500 złoty
Characteristics of the 500 złoty banknoteCharacteristics of the 500 złoty banknote
Description of 500 złoty banknote
The 500 złoty banknote features a portrait of John III Sobieski.
The reverse features an image of the eagle in a crown and the Royal Palace in Wilanów.
Characteristic elements of the banknote:
- banknote size: 150 x 75 mm,
- watermark showing the value numeral visible against the light in the field free from print (1),
- windowed security thread, whose fragments can be seen on the surface of the front of the banknote, while the whole security thread is visible when viewed against the light (2),
- crown in an oval, whose complete image becomes visible when the banknote is viewed against the light (6),
- value numeral “500”, depending on the angle at which the banknote is viewed, becomes visible on the right side of the portrait of the sovereign (3a),
- lobster-tailed pot helmet smoothly changing colour from green to blue (4),
- elements on the front of the banknote which can be felt to the touch: portrait of the sovereign, signatures of the NBP Governor and the Chief Treasurer of NBP, emblem of the Republic of Poland, inscription “Warszawa” and the date of issue, features for the visually impaired in the form of two vertical lines composed of tiny squares and a composition of lines on the shorter edges of the banknote, inscription “NARODOWY BANK POLSKI”, denomination as a digital value numeral, stripe on the top-right side of the portrait. On the back of the banknote: the main graphic element, value numeral in words, value numeral “500”, inscription “NARODOWY BANK POLSKI”, legal clause, stripe at the bottom of the banknote.
Watermark
The watermark field is free from print. When the banknote is held against the light, a multitone watermark with a repeat of the image of the sovereign from the front side of the banknote, and a light monotone value numeral “500” (filigree) are visible.
Security thread
When the banknote is held against the light, a line with microprint containing the value numeral of the denomination “500” and “500 ZŁ” is visible.
Windowed security thread
Fragments of the security thread are visible on the front of the banknote, and the whole security thread is visible when viewed against the light.
Latent image
value numeral “500” on the right side of the portrait of the sovereign becomes light or dark depending on the angle at which it is viewed,on the left side of the portrait, in an escutcheon, rectangular fields are visible depending on the angle at which the banknote is viewed.
Colour-shifting ink
When the banknote is tilted, the ornamental graphic element to the right of the portrait (lobster-tailed pot helmet) smoothly changes colour from green to blue, and the pattern of a wavy line placed on it appears to move in a vertical plane.
Microlettering
Tiny inscriptions made with high precision in offset or intaglio printing techniques. The smallest inscription on the banknote should be sharp and readable when magnified.
Back of the banknote
- Intaglio microlettering – “RZECZPOSPOLITA POLSKA”,
- Offset microlettering – “NARODOWY BANK POLSKI”, “NBP 500 NARODOWY BANK POLSKI”.
See-through register (recto-verso)
Elements of the graphic design on the front and back of the banknote visible in transmitted light align perfectly to form a complete image.
Iridescent ink
The ornament on the back of the banknote is printed with gold iridescent ink. The ornament is visible or almost invisible depending on the angle at which the banknote is viewed.
UV security features
Certain graphic elements appear under UV light: a square with the value numeral “500” and the abbreviation “ZŁ” to the left of the portrait, the serial number on the left side of the banknote, the stripe on the top right-hand side of the sovereign’s portrait and some other graphic elements on the front and back of the banknote.
IR security features
Some graphic elements on the front and back of the banknote appear in infrared light.