Date the House Note was released
Project Team
Casa De Moneda, SICPA and CCL Secure
Project Description
House Note 281 marks a significant milestone for Casa de Moneda de Chile, celebrating 281 years since the institution began operations in 1743. Conceived as a showcase of technical excellence and creative ambition, the house note combines advanced polymer security with a vivid artistic tribute to Chile’s natural environment.
The vertically oriented obverse presents a dynamic marine scene inspired by Chile’s coastal biodiversity. A native black dolphin leaps from stylised ocean waves, while fish and coral formations populate the seabed below. At the heart of the design is a full transparent window formed within GUARDIAN™ polymer, where the underwater scene becomes the focal point of the note’s visual and technical narrative.
Under ambient light, the window appears refined and restrained, with predominantly white and grey tones integrated seamlessly into the surrounding artwork. When exposed to ultraviolet light, however, the scene is dramatically transformed. Corals, fish and previously unseen details emerge in vibrant blues, pinks, purples, oranges and yellows, revealing a layered underwater tableau that appears to come alive within the substrate itself.
The reverse shifts from sea to land, featuring Volcano Osorno rising above Lake Llanquihue. Snow-capped peaks are rendered in fine intaglio linework, while an Andean condor wheels overhead against a stylised sky, reinforcing the theme of Chile’s diverse landscapes.
House Note 281 was produced through close collaboration between Casa de Moneda de Chile and CCL Secure, combining substrate and feature innovation with expert artwork development and final printing.
Design Theme
House Note 281 is distinguished by the first-ever integration of VIVID™ REVEAL, introducing a new generation of ultraviolet-responsive security that redefines both visual impact and counterfeit resistance.
Unlike conventional fluorescent features that reveal a single colour or image under UV light, VIVID REVEAL combines a high-resolution white CAMEO™ image with full-colour fluorescent elements embedded within the polymer window. Crucially, not all elements fluoresce. Some areas remain deliberately non-responsive, creating controlled contrast and depth within a single feature.
This selective behaviour is visible throughout the marine vignette. Beneath the bright blue tips of the tallest coral, grey zones remain unchanged. Starfish combine fluorescent yellow with non-fluorescent grey. Fish appear and disappear depending on viewing conditions, while the previously invisible digits “281” reveal themselves only under ultraviolet light. The result is a complex, multi-layered image that shifts between visible and invisible states.
VIVID REVEAL is further strengthened through combination with other variable features. A border within the window incorporates G-SWITCH™, shifting between gold, black and blue when the note is tilted. Above the window, IRISWITCH™ introduces iridescent effects: the dolphin shimmers in white and a school of fish emerges in the waves as viewing angles change.
This orchestration of features elevates the window from a single security element into an immersive experience, increasing authentication cues while significantly raising barriers to reproduction. House Note 281 demonstrates how innovation in polymer security can enhance narrative storytelling, creating a feature set that is both technically advanced and emotionally engaging
Integration of Security Features
House Note 281 exemplifies seamless integration between design, substrate and security, with every feature responding directly to the artistic intent of the note.
The GUARDIAN™ polymer substrate enables a full transparent window that serves as both the visual centrepiece and the foundation for multiple layered security technologies. Within this window, VIVID™ REVEAL is embedded at the substrate level, allowing fluorescent and non-fluorescent elements to coexist precisely within the same vignette. This integration ensures that the marine scene functions coherently in both ambient and ultraviolet conditions, without disrupting the overall composition.
Complementing this, G-SWITCH™ is applied to the banded border surrounding the window, reinforcing the framing of the underwater scene while introducing dynamic colour shifts during tilt verification. IRISWITCH™ is positioned above the window to animate the school of fish, extending motion and depth beyond the window itself and into the printed design.
Traditional printing techniques play an equally important role. Fine intaglio linework provides tactile definition on the reverse, particularly in the depiction of Volcano Osorno and the Andean condor, while offset printing supports smooth colour transitions and intricate background patterns across both sides of the note.
Importantly, complexity is achieved through coordination rather than accumulation. Each feature is carefully placed to reinforce the narrative of Chile’s marine and volcanic landscapes, ensuring that security enhances storytelling rather than overwhelming it. The result is a house note that is intuitive to authenticate, visually coherent, and exceptionally resilient—demonstrating the full potential of modern polymer design when security and artistry are developed in unison.
Other Aspects
House Note 281 highlights a moment of innovation and celebration, marking Casa de Moneda de Chile’s 281st anniversary with a house note that captures the spirit of the nation’s natural heritage.
At its core, the note celebrates Chile’s unique biodiversity, moving seamlessly from ocean to mountain. The leaping black dolphin, vibrant coral reef and schooling fish on the obverse evoke the country’s rich marine ecosystems, while Volcano Osorno and the Andean condor on the reverse symbolise strength, endurance and geographic diversity. Together, these elements create a clear and compelling narrative rooted in place.
The house note also highlights a milestone in security design through the debut of VIVID™ REVEAL. By allowing colour, detail and imagery to emerge selectively under ultraviolet light, the feature transforms authentication into a moment of discovery. This innovation not only strengthens security but also enhances engagement, making the note memorable for specialists and viewers alike.
Equally significant is the collaborative achievement behind the note. The partnership between Casa de Moneda de Chile and CCL Secure brought together creative direction, substrate innovation and feature integration with expert printing and execution. This collaboration ensured that technical complexity translated into visual clarity and narrative impact.
