Circulated polymer banknotes: fingermark visualisation
Results of a study into the most effective methods of fingermark visualisation for Bank of England £20 and £50 circulated polymer banknotes.
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This publication was distributed to FELs in January 2024.
This guidance also forms part of the second edition of the Fingermark Visualisation Manual (FVM). Further research has since been completed on £20 and £50 polymer banknotes.
As the initial research only focussed on uncirculated £5 and £10 notes, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has conducted additional work to ensure this guidance is still fit for purpose now that all denominations are in circulation.
The results of the study concur with the original research conducted on the Bank of England polymer banknotes by the team whereby Black Magnetic Powder (BMP) was the most effective as a single process, and was used in the most effective sequence. This study supports the current guidelines in the FVM with some additional considerations and conclusions.