The watermark is a portrait of Jón Sigurðsson, leader of Iceland’s independence movement. It is clearly visible on both sides of the note when held up to the light.
The note has a multicoloured metallic thread embedded in the paper, 1.2 mm wide and windowed on the obverse. When held up to the light it appears as a continuous line. The cleartext inscription reads 500KR.
On both sides of the note there is intaglio printing which can be detected by touch.
Microtext on the lectern on the obverse, when magnified, forms a continuous line with the words SEÐLABANKI ÍSLANDS.
The unique serial number of the note is printed in red on the obverse, but appears yellow under ultraviolet light.
The number 500 is printed horizontally with red shadowing at the top left of the obverse and at the top right on the reverse. When magnified, the shadowing of the numbers forms a continuous pattern of the abbreviation SÍ.
On the right half of the obverse, by the upper and lower margins, is extra small print forming a continuous line with the words SEÐLABANKI ÍSLANDS.
A fluorescent green print enclosing the number 500 is visible towards the top of the middle when the note is exposed to ultraviolet light.
The paper is made of raw cotton with a different feel from that of normal paper.
Cornerstone
A reinforced cornerstone watermark enhances the note’s durability and security.
One vertical line is intaglio-printed on the obverse to assist the visually handicapped in recognising this note.
