Libya Marks Anniversary with New Polymer Note

The Central Bank of Libya has issued a new 5 dinar note on De La Rue’s SAFEGUARD® polymer substrate, its launch coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the 17 February 2011 Revolution. It is the country’s second polymer note, the first – the 1 dinar – having been issued in 2019.

The design themes of the new note are the same as those on the paper note, which was issued in 2015 – namely a clock tower from the Ottoman period on the front and the remains of the Zeus Cathedral in Kirena on the reverse. But it also has a window featuring a portrait of Libya’s iconic resistance leader Omar Mukhtar, along with De La Rue’s ‘hideand-reveal’ substrate feature MASK™, and the UV ink feature GEMINI™.

Another security feature, and a world first, is SAFEGUARD® ARGENTUM – developed specifically for polymer substrates. This highly reflective silver ink forms part of the substrate and has been integrated into the polymer window of the banknote as five mirror-like shapes, representing the denominational value, around the edge of the window.