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{{short description|Pattern of symbols incorporated into a number of banknote designs}}
[[Image:10e rec.png|thumb|250px|The small circles or dots constituting the EURion constellation are clearly visible on the centre-left of 10 [[euro]] banknotes.]]
{{use dmy dates |date=November 2021}}
[[Image:EURion20GBP.JPG|thumb|150px|On the Bank of England £20 the EURion constellation appears as "musical notes".]]
[[File:EURion.svg|thumb|150px|The EURion constellation is made up of five rings.]]
A number of new designs of [[banknote]]s contain a pattern known as the '''EURion constellation''' which can be used to detect their identity as banknotes to prevent [[counterfeiting]] using modern inexpensive digital scanners, colour printers, and image processing software. This feature prevents the user from scanning notes, or even printing. It was discovered after some users tried to scan euro banknotes in image editors such as [[Adobe Photoshop]], or [[Paint Shop Pro]].
The '''EURion constellation''' (also known as '''Omron rings'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://regulaforensics.com/en/knowledge-hub/glossary-banknotes/#g818 |title=Glossary of banknotes |publisher=www.regulaforensics.com |date=2009-01-01 |access-date=2014-12-22}}</ref> or '''doughnuts'''<ref name=baraniuk>{{cite web|last1=Baraniuk|first1=Chris|title=The secret codes of British banknotes|url=https://www.bbc.com/future/story/20150624-the-secret-codes-of-british-banknotes|website=[[BBC Future]]|access-date=2015-06-30|date=25 June 2015}}</ref>) is a pattern of [[symbol]]s incorporated into a number of secure documents such as [[banknote]]s, [[cheque]]s, and [[deed|ownership title]] certificates designs worldwide since about 1996. It is added to help [[graphics software|imaging software]] detect the presence of such a document in a digital image. Such software can then block the user from reproducing banknotes to prevent [[counterfeit money|counterfeiting]] using colour [[photocopier]]s.


== Description ==
The EURion constellation consists of a pattern of five small circles, which is repeated across areas of the banknote at different orientations. The name, coined by [[Markus Kuhn]] in [[2003]], is a [[portmanteau]] of [[Orion (constellation)|Orion]], a [[Constellation|constellation]] of similar shape, and EUR, the [[euro]]'s [[ISO 4217]] designation.
[[File:Orion 3008 huge.jpg|right|upright|thumb|The Orion constellation]]
The name "EURion constellation" was coined by security researcher [[Markus Kuhn (computer scientist)|Markus Kuhn]], who uncovered the pattern on the [[10 euro note|10-euro banknote]] in early 2002 while experimenting with a [[Xerox]] colour photocopier that refused to reproduce banknotes.<ref name="kuhn">[[Markus Kuhn (computer scientist)|Markus Kuhn]]: [http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/eurion.pdf The EURion constellation]. Security Group presentation, [[University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory|Computer Laboratory]], [[University of Cambridge]], 8 February 2002.</ref> The pattern has never been mentioned officially; Kuhn named it the EURion constellation as it resembled the astronomical [[Orion (constellation)|Orion constellation]], and EUR is the [[ISO 4217]] designation of the [[euro]] currency.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Happens If You Photocopy Money? |author= |work=OMS Copiers |date= |access-date=2 May 2021 |url= https://omscopiers.com/what-happens-if-you-photocopy-money/}}</ref>


The EURion constellation first described by Kuhn consists of a pattern of five small yellow, green or orange circles, which is repeated across areas of the banknote at different orientations. The mere presence of five of these circles on a page is sufficient for some colour photocopiers to refuse processing.
The EURion constellation was first detected on the new [[Euro banknotes]]. It was then found to have been printed on (obsolete) [[Deutschmark]] notes as well.
The EURion constellation also appears on recent [[British banknotes]], the backs of the new U.S. [[U.S. twenty dollar bill|$20 bill]] and [[U.S. fifty dollar bill|$50 bill]], the current (post ca 1998) Danish banknotes, and all of the 2001 series of [[Canadian dollar|Canadian bills]].


Some banks integrate the constellation tightly with the remaining design of the note. On [[Deutsche Mark#Banknotes of the fourth series|50 DM German banknotes]], the EURion circles formed the innermost circles in a background pattern of fine concentric circles. On the front of former Bank of England Elgar £20 notes, they appear as green heads of musical notes; however, on the [[Adam Smith|Smith]] £20 notes of 2007 the circles merely cluster around the "£20" text. On some [[United States Department of the Treasury|U.S. bills]], they appear as the digit [[0|zero]] in small, yellow numbers matching the value of the note. On [[Japanese yen]], these circles sometimes appear as flowers.
According to an article in ''Wired'', the banknote detection code was designed by the [[Central Bank Counterfeit Deterrence Group]] and supplied to companies such as Adobe as a binary module. However, research by Steven Murdoch and others appears to show that the bankmark detection code also detects other features of banknote design.

Technical details regarding the EURion constellation are kept secret by its inventors and users.<ref name="baraniuk" /> A 1995 patent application<ref name="patent">Mitsutaka Katoh, et al.: Image processing device and method for identifying an input image, and copier scanner and printer including same. [[Omron|Omron Corporation]], {{US patent|5845008}}.</ref> suggests that the pattern and detection algorithm were designed at [[Omron]], a [[Japan]]ese electronics company. It is also not clear whether the feature has any official name. The term "Omron anti-photocopying feature" appeared in an August 2005 press release by the [[Reserve Bank of India]].<ref>[http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_PressReleaseDisplay.aspx?prid=13520 "Issue of Rs.50 denomination banknotes in Mahatma Gandhi Series with additional/new security features without inset letter in numbering panel bearing the signature of Dr. Y. V. Reddy, Governor"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622072556/http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_PressReleaseDisplay.aspx?prid=13520 |date=2011-06-22 }}, Press Release: 2005–2006/245, G. Raghuraj,
Deputy General Manager, Reserve Bank of India, 24 August 2005</ref> In 2007, the term "Omron rings" was used in an award announcement by a banknote collectors society.<ref>[http://www.theibns.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=74:the-2007-banknote-of-the-year&catid=13&Itemid=51 "2007 Bank Note of the Year award: 1,000-franc note from Comoros"]. International Bank Note Society, 15 October 2007. </ref>

== Usage ==
The following table lists some banknotes on which the EURion constellation or Omron rings have been found. Current currencies for which all recent banknotes use the constellation are in '''bold''' and whose central banks are members of the [[Central Bank Counterfeit Deterrence Group]] are ''italicised''.
[[File:EURion twenty.jpg|thumb|200px|Omron rings made by circular zeroes on a US $20 note (marked in blue).]]
{{Sticky header}}
{|class="wikitable sticky-header" style="font-size: 90%"
|-
! Currency !! Notes with Omron rings !! Notes without Omron rings
|-
| '''[[Armenian dram]]''' || 1,000֏ (2001 and 2011), 5,000֏ (2003 and 2012), 10,000֏ (2003 and 2012), 20,000֏ (2007, 2009 and 2012), 100,000֏ (2009)|| 20,000֏ and commemorative 50,000֏
|-
| '''[[Aruban florin|''Aruban guilder'']]''' || All (2003 and 2019) ||
|-
| [[Austrian schilling]]{{ref label|euro|€}} || S&nbsp;500 and S&nbsp;1,000 (1997) || S&nbsp;20, S&nbsp;50, S&nbsp;100, and S&nbsp;5,000
|-
| '''''[[Australian dollar]]''''' || All (2016 onward), Centenary of Federation $5 (2001)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://banknotes.rba.gov.au/australias-banknotes/next-generation-banknotes-program/|title=RBA Banknotes: Next Generation Banknote Program|website=banknotes.rba.gov.au|access-date=2016-04-12}}</ref> ||
|-
| [[Belgian franc]]{{ref label|euro|€}} || 500&nbsp;fr. (1998), 1,000&nbsp;fr. (1997), 10,000&nbsp;fr. (1997) || 100&nbsp;fr., 200&nbsp;fr., and 2,000&nbsp;fr.
|-
| [[Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark]] || KM&nbsp;200 (2002), All (2012) || 50 fenings, KM&nbsp;1, KM&nbsp;5, KM&nbsp;10, KM&nbsp;20, KM&nbsp;50, KM&nbsp;100
|-
| '''''[[Bulgarian lev]]''''' || All (1999), 100&nbsp;лв. (2018) ||
|-
| '''''[[Canadian dollar]]''''' || Banknotes in the [[Canadian Journey Series|Canadian Journey]] (2001–2006) and [[Frontier Series]] (2011–2015), "Canada 150" $10 (2017), $10 ("2018 series") ||
|-
| '''[[CFA franc]]''' || All (both West African and Central African, 2003), All (Central African, 2020) ||
|-
| ''[[Chilean peso]]'' || $1,000 (2011) $2,000 (2010) $5,000 (2009), $10,000 (2010), $20,000 (2010) || $1,000 and $2,000 (old version)
|-
| '''[[Renminbi|Chinese yuan renminbi]]''' || ¥1&nbsp;RMB (2004), 2005 revision of ¥5&nbsp;RMB and above, ¥100&nbsp;RMB (2015), ¥1&nbsp;RMB, ¥10&nbsp;RMB, ¥20&nbsp;RMB and ¥50&nbsp;RMB (2019), ¥5 RMB (2020) ||
|-
| [[Comorian franc]] || All (2005–2006)|| 2,500&nbsp;FC
|-
| [[Croatian kuna]]{{ref label|euro|€}} || 5&nbsp;kn., 10&nbsp;kn., 20&nbsp;kn. (2001), 50&nbsp;kn., 100&nbsp;kn., and 200&nbsp;kn. (2002) || 500&nbsp;kn. and 1,000&nbsp;kn.
|-
| '''''[[Czech koruna]]''''' || 2,000&nbsp;Kč. (2007), 1,000&nbsp;Kč. (2008), 500&nbsp;Kč. (2009), 5,000&nbsp;Kč. (2009), 100&nbsp;Kč. and 200&nbsp;Kč. (2018)|| 100&nbsp;Kč., 200 Kč. (issued until 2018)
|-
| '''''[[Danish krone]]''''' || All (1997, 2002 and 2009 series) ||
|-
| [[Djiboutian franc]] || 1,000&nbsp;Fdj (2005), 2,000&nbsp;Fdj (2008), 10,000&nbsp;Fdj (2009)|| 2,000&nbsp;Fdj, 5,000&nbsp;Fdj, and 10,000&nbsp;Fdj (National Bank of Djibouti issue)
|-
| [[Dutch guilder]]{{ref label|euro|€}} || ƒ10 (1997) || ƒ25, ƒ50, ƒ100, ƒ250, ƒ1,000
|-
| [[Egyptian pound]] || £E&nbsp;5 (2002), £E&nbsp;10 (2003), £E&nbsp;20 (2001), £E&nbsp;50 (2001), £E&nbsp;100 (2000), £E&nbsp;200 (2007) || 25&nbsp;PT., 50&nbsp;PT., £E&nbsp;1
|-
| '''[[Euro banknotes|''Euro'']]''' || All (2002 First series and the 2013 "Europa" series) ||
|-
| '''''[[Faroese króna]]''''' || All (2001 and 2011) ||
|-
| [[French franc]]{{ref label|euro|€}} || 100&nbsp;F (1997) || 50&nbsp;F, 200&nbsp;F, and 500&nbsp;F
|-
| [[Deutsche Mark|German mark]]{{ref label|euro|€}} || DM&nbsp;50, DM&nbsp;100, DM&nbsp;200 (1996–2002) || DM&nbsp;5, DM&nbsp;10, DM&nbsp;20, DM&nbsp;500, DM&nbsp;1,000
|-
| ''[[Guyanese dollar]]'' || G$1,000 (2019) ||
|-
| '''''[[Hungarian forint]]''''' || All (2010 series), 10,000&nbsp;Ft. (2014), 20,000&nbsp;Ft. (2015), 2,000&nbsp;Ft. (2016), 5,000&nbsp;Ft. (2016), 1,000&nbsp;Ft. (2017), 500&nbsp;Ft. (2018) ||
|-
| '''[[Indian rupee]]''' || {{INR}}[[Indian 50-rupee note|50]] (2006 & 2017), {{INR}}[[Indian 100-rupee note|100]] (2005 & 2018), {{INR}}[[Indian 500-rupee note|500]] (2000 & 2016), {{INR}}[[Indian 1000-rupee note|1,000]] (2000 until demonetized in 2016), {{INR}}[[Indian 2000-rupee note|2,000]] (2016 until 2023, not being printed) || {{INR}}[[Indian 5-rupee note|5]], {{INR}}[[Indian 10-rupee note|10]], {{INR}}20, {{INR}}[[Indian 50-rupee note|50]] (Before 2006), 1st edition of {{INR}}[[Indian 100-rupee note|100]] (1996) and {{INR}}[[Indian 500-rupee note|500]] (1997)
|-
| '''''[[Indonesian rupiah]]''''' || Rp10,000 (2010), Rp20,000, Rp50,000, Rp100,000 (2011); all (19 December 2016 and 17 August 2022 series) || Rp1,000 (1952-2016), Rp2,000 (2009-2016), Rp5,000 (1958-2016), Rp10,000 (1964-2009), Rp20,000 (1992-2010), Rp50,000 (1993-2010), Rp100,000 (1999-2010)
|-
| '''''[[Japanese yen]]''''' || ¥2,000 (series D, 2000), series E (2004), series F (2024); ¥1,000 (series F, 2011–present) ||
|-
| '''''[[Kyrgyzstani som]]''''' || All (2009–2010) ||
|-
| '''[[Kuwaiti dinar]]''' || All (2014) ||
|-
| '''[[Macanese pataca]]''' || Banco Da China: All (8.12.2003) ||
|-
| [[Malagasy ariary|'''''Malagasy''' '''ariary''''']] || All (2017) ||
|-
| ''[[Mexican peso]]'' || ''Series D'' Mex$1,000 (2002), All (Series F banknotes; 2006–2010)|| Mex$20 (2002–2007), Mex$50 (1996–2006), Mex$100 (1996–2010), Mex$200 (1996–2008), Mex$500 (1996–2010)
|-
| '''''[[Moroccan dirham]]''''' || All (2002 and 2013) ||
|-
| [[Myanmar kyat]] || Ks.1,000/- (2020),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Friedberg |first1=Arthur L. |title=Central Bank of Myanmar issuing new 1,000-kyat bank note |url=https://www.coinworld.com/news/precious-metals/central-bank-of-myanmar-issuing-new-1-000-kyat-bank-note |website=CoinWorld |access-date=19 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Ks.500/- (2020)<ref>[https://banknotenews.com/?p=29883 Myanmar new 500-kyat note (B118.5a) reported for introduction on 19.07.2020] BanknoteNews (https://banknotenews.com). June 21, 2020. Retrieved on 2020-06-22.</ref> || K.-/50, K.1/-, Ks.5/-, Ks.10/-, Ks.20/-, Ks.50/-, Ks.100/-, Ks.200/-, Ks.500/-, Ks.1,000/- (1998 and 2004 issue), Ks.5,000/-, Ks.10,000/-
|-
| '''[[Namibian dollar]]''' || All (2012) ||
|-
| [[Netherlands Antillean guilder]] || NAƒ10, NAƒ25, NAƒ50, NAƒ100 (1998) || NAƒ250 (1985)
|-
| '''''[[Norwegian krone]]''''' || All (1999 and 2017) ||
|-
| ''[[Polish złoty]]'' || 10&nbsp;zł., 20&nbsp;zł., 50&nbsp;zł., 100&nbsp;zł. (2014), 200&nbsp;zł. (2015), 500&nbsp;zł. (2017) || All (1994)
|-
| '''[[Romanian leu]]''' || All (1996–2001 paper issue), Commemorative 2000&nbsp;Lei (1999), All (2000–2004 polymer issue), All (2005-2021 revaluation polymer issue), 100&nbsp;Lei ("100th Anniversary of the [[Great Union]]" commemorative note) (2018), 100&nbsp;Lei ("100th Anniversary of the Completion of the Great Union" commemorative note) (2019) ||
|-
| '''[[Saudi riyal]]''' || All (2007 and 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021) ||
|-
| '''''[[Singapore dollar]]''''' || All (1999), S$10 and S$50 (2015 ''50th Anniversary of Independence'' commemorative issues)||
|-
| '''''[[South African rand]]''''' || All (2005 "Big Five", 2013 "Nelson Mandela", 2018 "Mandela Centenary" and the 2023 series) || All (2012 "Nelson Mandela" series)
|-
| '''''[[South Korean won]]''''' || All (2006, 2007, 2009 and 2017) ||
|-
| [[Slovak koruna]]{{ref label|euro|€}} || 200&nbsp;Sk., 500&nbsp;Sk., 1,000&nbsp;Sk., 5,000&nbsp;Sk. || 100&nbsp;Sk., 50&nbsp;Sk., 20&nbsp;Sk.
|-
| '''[[Pound sterling|''Sterling'']]''' || [[Bank of England]] [[Bank of England £5 note|£5]] (since 2002), [[Bank of England £10 note|£10]] (since 2000), [[Bank of England £20 note|£20]] (since 1999), [[Bank of England £50 note|£50]] ||
|-
| [[Sudanese pound]] || £S.50 (2018), £S.100 (2019), £S.200 (2019), £S.500 (2019), £S.1,000 (2022) || £S.1, £S.2, £S.5, £S.10, £S.20 and £S.50 (2007 and 2011 issues)
|-
| [[Surinamese dollar]] || Sur$50 and Sur$100 (2010) || Sur$5, Sur$10, Sur$20
|-
| '''[[Swazi lilangeni]]''' || All (2010), E&nbsp;100 and E&nbsp;200 (2017)||
|-
| '''''[[Swedish krona]]''''' || All (2015–) || 20&nbsp;kr. (−2015), 50&nbsp;kr. (−2006), 100&nbsp;kr. (−2001), 500&nbsp;kr. (−2001), 1,000&nbsp;kr. (−2006)
|-
| '''''[[Swiss franc]]''''' || All (2016–)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.srf.ch/sendungen/kassensturz-espresso/weshalb-kann-man-banknoten-nicht-kopieren|title = Geheimnisvoller Kopierschutz – Weshalb kann man Banknoten nicht kopieren?|date = 25 November 2019}}</ref> ||
|-
| '''''[[Thai baht]]''''' ||฿20 (2013), ฿50 (2012), ฿70 (2016), ฿100 (2005, 2010, 2012 and 2015), ฿500 (2014 and 2016), ฿1,000 (2005 and 2015), All (Series 16 "King Bhumibol Adulyadej 2017 memorial banknote series"), All (Series 17 banknotes) (2018) || ฿20 (2003), ฿50 (1997 and 2004), ฿100 (2004), ฿500 (2001), ฿1,000 (1999)
|-
| [[Tunisian dinar]] || DT&nbsp;10 (2005), DT&nbsp;5 (2008), DT&nbsp;50 (2008), DT&nbsp;10 (2013), DT&nbsp;5 (2014), DT&nbsp;20 (2017), DT&nbsp; 10 (2020), DT&nbsp;5 (2022), DT&nbsp;50 (2022) || DT&nbsp;5, DT&nbsp;20, and commemorative DT&nbsp;30
|-
| '''''[[Turkish lira]]''''' || TL&nbsp;20,000,000 (2001), 2005 and 2009 series ||
|-
| '''[[Ugandan shilling]]''' || All (2010) ||
|-
| [[United Arab Emirates dirham]] || Dhs.500 (2011), Dhs.50 (2012) || Dhs.5, Dhs.10, Dhs.20, Dhs.50, Dhs.100, Dhs.200, Dhs.1,000
|-
| '''[[Banknotes of the pound sterling|''United Kingdom sterling'']]''' || All current<ref name=baraniuk/>||
|-

| ''[[United States dollar]]'' || [[United States five-dollar bill|$5]] (Series 2006), [[United States ten-dollar bill|$10]] (Series 2004A), [[United States twenty-dollar bill|$20]] (Series 2004), [[United States fifty-dollar bill|$50]] (Series 2004), [[United States one hundred-dollar bill|$100]] (Series 2009 & 2009A) || [[United States one-dollar bill|$1]] (Series 1963), [[United States two-dollar bill|$2]] (Series 1976), [[United States five-dollar bill|$5]] (Series 1928 to 2006), [[United States ten-dollar bill|$10]] (Series 1928 to 2003), [[United States twenty-dollar bill|$20]] (Series 1928 to 2001), [[United States fifty-dollar bill|$50]] (Series 1928 to 2001), [[United States one hundred-dollar bill|$100]] (Series 1928 to 2006A)
|-
| [[Zimbabwean bond notes]] || $2 (2016), $5 (2017) ||
|-
| [[Zimbabwean dollar (2019–present)|Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) dollar]] || $2 (2019), $5 (2019), $10 (2020), $20 (2020), $50 (2020), $100 (2020) ||
|-
|}

== Other banknote detection mechanisms ==

=== Counterfeit Deterrence System ===
[[File:Photoshop CDS error.png|thumb|300px|Error given by [[Adobe Photoshop]] when attempting to print an image of a [[United States twenty-dollar bill|US$20 bill]].]]
Since 2003, image editors such as [[Adobe Photoshop CS]] or [[PaintShop Pro]] 8 refuse to print banknotes. According to [[wired (magazine)|Wired.com]], the banknote detection code in these applications, called the Counterfeit Deterrence System (CDS), was designed by the [[Central Bank Counterfeit Deterrence Group]] and supplied to companies such as [[Adobe Inc.|Adobe]] as a binary module.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Ulbrich|first1=Chris|title=Currency Detector Easy to Defeat|url=http://archive.wired.com/techbiz/it/news/2004/01/61890?currentPage=all|magazine=WIRED|language=en|date=14 January 2004}}</ref> Experiments by [[Steven Murdoch|Steven J. Murdoch]] and others showed that this banknote detection code does not rely on the EURion pattern.<ref name="Murdoch">{{cite web |author=Steven J. Murdoch |date=13 June 2004 |title=Software Detection of Currency |url=https://murdoch.is/projects/currency/ |access-date=2024-02-10 |publisher=murdoch.is}}</ref> It instead detects a [[digital watermark]] embedded in the images, developed by [[Digimarc]].<ref>Digimarc: SEC Filing, Form S-1/A, Exhibit 10.9, [https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1089443/0000929624-99-002034.txt Counterfeit Deterrence System Development and License Agreement], 24 November 1999.</ref>

== See also ==
* [[printer tracking dots|Printer steganography]], used by some colour laser printers to add hidden encoded information to printouts
* [[Coded anti-piracy]], an anti–copyright-infringement technology which marks each film print of a motion picture with distinguishing patterns of dots, used as a forensic identifier to identify the source of illegal copies

== Notes ==
# {{note|euro}} Some currencies (marked <sup>[€]</sup>) were replaced by the euro before the complete adoption of the EURion constellation.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== Further reading ==
* {{cite press release|title=Photoshop and CDS|publisher=Adobe Systems Incorporated|url=http://www.adobe.com/special/products/photoshop/cds.html}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://www.rulesforuse.org/ The rules for currency image use]- website of the Central Bank Counterfeit Deterrence Group (CBCDG)
* http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/eurion.pdf (in [[Adobe Acrobat]] format)
* [https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/5591895/;jsessionid=9C0B9053C599AC4C953BEC8CB478D1E2?arnumber=5591895 Nieves, J.; Ruiz-Agundez, I. & Bringas, P. (2010), 'Recognizing Banknote Patterns for Protecting Economic Transactions''Database and Expert Systems Applications (DEXA), 2010 Workshop on', IEEE, 247—249.]
* http://www.freedom-to-tinker.com/archives/000497.html
* [http://datagenetics.com/blog/september12015/index.html Data Genetics, Anti Counterfeit Measures ]
* http://www.wildspark.com/eurionize/ - Add the EURion Constellation to a [[PostScript]] document
* http://www.wired.com/news/print/0,1294,61890,00.html
* http://www.nationalbanken.dk/DNDK/money.nsf/side/200-kr!OpenDocument - current danish currency


[[Category: Money forgery]]
[[Category:Money forgery]]
[[Category: Currencies]]
[[Category:Currency production]]
[[Category: Portmanteaus]]
[[Category:Banknotes]]
[[Category:Watermarking]]
[[Category:Hardware restrictions]]
[[Category:Computer-related introductions in 1996]]
[[Category:2002 neologisms]]

Latest revision as of 18:08, 25 December 2024

The EURion constellation is made up of five rings.

The EURion constellation (also known as Omron rings[1] or doughnuts[2]) is a pattern of symbols incorporated into a number of secure documents such as banknotes, cheques, and ownership title certificates designs worldwide since about 1996. It is added to help imaging software detect the presence of such a document in a digital image. Such software can then block the user from reproducing banknotes to prevent counterfeiting using colour photocopiers.

Description

[edit]
The Orion constellation

The name "EURion constellation" was coined by security researcher Markus Kuhn, who uncovered the pattern on the 10-euro banknote in early 2002 while experimenting with a Xerox colour photocopier that refused to reproduce banknotes.[3] The pattern has never been mentioned officially; Kuhn named it the EURion constellation as it resembled the astronomical Orion constellation, and EUR is the ISO 4217 designation of the euro currency.[4]

The EURion constellation first described by Kuhn consists of a pattern of five small yellow, green or orange circles, which is repeated across areas of the banknote at different orientations. The mere presence of five of these circles on a page is sufficient for some colour photocopiers to refuse processing.

Some banks integrate the constellation tightly with the remaining design of the note. On 50 DM German banknotes, the EURion circles formed the innermost circles in a background pattern of fine concentric circles. On the front of former Bank of England Elgar £20 notes, they appear as green heads of musical notes; however, on the Smith £20 notes of 2007 the circles merely cluster around the "£20" text. On some U.S. bills, they appear as the digit zero in small, yellow numbers matching the value of the note. On Japanese yen, these circles sometimes appear as flowers.

Technical details regarding the EURion constellation are kept secret by its inventors and users.[2] A 1995 patent application[5] suggests that the pattern and detection algorithm were designed at Omron, a Japanese electronics company. It is also not clear whether the feature has any official name. The term "Omron anti-photocopying feature" appeared in an August 2005 press release by the Reserve Bank of India.[6] In 2007, the term "Omron rings" was used in an award announcement by a banknote collectors society.[7]

Usage

[edit]

The following table lists some banknotes on which the EURion constellation or Omron rings have been found. Current currencies for which all recent banknotes use the constellation are in bold and whose central banks are members of the Central Bank Counterfeit Deterrence Group are italicised.

Omron rings made by circular zeroes on a US $20 note (marked in blue).
Currency Notes with Omron rings Notes without Omron rings
Armenian dram 1,000֏ (2001 and 2011), 5,000֏ (2003 and 2012), 10,000֏ (2003 and 2012), 20,000֏ (2007, 2009 and 2012), 100,000֏ (2009) 20,000֏ and commemorative 50,000֏
Aruban guilder All (2003 and 2019)
Austrian schilling[€] S 500 and S 1,000 (1997) S 20, S 50, S 100, and S 5,000
Australian dollar All (2016 onward), Centenary of Federation $5 (2001)[8]
Belgian franc[€] 500 fr. (1998), 1,000 fr. (1997), 10,000 fr. (1997) 100 fr., 200 fr., and 2,000 fr.
Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark KM 200 (2002), All (2012) 50 fenings, KM 1, KM 5, KM 10, KM 20, KM 50, KM 100
Bulgarian lev All (1999), 100 лв. (2018)
Canadian dollar Banknotes in the Canadian Journey (2001–2006) and Frontier Series (2011–2015), "Canada 150" $10 (2017), $10 ("2018 series")
CFA franc All (both West African and Central African, 2003), All (Central African, 2020)
Chilean peso $1,000 (2011) $2,000 (2010) $5,000 (2009), $10,000 (2010), $20,000 (2010) $1,000 and $2,000 (old version)
Chinese yuan renminbi ¥1 RMB (2004), 2005 revision of ¥5 RMB and above, ¥100 RMB (2015), ¥1 RMB, ¥10 RMB, ¥20 RMB and ¥50 RMB (2019), ¥5 RMB (2020)
Comorian franc All (2005–2006) 2,500 FC
Croatian kuna[€] 5 kn., 10 kn., 20 kn. (2001), 50 kn., 100 kn., and 200 kn. (2002) 500 kn. and 1,000 kn.
Czech koruna 2,000 Kč. (2007), 1,000 Kč. (2008), 500 Kč. (2009), 5,000 Kč. (2009), 100 Kč. and 200 Kč. (2018) 100 Kč., 200 Kč. (issued until 2018)
Danish krone All (1997, 2002 and 2009 series)
Djiboutian franc 1,000 Fdj (2005), 2,000 Fdj (2008), 10,000 Fdj (2009) 2,000 Fdj, 5,000 Fdj, and 10,000 Fdj (National Bank of Djibouti issue)
Dutch guilder[€] ƒ10 (1997) ƒ25, ƒ50, ƒ100, ƒ250, ƒ1,000
Egyptian pound £E 5 (2002), £E 10 (2003), £E 20 (2001), £E 50 (2001), £E 100 (2000), £E 200 (2007) 25 PT., 50 PT., £E 1
Euro All (2002 First series and the 2013 "Europa" series)
Faroese króna All (2001 and 2011)
French franc[€] 100 F (1997) 50 F, 200 F, and 500 F
German mark[€] DM 50, DM 100, DM 200 (1996–2002) DM 5, DM 10, DM 20, DM 500, DM 1,000
Guyanese dollar G$1,000 (2019)
Hungarian forint All (2010 series), 10,000 Ft. (2014), 20,000 Ft. (2015), 2,000 Ft. (2016), 5,000 Ft. (2016), 1,000 Ft. (2017), 500 Ft. (2018)
Indian rupee ₹50 (2006 & 2017), ₹100 (2005 & 2018), ₹500 (2000 & 2016), ₹1,000 (2000 until demonetized in 2016), ₹2,000 (2016 until 2023, not being printed) ₹5, ₹10, ₹20, ₹50 (Before 2006), 1st edition of ₹100 (1996) and ₹500 (1997)
Indonesian rupiah Rp10,000 (2010), Rp20,000, Rp50,000, Rp100,000 (2011); all (19 December 2016 and 17 August 2022 series) Rp1,000 (1952-2016), Rp2,000 (2009-2016), Rp5,000 (1958-2016), Rp10,000 (1964-2009), Rp20,000 (1992-2010), Rp50,000 (1993-2010), Rp100,000 (1999-2010)
Japanese yen ¥2,000 (series D, 2000), series E (2004), series F (2024); ¥1,000 (series F, 2011–present)
Kyrgyzstani som All (2009–2010)
Kuwaiti dinar All (2014)
Macanese pataca Banco Da China: All (8.12.2003)
Malagasy ariary All (2017)
Mexican peso Series D Mex$1,000 (2002), All (Series F banknotes; 2006–2010) Mex$20 (2002–2007), Mex$50 (1996–2006), Mex$100 (1996–2010), Mex$200 (1996–2008), Mex$500 (1996–2010)
Moroccan dirham All (2002 and 2013)
Myanmar kyat Ks.1,000/- (2020),[9] Ks.500/- (2020)[10] K.-/50, K.1/-, Ks.5/-, Ks.10/-, Ks.20/-, Ks.50/-, Ks.100/-, Ks.200/-, Ks.500/-, Ks.1,000/- (1998 and 2004 issue), Ks.5,000/-, Ks.10,000/-
Namibian dollar All (2012)
Netherlands Antillean guilder NAƒ10, NAƒ25, NAƒ50, NAƒ100 (1998) NAƒ250 (1985)
Norwegian krone All (1999 and 2017)
Polish złoty 10 zł., 20 zł., 50 zł., 100 zł. (2014), 200 zł. (2015), 500 zł. (2017) All (1994)
Romanian leu All (1996–2001 paper issue), Commemorative 2000 Lei (1999), All (2000–2004 polymer issue), All (2005-2021 revaluation polymer issue), 100 Lei ("100th Anniversary of the Great Union" commemorative note) (2018), 100 Lei ("100th Anniversary of the Completion of the Great Union" commemorative note) (2019)
Saudi riyal All (2007 and 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021)
Singapore dollar All (1999), S$10 and S$50 (2015 50th Anniversary of Independence commemorative issues)
South African rand All (2005 "Big Five", 2013 "Nelson Mandela", 2018 "Mandela Centenary" and the 2023 series) All (2012 "Nelson Mandela" series)
South Korean won All (2006, 2007, 2009 and 2017)
Slovak koruna[€] 200 Sk., 500 Sk., 1,000 Sk., 5,000 Sk. 100 Sk., 50 Sk., 20 Sk.
Sterling Bank of England £5 (since 2002), £10 (since 2000), £20 (since 1999), £50
Sudanese pound £S.50 (2018), £S.100 (2019), £S.200 (2019), £S.500 (2019), £S.1,000 (2022) £S.1, £S.2, £S.5, £S.10, £S.20 and £S.50 (2007 and 2011 issues)
Surinamese dollar Sur$50 and Sur$100 (2010) Sur$5, Sur$10, Sur$20
Swazi lilangeni All (2010), E 100 and E 200 (2017)
Swedish krona All (2015–) 20 kr. (−2015), 50 kr. (−2006), 100 kr. (−2001), 500 kr. (−2001), 1,000 kr. (−2006)
Swiss franc All (2016–)[11]
Thai baht ฿20 (2013), ฿50 (2012), ฿70 (2016), ฿100 (2005, 2010, 2012 and 2015), ฿500 (2014 and 2016), ฿1,000 (2005 and 2015), All (Series 16 "King Bhumibol Adulyadej 2017 memorial banknote series"), All (Series 17 banknotes) (2018) ฿20 (2003), ฿50 (1997 and 2004), ฿100 (2004), ฿500 (2001), ฿1,000 (1999)
Tunisian dinar DT 10 (2005), DT 5 (2008), DT 50 (2008), DT 10 (2013), DT 5 (2014), DT 20 (2017), DT  10 (2020), DT 5 (2022), DT 50 (2022) DT 5, DT 20, and commemorative DT 30
Turkish lira TL 20,000,000 (2001), 2005 and 2009 series
Ugandan shilling All (2010)
United Arab Emirates dirham Dhs.500 (2011), Dhs.50 (2012) Dhs.5, Dhs.10, Dhs.20, Dhs.50, Dhs.100, Dhs.200, Dhs.1,000
United Kingdom sterling All current[2]
United States dollar $5 (Series 2006), $10 (Series 2004A), $20 (Series 2004), $50 (Series 2004), $100 (Series 2009 & 2009A) $1 (Series 1963), $2 (Series 1976), $5 (Series 1928 to 2006), $10 (Series 1928 to 2003), $20 (Series 1928 to 2001), $50 (Series 1928 to 2001), $100 (Series 1928 to 2006A)
Zimbabwean bond notes $2 (2016), $5 (2017)
Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) dollar $2 (2019), $5 (2019), $10 (2020), $20 (2020), $50 (2020), $100 (2020)

Other banknote detection mechanisms

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Counterfeit Deterrence System

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Error given by Adobe Photoshop when attempting to print an image of a US$20 bill.

Since 2003, image editors such as Adobe Photoshop CS or PaintShop Pro 8 refuse to print banknotes. According to Wired.com, the banknote detection code in these applications, called the Counterfeit Deterrence System (CDS), was designed by the Central Bank Counterfeit Deterrence Group and supplied to companies such as Adobe as a binary module.[12] Experiments by Steven J. Murdoch and others showed that this banknote detection code does not rely on the EURion pattern.[13] It instead detects a digital watermark embedded in the images, developed by Digimarc.[14]

See also

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  • Printer steganography, used by some colour laser printers to add hidden encoded information to printouts
  • Coded anti-piracy, an anti–copyright-infringement technology which marks each film print of a motion picture with distinguishing patterns of dots, used as a forensic identifier to identify the source of illegal copies

Notes

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  1. ^ Some currencies (marked [€]) were replaced by the euro before the complete adoption of the EURion constellation.

References

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  1. ^ "Glossary of banknotes". www.regulaforensics.com. 1 January 2009. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Baraniuk, Chris (25 June 2015). "The secret codes of British banknotes". BBC Future. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  3. ^ Markus Kuhn: The EURion constellation. Security Group presentation, Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 8 February 2002.
  4. ^ "What Happens If You Photocopy Money?". OMS Copiers. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  5. ^ Mitsutaka Katoh, et al.: Image processing device and method for identifying an input image, and copier scanner and printer including same. Omron Corporation, U.S. patent 5,845,008.
  6. ^ "Issue of Rs.50 denomination banknotes in Mahatma Gandhi Series with additional/new security features without inset letter in numbering panel bearing the signature of Dr. Y. V. Reddy, Governor" Archived 2011-06-22 at the Wayback Machine, Press Release: 2005–2006/245, G. Raghuraj, Deputy General Manager, Reserve Bank of India, 24 August 2005
  7. ^ "2007 Bank Note of the Year award: 1,000-franc note from Comoros". International Bank Note Society, 15 October 2007.
  8. ^ "RBA Banknotes: Next Generation Banknote Program". banknotes.rba.gov.au. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  9. ^ Friedberg, Arthur L. "Central Bank of Myanmar issuing new 1,000-kyat bank note". CoinWorld. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  10. ^ Myanmar new 500-kyat note (B118.5a) reported for introduction on 19.07.2020 BanknoteNews (https://banknotenews.com). June 21, 2020. Retrieved on 2020-06-22.
  11. ^ "Geheimnisvoller Kopierschutz – Weshalb kann man Banknoten nicht kopieren?". 25 November 2019.
  12. ^ Ulbrich, Chris (14 January 2004). "Currency Detector Easy to Defeat". WIRED.
  13. ^ Steven J. Murdoch (13 June 2004). "Software Detection of Currency". murdoch.is. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  14. ^ Digimarc: SEC Filing, Form S-1/A, Exhibit 10.9, Counterfeit Deterrence System Development and License Agreement, 24 November 1999.

Further reading

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