While bills and coins are used for lower amount of money, banknotes are used for higher value of the same. It is believed that the first banknotes were used in ancient China.

Printing of banknotes began in the 18th century in the United States. Owing to the high values of banknotes the detail aspects of the printing technology of banknotes are kept secret by all banks till date. The making of the banknotes is an art in itself, the process begins with the designers and engravers conceiving the design and creating documents. Once the design is decided then the notes go into printing press. The Intaglio or Engraving printing technology method is a popular technology, and is most prevalent. This method is accepted worldwide making it the universal method for printing most currencies in the world.

The Intaglio or Engraving technology used in the printing of banknotes makes it virtually foolproof to reproduce as it gives the ‘feel of steel’ touch for instant verification and the raised 3D effect. With this technology, the height to the ink is coupled with the notes being engraved at different depths giving the different parts of the banknotes a ‘raised’ feel. Apart from the intaglio printing technology, the other printing technologies used for printing banknotes include the Woodcut process which is one of the earliest printing processes. Lithography is another popular method which evolved as a new printing technology soon after the introduction of the relief printing technique in the 15th century.

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