Tactile marks on currencies

This post is primarily created to help blind people who travel to a different country and would like a quick reference on how to recognize the local currencies. There is of course currency recognition apps which one can use, here I will only concentrate on currencies, which do have tactile features. I will explain how to interpret those features.

It is worth mentioning that this list is by no means complete. I have been researching this information for over ten years now, and instead of creating a complete list, I will have to settle with publishing what I have, and add more information as it becomes available. You will find that in case of some countries, I will not list the tactile features of all the circulating bank notes, simply because I was not able to obtain all the information, thus I’ll just document what I have, as I feel that sometimes incomplete information is better than nothing at all.

Here I will only concentrate on the recognition of currently circulating currency, I will write about previously existing tactile features and the history of tactile currency in another document.

Also, since this post is primarily created for blind people, I will not use any pictures. I feel that if the description is not sufficient on its own, I have not done a good job.

As much as possible, I try to have first-hand experience with the listed bank notes, if I have them, I will describe what I can touch. However, it is impossible to have all the bank notes, especially the high value ones. In this case I will use reliable documentations, preferably from national banks and money printers. It is worth noting that sometimes even these organizations don’t have much information, thus I have to write to them, or to the local associations of blind people, which I will use as a last resort.

I hope you will find this information useful during your travels, if you are aware of any features I haven’t listed or have any corrections, please leave a comment on this post.

Angola

On the Angolan Kwanza, the tactile marks can be found along the longer edge, but near the corner.

200 Kwanza: one group of two dots
500 Kwanza: two groups of two dots (shaped like a square made of four dots, or the braille letter G).

Most likely this pattern continues on the higher denomination notes, but at the moment I don’t have any evidence of it.

Australia

On the Australian bank notes, there are two identical sets of tactile marks, indicating the value along both long edges.

5 Dollar: one dot
10 Dollar: two dots
20 Dollar: three dots
50 Dollar: four dots
100 Dollar: five dots

Bahrain

On the Bahraini Dinar, the tactile marks can be found along the shorter edge.

1/2 Dinar: one line
1 Dinar: two lines

As of this writing (December, 2023), it appears that the other notes do not have tactile marks.

Botswana

At the time of this writing (December, 2023), only one bank note has a tactile mark, Botswana plans to issue more.

10 Pula: a group of six dots, like a full braille cell on the shorter edge

Brazil

In case of the Brazilian Real, the orientation of lines is important. Therefore, the references should be understood holding the notes horizontally.

The lines can be best felt on new notes, when they are more used, it is difficult or impossible to feel.

2 Real: one diagonal line
5 Real: one horizontal line, parallel to the longer edge
10 Real: two vertical lines
20 Real: two diagonal lines
50 Real: two horizontal lines
100 Real: three horizontal lines
200 Real: 3 diagonal lines

Canada

5 Dollar: one group of six dots, like a full braille cell on the longer edge
10 Dollar: two groups of six dots, like two full braille cells with a space in between along the longer edge. The space is as wide as a braille cell.
20 Dollar: three groups of six dots, with one space in between along the longer edge.
50 Dollar: four groups of six dots, with one space in between along the longer edge.
100 Dollar: two groups of six dots, with a long space in between, about the width of 7 braille cells, along the longer edge.

China

On the Chinese banknotes, the value is indicated with braille like numbers. The orientation is important, the numbers, without a number sign can be found on the lower right. These are not real braille dots, but small raised circles organized in the shape of braille numbers.

1 Yuan: braille number 1
5 Yuan: braille number 5
10 Yuan: braille number 10
20 Yuan: braille number 20
50 Yuan: braille number 50

Honduras

The Honduran lempira has braille numbers, therefore, the proper orientation is important. Each number is marked with a braille number sign. The braille dots are not easy to feel.

2 Lempira: a braille number 2 on the shorter right edge

Hungary

The three lower denominations have short squiggly lines in the corner, these are probably easier to find along the shorter side. However, the lines maybe hard to find on more used bank notes.

500 Forint: 1 line
1000 Forint: two lines
2000 Forint: 3 lines

According to the Hungarian National Bank, the higher three denominations have extra layers of paint along the edges, but they don’t provide more information.

Lesotho

There are very short lines along the shorter edge indicating the value. The lines are right against the edge, and approximately a half centimeter long. They are very difficult to feel, it is much easier to touch the large number on the bottom right.

10 Maloti: one line
20 Maloti: two lines
50 Maloti: three lines
100 Maloti: four lines
200 Maloti: two lines, but far apart, as if the 100 Maloti would only have the first and last line.

Maldives

Along the longer side there are large shapes made of dots. The dots are sharp and easy to feel, very similar to regular braille dots.

5 Rufiyaa: an L shape, or two perpendicular sides of a square
10 Rufiyaa: a triangle
20 Rufiyaa: a squared C, or a square with one side open
50 Rufiyaa: dots in an X shape
100 Rufiyaa: a square
500 Rufiyaa: dots forming two vertical lines
1000 Rufiyaa: a circle

Trinidad and Tobago

In the corner there are large shapes made of dots. The dots are sharp and easy to feel, very similar to regular braille dots. These marks are very similar to the ones on the Maldivian Rufiyaa, the difference is that here they are placed in the corner, so they can be found easily along both edges. Please note that the tactile marks on both currencies are exactly the same, but they indicate different denominations.

1 Dollar: two lines made of dots
5 Dollar: an L shape, or two perpendicual sides of a square
10 Dollar: a squared C, or a square with one side open
20 Dollar: a triangle
50 Dollar: a circle
100 Dollar: dots in an X shape

Zambia

On the Zambian Kwacha, the number of lines indicate the value of the bank note. The bank of Zambia only provided the number of lines, but not the direction or location. Some sites without reference state that the lines are diagonal, and can be found on both sides of the note, but do not mention if on the long or short edge. I am in the process of obtaining Zambian Kwacha, and when I have the notes, I will update this information.

2 Kwacha: 2 lines
5 Kwacha: three lines
10 Kwacha: four lines
20 Kwacha: five lines
50 Kwacha: six lines
100 Kwacha: seven lines