When you tilt the banknote, a changing image must appear on the hologram on the front – the silver strip on small denomination notes (€5, €10 and €20) or the silver disc on large denomination notes (on denominations of €50, €100, €200 and €500): alternating the face value and a window or a gate. On the back, you can see the shiny strip or the amount of the banknote in a changing colour.
The new banknotes in euros have a new security element: the small slanting dashes printed at the ends of the front of the banknote, which facilitate recognition of the banknote by touch for the visually impaired.
In addition to your sharp eyes, there is an infallible technique for recognising a counterfeit banknote: ultraviolet light.
Under violet light, the banknote darkens and certain parts become green. In particular, this includes the European flag or the signature of the representative of the European Central bank. On the back, the map, the bridge and the figure of the face value stand out in yellow.
You can also use an infrared lamp.
At the front, only the emerald green face value, the right-hand part of the main pattern and the silver strip are visible under an infrared light. At the back, only the figure indicating the face value and the horizontal serial number appear.
You are now experts in detecting counterfeit banknotes!
Even though Luxembourg is only slightly affected by the traffic of counterfeit notes, be vigilant. If you think that you have a counterfeit banknote, contact the police or the Luxembourg Central Bank, which will destroy it. Please bear in mind that you will not recover the value of this banknote.