The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco: Economic Research, Educational Resources, Community Development, Consumer and Banking Information

Without the constriction of required images and numbers, banknote borders allow the true imagination and creativity of the engraver to flourish. The resulting arabesques, intertwining lines, intricate banners, and other heraldic devices not only frame the banknote attractively, but because of their intricacy, they help defeat the efforts of the counterfeiter.


The tools of the banknote artist; the burin, the whetstone, and the magnifying lens, have changed very little since the 15th century. In the hands of a skilled engraver, these simple implements can produce designs of astonishing complexity and beauty.
Without the constriction of required images and numbers, banknote borders allow the true imagination and creativity of the engraver to flourish. The resulting arabesques, intertwining lines, intricate banners, and other heraldic devices not only frame the banknote attractively, but because of their intricacy, they help defeat the efforts of the counterfeiter.