Front of note Rear of note Front of note Front of note Front of note Front of note Front of note Rear of note Rear of note Rear of note Rear of note Rear of note
Front of note / Look / Print Quality Front of note / Look / Print Quality
Front of note / Look / Watermark Front of note / Look / Watermark
Front of note / Look / Security Thread Front of note / Look / Security Thread
Front of note / Look / See Through Front of note / Look / See Through
Front of note / Look / Microprint Front of note / Look / Microprint
Front of note / Look / Serial Numbers Front of note / Look / Serial Numbers
Front of note / Look / Denomination Numerals Front of note / Look / Denomination Numerals
Front of note / Feel / Paper Quality Front of note / Feel / Paper Quality
Front of note / Feel / Raised Print Front of note / Feel / Raised Print
Front of note / Tilt / Lift Classic Front of note / Tilt / Lift Classic
Front of note / Check / Compare Front of note / Check / Compare
Front of note / Check / UV Fluorescence Front of note / Check / UV Fluorescence
Rear of note / Look / Print Quality Rear of note / Look / Print Quality
Rear of note / Look / Watermark Rear of note / Look / Watermark
Rear of note / Look / See Through Rear of note / Look / See Through
Rear of note / Look / Denomination Numerals Rear of note / Look / Denomination Numerals
Rear of note / Feel / Polymer Quality Rear of note / Feel / Polymer Quality
Rear of note / Check / Compare Rear of note / Check / Compare
Rear of note / Check / UV Fluorescence Rear of note / Check / UV Fluorescence
Bank of Ireland £5 note
The Queens University Series
Size: 135mm x 70mm
Colour: Blue
Design Features: (click to highlight an area of interest)
  • Vignette of the Queens University, Belfast and wording "The Queens University of Belfast".
  • The Latin words 'SAPIENTIA' and 'JUSTITIA' (wisdom and justice) below depictions of an owl and scales.
  • Celtic and floral patterns.
  • A mosaic effect background of hexagons.
  • Bank of Ireland name and logo.
Bank of Ireland £5 note
The Queens University Series
Size: 135mm x 70mm
Colour: Blue
Design Features: (click to highlight an area of interest)
  • Depiction of the seated lady Hibernia.
  • The Latin motto of the Bank, Bona Fides Reipublicae Stabilitas ("Good Faith is the Cornerstone of the State").
  • Heraldic shields each representing one of the six counties of Northern Ireland.
  • Celtic and floral flax plant patterns.
  • Bank of Ireland name and logo.
Look: Print Quality
Lines should be sharp and well defined with no blurred edges. Colours should be clear and distinct. Print Quality
Look: Watermark
Hold the note up to the light. You should see a WATERMARK image showing the Head of Medusa. The watermark is visible from both the front and back of the note. Watermark
Look: Security Thread
The SECURITY THREAD is not visible when the note is laid flat, but when the note is held up to the light the thread becomes visible as a continuous yellow line running from the top of the note, on the left side of the logo, to the bottom of the note. Security Thread
Look: See Through
The Celtic pattern made up of interlocking circles on the right of the front of the note has a white background when the note is laid on a table. But when viewed against the light the surrounding fills in neatly with colour from the reverse of the note. See Through
Look: Microprint
When examined closely with a good quality magnifying glass the top edge of the patterned strip that runs along the bottom of the note reads: 'BANKOFIRELANDBANKOFIRELAND'. Microprint
Look: Serial Numbers
Each note has a unique serial number which is printed twice on the front of the note, horizontal on the upper left and vertical on the bottom right. Serial numbers for the £5 note consist of two letters followed by six numbers. The horizontal serial number is black and all the same size whereas the vertical number is red and increases in size from top to bottom. Serial Numbers
Look: Denomination Numerals
The number '5' accompanied by a £ sign appears in the top right and bottom left corners on the front of the note. Denomination Numerals
Feel: Paper Quality
The paper should feel crisp - not limp, waxy or shiny. Paper Quality
Feel: Raised Print
You will feel raised print if you run your finger over:
  • The Bank of Ireland name and logo.
  • The 6 shields and flower pattern behind.
  • All writing including signatures.
  • The denomination numerals.
  • The Bank of Ireland motto.
  • The patterned strip running along the bottom of the note.
Raised Print
Tilt: Lift Classic
If you tilt the front of the note away from you at an oblique angle and look along its breadth, the number '5' can be seen within the Celtic shield pattern that overlaps the lady Hibernia. Lift Classic
Check: Compare
Always compare both sides of a suspect note with another note that you know to be genuine, looking for differences between the two. Make sure you check the size of a suspect note against a known genuine note. Compare
Check: UV Fluorescence
If you place the note under a good quality ULTRA-VIOLET light, you will see highlighted on the front of the note a six-line horizontal and a six-line vertical barcode together with the vertical serial number and security thread fluoresce. UV Fluorescence
Look: Print Quality
Lines should be sharp and well defined with no blurred edges. Colours should be clear and distinct. Print Quality
Look: Watermark
Hold the note up to the light. You should see a WATERMARK image showing the Head of Medusa. The watermark is visible from both the front and back of the note. Watermark
Look: Security Thread
The SECURITY THREAD is not visible when the note is laid flat, but when the note is held up to the light the thread becomes visible as a continuous yellow line running from the top of the note to the bottom. Security Thread
Look: Denomination Numerals
The number '5' accompanied by a £ sign appears in the top right and bottom left corners on the back of the note. Denomination Numerals
Feel: Paper Quality
The paper should feel crisp - not limp, waxy or shiny. Polymer Quality
Check: Compare
Always compare both sides of a suspect note with another note that you know to be genuine, looking for differences between the two. Make sure you check the size of a suspect note against a known genuine note. Compare
Check: UV Fluorescence
If you place the note under a good quality ULTRA-VIOLET light the security thread will fluoresce. UV Fluorescence
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