Banco de la República Starts Circulating the 100 Thousand-Peso Banknote

Attachments
Press Release, printed version
Publication Date:
11:11

On March 31st 2016, Banco de la República started circulating the new $100 thousand peso banknote, the first of the new family.

Valle de Cocora in Quindío, with the wax palm tree (the national tree), the Barranquero bird, and the flower of the Sietecueros, together with the image of President Carlos Lleras Restrepo1 are featured in the new 100 thousand-peso banknote.

Look, touch, lift, tilt, and check are the five steps to recognize the new banknote:

  • Look: Green is the predominant color of the new banknote, with changes in tone. Its measurements are 66 mm × 153 mm.
  • Touch: Feel the embossed images and texts: the figures of the President, the number 100 in Braille, the texts “CIEN MIL PESOS” and “BANCO DE LA REPÚBLICA,” the logo of the Central Bank, the signatures, micro-texts, and the wax palm, among others. These elements facilitate verification of the banknote, especially for the visually impaired. The Central Bank will provide, free of charge, a measuring template for the new banknotes in order to help this population identify the denominations based on their sizes.
  • Lift:Discover the watermarks with the face of President Carlos Lleras Restrepo and the number 100 against the light.
  • Tilt:Note the color change and motion effects present in the flower of the Sietecueros and on the security ribbon, innovative elements that use last generation inks and threads. Also, discover the hidden image (BRC).
  • Check:Some items fluoresce when exposed to ultraviolet light, and micro-texts can be read with a magnifying glass.

As announced, the schedule for the other denominations of the new family of banknotes to begin circulating is:

  • Second quarter: $20 thousand
  • Third quarter: $50 thousand
  • Fourth querter: $10 thousand, $5 thousand, and $2 thousand.

The new family of banknotes responds to the needs of the economy, pays homage to outstanding personalities of the country, and exalts our biodiversity by turning it into the new image of our banknotes.

 

Main Security Elements of the 100 thousand-peso Banknote

Obverse

Embossed printing

  • The image of President Carlos Lleras Restrepo.
  • Text “100 MIL PESOS” in the upper left corner.
  • The texts “BANCO DE LA REPÚBLICA” and “COLOMBIA".
  • The signatures of the Governor of the Central Bank and its Deputy Executive Governor.
  • Stripes with geometric patterns to the sides of the President's face.
  • Common and scientific names of the flower of the “SIETECUEROS".
  • Seven diagonal lines located on the side edges.
  • The number one hundred in Braille at the bottom center (slightly to the left).

Matching images

On the left side, the text “BRC” and the image of the Barranquero bird can be seen, printed partially by obverse and reverse, and completed against the light.

Watermarks

The face of President Carlos Lleras Restrepo is featured at the left side of the banknote with a three-dimensional effect, together with the number “100,” when holding the banknote against the light.

Image with color change and movement

  • The flower of the Sietecueros, located on the left side, exhibits a color-change effect from green to blue; simultaneously, the intense green circle appears to move.

Hidden image

  • On the turquoise-blue strip, when observing the banknote in almost horizontal position at the height of the eyes, the text “BRC” can be seen from the lower, right-hand corner.

Exposure to ultraviolet light

The surface of the banknote must remain opaque, except for the following items:

  • Small fibers that fluoresce in yellow and red, randomly distributed throughout the banknote.
  • The security ribbon fluoresces in red and yellow, alternatively.
  • The series number located at the bottom fluoresces in yellow.
  • Some geometric figures, micro-texts and the image of the Barranquero bird fluoresce in green and orange.

​Micro-texts: to be observed with a magnifying glass

  • Some of the geometric figures located at the sides of the standing character contain the text “BANCO DE LA REPÚBLICA".
  • On the light-green fringe located to the right of the banknote, the texts “BANCO DE LA REPÚBLICA” and “BRC” can be found.
  • On the turquoise-blue vertical line to the right of the banknote, you will find the text “BANCO DE LA REPÚBLICA” can be found.

Reverse

Embossed printing

  • The wax palm and a harvester.
  • Some palms at the bottom.
  • The poem by Luis Vidales allusive to the wax palm.
  • The logo of Banco de la República.
  • The texts “100 MIL PESOS” and “CIEN MIL PESOS".
  • The text: “VALLE DE COCORA".

Security ribbon

  • When tilting the banknote, the left part of the security ribbon changes its color from fuchsia to greenish yellow.
  • While holding the security ribbon against the light, you will see the text “BRC” and the silhouette of the Barranquero bird.

Matching images

To the right side, the text “BRC” (inverted) and the image of the Barranquero bird can be seen, printed partly by obverse and reverse, completed when holding the banknote to the light.

Watermarks

On the right side of the banknote, when holding it to the light, the face of President Carlos Lleras Restrepo with a three-dimensional effect and the number “100” (inverted) may be seen.

Exposure to ultraviolet light

The surface of the banknote must remain opaque, except for the following items:

  • Small fibers that fluoresce in yellow and red, randomly distributed throughout the banknote.
  • Some geometric figures, the micro-text "BARRANQUERO Momotus aequatorialis," and the image of the Barranquero bird fluoresce in green and orange.

Micro-texts: to be observed with a magnifying glass

  • The text “BRC” on two leaves of the main wax palm, on two of the trunks of the lower palms, and on the silhouette of the mountains.
  • At the top right, the poem by Luis Vidales allusive to the wax palm is embossed.
  • The right-hand side displays the date of approval of the banknote's edition, and the text “IMPRENTA DE BILLETES-BANCO DE LA REPÚBLICA".

Banco de la República has made available to the public, free of charge, teaching materials and a smartphone and tablet application for iOS and Android operating systems, where you can consult the security elements of the new 100 thousand peso banknote. To access the free training sessions offered by the Central Bank in its branch offices and cultural centers, please visit: http://www.banrep.gov.co/curso-billetes-monedas

 

1This banknote pays homage to President Carlos Lleras Restrepo, complying with Act 1167 of 2007.