Bank Negara Malaysia issued a RM50 denomination polymer commemorative bank note for the first time to commemorate the Kuala Lumpur 98 - XVI Commonwealth Games on 1 June 1998.
New Design
This RM50 commemorative polymer bank note has a different design compared to the RM50 denomination circulation note. The bank note measures 152mm X 76mm.
It is yellowish blue in colour and carries design motifs which depict Malaysia's economic development, and also the XVI Commonwealth Games. The front side features
the portrait of the first Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the right and the Kuala Lumpur city skyline with prominent landmarks in the centre.
The Commonwealth Games "Look Programme" which features the stylised
butterfly symbol, and the gold-coloured Optical Variable Device (OVD) with the
portrait of the first Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong in the clear
window, appear on the left. The logo of Bank Negara Malaysia appears in the
other clear window on the right of the note. The Kuala Lumpur International
Airport is featured as the central backdrop. To the right, the background design
shows the artist's impression of the Multimedia Super Corridor connecting Kuala
Lumpur City to Putrajaya, Cyberjaya and the new Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
The back design shows the Stadium Utama Bukit Jalil in the centre. The logo
of Kuala Lumpur 98-XVI Commonwealth Games appears on the left of the note.
Security Features
New security features are incorporated in this RM50 polymer bank note. It combines
conventional security features commonly found in paper bank note and innovative
security features which are unique to polymer bank notes. These features provide
protection against the use of contemporary high resolution digital colour copiers
and scanners. The security features of this RM50 Polymer bank note include the
following:
(1) Clear Security Windows - visible from both sides of the note, they are readily
identifiable features, including under low light conditions.
(2) Optical Variable Device - positioned in the larger clear window and visible
from both sides, a bright golden-coloured diffractive Optical Variable Device
features the portrait of the first Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Clearly visible optical shifts are generated when the note is tilted to the
light.
(3) Security Vignette - Bank Negara Malaysia's logo appears, printed in white
in the smaller clear window and visible from both sides of the note.
(4) Intaglio Micro-Lettering - part of the background behind the portrait and
the ring shape around the stadium contains micro-lettering of the words "KL
98 Games" which can be viewed under a magnifying glass.
(5) Visible and Invisible Fluorescing Printing - elements of the background
designs, the Games logo and the two serial numbers will fluoresce when seen
under ultra violet light. Invisible under normal conditions, the denomination
will also appear when exposed to ultra violet light.
(6) Anti Scanner / Copier Patterns - the note features certain areas, designed
such that these will change appearance when copied.
(7) Overcoating - the special protective coating of the polymer notes will make
the security features in the polymer notes stay in a good condition over the
entire life of the note. The numbers are positioned in two rectangles, which
have not been overcoated, and these can be seen when the note is tilted at an
angle.
This RM50 commemorative polymer bank note is a collector's item produced in
a limited quantity, that is 500,000 sets. The note is legal tender. This commemorative
note was available at all commercial banks from 1 June 1998.
Source: Polymer Bank Notes of the World by Stane Straus
Find out about the security
features of this note from the Central Bank of Malaysia.
