I. Substrate
When we look at a certain banknote, the first thing that comes to our eyes is often the substrate, i.e., the material on which the banknote is being printed. Unlike the regular banknotes we use in everyday life, banknotes issued by micronations usually adopt rather simpler materials in order to facilitate the printing process and also reduce its costs, albeit some micronations also use specialized materials to enhance the aesthetics of their banknotes or as a security measure against counterfeiting. To summarize, these substrates can be briefly categorized into two braod groups, i.e., paper and polymer, whereas either group consists of a series of slightly different variants.
Matte paper: In terms of paper types, matte paper has been adopted by the vast majority of the micronational community as the banknote substrate due to its ubiquity and cheapness. This refers to not only the multipurpose plain paper that we use on a regular basis for copying and printing, but also any types of colored paper, sticker paper, cardboard, etc., that comes with a dull finish (i.e., without a shine).
Coated paper: Contrary to matte paper, coated paper comes with a glossy finish and is often used for magazines and marketing materials. Some micronations choose to print their banknotes on coated paper as the product often has a brighter and much more contrasting color scheme than those printed on plain paper. Micronations that have used coated paper for their banknotes include Edristan, Frioul, etc.
Laid paper: Sometimes considered as a type of watermarked paper, laid paper refers to the type of paper with a ribbed texture (i.e., with horizontal or vertical lines), which can often been seen when held against the light. Laid paper is typically used for high-quality invitations and business cards, and may come with real watermark revealing its manufacturer, e.g., Conqueror®. Micronations that have used laid paper for their banknotes include Gordjan, Užupis, etc.
Linen paper: As the name suggests, linen paper refers to the type of paper having a texture resembling that of linen fabric (i.e., with horizontal and vertical lines). Unlike laid paper, the linen-like texture of linen paper is not reflected through watermark, but only through the finish of the paper, even though it may still come with watermark of the manufacturer. Linen paper is often used for gift wrapping, as well as high-quality envelopes and book covers. Micronations that have used linen paper for their banknotes include Boshka, Molossia, etc.
Parchment: Parchment paper refers to a type of high-quality paper that is made to look like real parchment. Used primarily for artistic purposes, it often has a brown to beige color as well as a relatively coarse finish. Micronations that have used parchment paper for their banknotes include Evrugo, Tír na nÓg, etc.
Other types of specialty paper: Apart from the types of paper discussed above, a few micronations have also used specialty paper with other types of unusual texture for their banknotes. These include, for example, Elleore & Saint-Castin (printed on specialty paper with a rough texture) and Fidelis (printed on specialty paper with a shiny and melon-like finish). For watermarked paper and security thread paper, please read the "Watermark" and "Hologram & Security Strip" sections below, respectively.
Teslin: TESLIN® is a special synthetic paper manufactured by PPG Industries that is often categorized as a type of polymer. Most commonly used for product labels, Teslin is very similar to traditional polymer substrates in terms of its outstanding waterproof and tear-resistant quality. Micronations that have used Teslin for their banknotes include Atlantium, ISSA, etc.
Tyvek: Tyvek® is a type of durable and waterproof synthetic fiber manufactured by DuPont that is often used for festival wristbands, etc. Unlike Teslin, Tyvek was actually used in the 1970s for banknotes of Haiti, the Isle of Man, etc., as an early attempt of producing polymer banknotes before the commonly known polymer substrate was introduced later in Australia. The only micronation that has used Tyvek for its banknotes is Saugeais.
Other polymer substrates: As with banknotes of macronations, those of micronations sometimes also adopts plastic, resin, or other polymer substrates for better durability and as an anti-counterfeiting measure. Earlier micronational attempts of polymer banknotes include those issued by the Republic of the Earth (2001), Riviera (1996), etc., whereas others have started to issue polymer banknotes in more recent years, e.g., Kamberra and North Barchant.
II. Design Process
III. Printing Process
IV. Stamping, Embossing & Foiling
V. Watermark
A common security feature among all types of banknotes issued by macronations, watermark refers to a hidden image incorporated directly to the banknote paper that is visible only when it is held against the light. Despite its relatively high cost, watermarked paper is also used by a number of micronations for their banknotes. It can be briefly categorized to the following three types: general watermark, local watermark, and fake watermark (i.e., hidden image).
General watermark: The hidden image (watermark) is repeated all over the banknote. While general watermark has become somewhat outdated for banknotes we use in daily life, it is often preferred by micronations as it is relatively easier and cheaper to acquire watermarked paper with general watermark. Typical patterns of general watermark include geometric shapes (as shown on banknotes from Alcatraz and Malu Entu), flowers (as shown on banknotes from Edristan and Kamberra), etc.
Local watermark: The hidden image (watermark) is not repeated and is only revealed on a specific area of the banknote, i.e., the watermark area, which is often purposefully left blank so that the watermark can be easily seen. While this is the most common type of watermark that we can see on US$ or Euro bills, not so many micronations choose to adopt it for banknotes, as such watermarked paper is often customized and can be extremely expensive for micronationalists. Those that adopt local watermark for their banknotes include Kamberra, Reunion, etc.
Fake watermark: The hidden image is not a real watermark incorporated into the paper, but rather printed or inscribed inside the banknote. Historically, it is best known for its appearance among old Tibetan banknotes, for which they would prepare two separate pieces of paper, reversely inscribe the hidden text on one of them, and then stick both pieces together to form a real banknote. The only micronation that has used hidden image on its banknotes is Yangina.
VI. Hologram & Security Strip
VII. Other Add-on Features
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