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Description

This activity gives everyone the chance to learn about the security features on our currency so they can learn to spot any fakes or forgeries. Everyone will work in teams to create some of their own super secure money, then they’ll put it to the test by trying to copy another team’s notes.

If you’ve already completed Coin design, you could use the designs as a starting point for this activity.

Resources

Pens or pencils
Scrap paper
Aluminium foil
Needle and thread
Paintbrush or cotton bud
Lemon juice
UV paint and blacklight (optional)
Example coins and notes (optional)
Devices with access to the internet (optional)

Instructions

Step 1: Investigate different security features
Everyone should split into smaller teams of 3 or 4 people.
The person leading the activity should give each group some example notes or some information about notes from the Bank of England.
Each team should chat about some elements of the notes that they find interesting. Can they spot any security features?
(Why are these security features are important? What would happen if people could copy money more easily? How else might some of these features be helpful? For example, someone who’s blind could feel the raised print on the notes.)
Each team should take it in turns to share some of their ideas with the wider group.

Step 2: make some money
Now it’s time to get creative! Each team should think about the features they’ve just talked about and choose some to include on their own bank notes.
The person leading the activity should give everyone pens, paper, and equipment that’ll help them add security features to their notes.
(Check out ‘fake security features’ below for some ideas about what you can use to add security features.)
Everyone should work in their teams to create their own money with different security features that will make it much harder for other teams to forge their notes.

Step 3: real or fake?
Once everyone’s had enough time to create some of their own super secure money, they should swap their new currency with another team.
Each team should spend a few minutes investigating their new notes – what security features can they spot? How hard would it be to copy them?
(You could set a timer for a minute or two to make things more interesting!)
Everyone should work in their teams to try to make a copy of the notes. They should copy the design and any of the security features that they spotted.
Everyone should come back together as a group. They should compare the original notes to the ones another group forged. Can people tell which ones are fake?
(Think about whether it was easy to tell them apart. What did people use to spot the differences? Were some features easier to spot and copy?)


Fake security features
Use thread to weave a pattern through the paper.
Create a water mark using lemon juice – hold the note up to the light to make it visible.
Add secret features using UV or glow-in-the-dark paint.
Add tiny micro lettering. How small and exact can you make it?
Think of way to create texture for those who are blind or visually impaired.
Add a shiny foil feature.
Use foil to make embossed images.
Include shapes on one side that you can see from the other side if you lift the note up to the light.
Include references to people, places, or words that matter to you.

Tags

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Badge Links

• Money Skills - Safety Guide