
The note should feel smoother than a paper note, though this will reduce over time. Like paper notes, polymer notes have raised print giving them a tactile quality.
Feel: Raised Print
On the back of the note you will feel raised print if you run your finger along:
- The street entertainers and their audience
- The denomination numeral in the bottom left corner
- The Ulster Bank name and logo and all writing
Tilt: Holographic Foil
On the back of the note within the large clear window you will see Holographic foil images. From left to right these are the Ulster Bank logo, a butterfly, the outline of Lough Foyle and depth contours, and the number ‘50’ in reverse. If you tilt the note back and forward you will see images of a butterfly and Gorse flowers appear within the solid part of lough Foyle. An orbital effect of colours will also be seen within the Ulster Bank Logo. You will also see Holographic microtext running along the edge of a gorse leaf reading ‘ULSTER BANK 50’ The holographic foil images are visible from the front and back of the note.
Check: Compare
Always compare both sides of a suspect note with another note that you know to be genuine, looking for differences between the two. Make sure you check the size of a suspect note against a known genuine note.
Check: UV Fluorescence
If you place the note under a good quality ULTRA-VIOLET light you will see a Compass indicating Northwest overlaid by a large ‘50’, a 3rd riveter will appear, and the pulsar signal and thread of life will also fluoresce.
