Come nasce una banconota - Estratto video della trasmissione Rai "Superquark"

Summary

The script offers an in-depth look into the creation of a €50 banknote, detailing the 45-day process at Rome's Guido Carli center. It covers the initial cotton paper production, offset printing, serigraphy for the value, holographic stamping, and serial number application. The script also delves into quality control measures, including high-resolution scanning for imperfections. Finally, it touches on the distribution, verification methods, and the banknote's lifecycle, concluding with its destruction and energy production at the end of its use.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The script describes the process of creating a €50 banknote, starting from a building in Rome designed by Pierluigi Nervi, which houses the printing press.
• 💼 The building is highly secure with sophisticated surveillance and alarm systems, and the banknotes are produced with meticulous quality control.
• 📜 Banknotes are not made of regular paper but of pure cotton, which makes them more durable and harder to counterfeit.
• 🖨️ The printing process involves offset printing, which allows for simultaneous printing on both sides of the banknote.
• 🔍 Special inks are used, including a color-changing ink for the denomination to combat counterfeiting.
• 🌐 Banknotes are not only circulated in Italy but also throughout Europe and the world, as part of an international financial agreement.
• 🔢 The process from start to finish takes 45 days, involving constant counting and recounting with automated systems.
• 🛠️ A high-resolution scanning system is used to detect even the smallest imperfections in the banknotes to ensure quality.
• 📦 Once printed, banknotes are cut, bundled, and packaged in special boxes, each containing 10,000 notes weighing 9 kg.
• 🔐 Banknotes are stored in a secure vault called 'sacristia' before being distributed to the cash structures of the Bank of Italy and then to banks.
• 🗑️ At the end of their life cycle, banknotes are destroyed and turned into briquettes to be used as fuel for electricity generation.

Q & A

How long does it take for a €50 banknote to be produced?

It takes 45 days for a €50 banknote to be produced.

Where is the building located that prints the Euro banknotes?

The building is located in Rome on via Tuscolana and was designed by Pierluigi Nervi.

What is the name of the center where Euro banknotes are printed in Rome?

The center is called the Centro Guido Carli, which is the site of the Bank of Italy's banknote printing facility.

Which denominations of Euro banknotes are currently being printed by the Bank of Italy?

The Bank of Italy is currently printing €10, €50, and €100 banknotes.

What material are Euro banknotes made of?

Euro banknotes are made of pure cotton, which makes them more resistant.

What is the purpose of the watermark and security thread in Euro banknotes?

The watermark and security thread are features that are difficult to counterfeit and help in the fight against counterfeit money.

How long does the ink take to dry after the offset printing process for banknotes?

The ink takes approximately 10 days to dry after the offset printing process.

What is the purpose of the intaglio printing process in banknote production?

The intaglio printing process is used to apply ink with great pressure to create a raised effect on certain areas of the banknote, making it thicker and detectable by touch.

What is the function of the holographic stripe on Euro banknotes?

The holographic stripe serves as a security feature that changes colors and reveals different elements when the banknote is moved, making it difficult to counterfeit.

How are the banknotes checked for quality throughout the production process?

Banknotes are constantly counted and checked with automatic systems throughout the 45-day production process. Additionally, samples are taken for rigorous examination to maintain high quality.

What happens to Euro banknotes at the end of their life cycle?

Old banknotes are destroyed and turned into coriandoli, which are then compacted and sent to a power plant to produce electricity.

How can one verify the authenticity of a €50 Euro banknote?

One can verify the authenticity of a €50 banknote by touching it to feel the texture and raised print, looking at the watermark and security thread when held up to the light, and moving it to see the color-changing effects of the holographic stripe and the color-shifting ink on the denomination value.