The commemorative banknote with signed by NBU Governor Kyrylo Shevchenko, and celebrating the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. The banknote incorporates all of the security features of the 500 hryvnia banknote designed in 2015; the front of the note has the logotype "30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence" screen printed in OVMI on the watermark.

On the banknote front side there is a portrait of Hryhorii Skovoroda.

Hryhorii Skovoroda (1722-1794). An outstanding Ukrainian philosopher, poet, writer, enlightener, pedagogue and musician. He epitomized the spiritual awakening of the Ukrainian society in the end of the XVIIIth century.

On the banknote back side there is the image of the Kyiv Mohyla Academy.

Kyiv Mohyla Academy – the first higher education school in Ukraine founded in 1632; the largest centre of general education in the XVII-XVIIIth centuries. It trained teachers for Slavo-Greek-Latin academies, clerical educators and theological seminary teachers. H. Skovoroda was among the most famous alumni of the Kyiv Mohyla Academy.

Security features

The banknote is printed on special tinted paper of beige color, which is the dominant color of the images on the banknote.

The paper contains a local multi-tone watermark, light watermark element, security threads and security fibers.

1. Watermarks (visible when the banknote is held up to the light): a multi-tone watermark is a repeated Hryhorii Skovoroda’s portrait formed by the paper internal texture in different tones; light watermark element represents denomination figures (placed vertical in the lower right part of the multi-tone watermark).

2. SPARK element is the optically-variable image of an open book with the kinematic effect. When the banknote is tilted, some areas of the image will gradually change the color from green to blue.

3. Security thread - the polymer strip fully embedded in the paper, with the images of “500 ГРН”, the trident and underlined numerals “500” indicating the denomination, which are visible (normal and reverse images) through the magnifying glass.

4. Window security thread is a dark grey thread partially embedded in the paper with the pronounced kinematic effect. There are images of the figures indicating denomination and hryvnia currency symbol on the thread. When the banknote is tilted, the background image moves in the opposite direction.

5. Latent image (numerical indication of denomination): When the banknote is held at a sharp angle to the light at eye level, the denomination numerals become visible and are dark against light background if looked at from the long side or light against dark background if looked at from the short side.

6. Relief images are graphic images on the banknote front which as a result of raised printing feel rough to the touch: the sign for the partially sighted, fragment of the portrait, inscriptions and images.

7. See-through element - the image of the denomination numerals that supplement each other and form the full image when the banknote is held up to the light.

8. Orloff printing - special printing ensuring the abrupt transition of one color into another without ruptures and displacements of the image elements.

 9. Rainbow printing - special printing ensuring the gradual transition of one color into another without ruptures and displacements of the image elements.

10. Microtext - repeated inscriptions that can be read only with magnifying glass.

11. The serial numbers are printed in letterpress printing: horizontally in the red ink and vertically (with the changing height of the figures) in the black ink.

12. Copy-evident pattern - thin lines of different geometric shapes that form a moire pattern when copied or scanned.

On the banknote front side there is a portrait of Hryhorii Skovoroda.

Hryhorii Skovoroda (1722-1794). An outstanding Ukrainian philosopher, poet, writer, enlightener, pedagogue and musician. He epitomized the spiritual awakening of the Ukrainian society in the end of the XVIIIth century.

On the banknote back side there is the image of the Kyiv Mohyla Academy.

Kyiv Mohyla Academy – the first higher education school in Ukraine founded in 1632; the largest centre of general education in the XVII-XVIIIth centuries. It trained teachers for Slavo-Greek-Latin academies, clerical educators and theological seminary teachers. H. Skovoroda was among the most famous alumni of the Kyiv Mohyla Academy.

Security features

The banknote is printed on special tinted paper of beige color, which is the dominant color of the images on the banknote.

The paper contains a local multi-tone watermark, light watermark element, security threads and security fibers.

1. Watermarks (visible when the banknote is held up to the light): a multi-tone watermark is a repeated Hryhorii Skovoroda’s portrait formed by the paper internal texture in different tones; light watermark element represents denomination figures (placed vertical in the lower right part of the multi-tone watermark).

2. SPARK element is the optically-variable image of an open book with the kinematic effect. When the banknote is tilted, some areas of the image will gradually change the color from green to blue.

3. Security thread - the polymer strip fully embedded in the paper, with the images of “500 ГРН”, the trident and underlined numerals “500” indicating the denomination, which are visible (normal and reverse images) through the magnifying glass.

4. Window security thread is a dark grey thread partially embedded in the paper with the pronounced kinematic effect. There are images of the figures indicating denomination and hryvnia currency symbol on the thread. When the banknote is tilted, the background image moves in the opposite direction.

5. Latent image (numerical indication of denomination): When the banknote is held at a sharp angle to the light at eye level, the denomination numerals become visible and are dark against light background if looked at from the long side or light against dark background if looked at from the short side.

6. Relief images are graphic images on the banknote front which as a result of raised printing feel rough to the touch: the sign for the partially sighted, fragment of the portrait, inscriptions and images.

7. See-through element - the image of the denomination numerals that supplement each other and form the full image when the banknote is held up to the light.

8. Orloff printing - special printing ensuring the abrupt transition of one color into another without ruptures and displacements of the image elements.

 9. Rainbow printing - special printing ensuring the gradual transition of one color into another without ruptures and displacements of the image elements.

10. Microtext - repeated inscriptions that can be read only with magnifying glass.

11. The serial numbers are printed in letterpress printing: horizontally in the red ink and vertically (with the changing height of the figures) in the black ink.

12. Copy-evident pattern - thin lines of different geometric shapes that form a moire pattern when copied or scanned.

Front side of the banknote

On the front of the note to the left of the center there is a portrait of Hryhorii Skovoroda in dark brown ink. Near the portrait on the right there is the legend ГРИГОРІЙ СКОВОРОДА (Hryhorii Skovoroda) and his years of life in green ink.

On the right of the portrait along the upper side of the note there is the Small National Emblem of Ukraine and the legend УКРАЇНА in dark brown ink.

At the top of the watermark area along the upper side of the note there is the legend НАЦІОНАЛЬНИЙ БАНК УКРАЇНИ in dark brown and green inks under which there is a signature of the NBU Governor and the legend ГОЛОВА in dark brown ink.

In the middle of the right side of the note there is a symbol for the partially-sighted in the form of three vertical dots in dark brown ink.

On the right of the portrait beneath the legend УКРАЇНА there is a rhombus divided into four fragments of different sizes. The color of the rhombus switches from purple (crimson-violet) to olive-green when viewed at different angels.

Parts of the figures comprising the see-through element, the numerical indication of the denomination 500, are printed in a blank space in the shape of a parallelogram that adjoins the watermark area at the top.

Along the left short side of the note there is the legend П'ЯТСОТ ГРИВЕНЬ and the numerical indication of the denomination 500: the word П'ЯТСОТ in dark brown ink, the word ГРИВЕНЬ printed in a contour against a green background, the upper part of the numerical indication of the denomination 500 in green ink, the lower part whereof printed in a contour against a green background.

In the bottom right-hand corner there is the numerical indication of the denomination 500 in dark brown and green inks. In the background there is an image of a fountain with the inscription НЕРАВНОЕ ВСЕМ РАВЕНСТВО, the author’s picture to one of his works.

There are guilloche and antiscanning grids on the front of the note.

Back side of the banknote

In the background of the back of the note there is a building of the Kyiv Mohyla Academy the color whereof changes from green to blue. Under the building on the left there is the legend КИЇВ 2006 in green ink. Above the building there is a decorative element in the form of a negative image of the Kyiv Mohyla Acadymy seal used in the 18th century. On the left of the building there is a graphic representation of Hryhorii Skovoroda's picture to one of his works.

Along the left side of the note there is the vertical legend УКРАЇНА Along the right side of the note against a light brown background there is the legend ГРИВЕНЬ in a contour type on the edges whereof there are the numerical indications of the denomination 500 in blue ink.

At the top of the note in the center there is the italicized legend П'ЯТСОТ ГРИВЕНЬ in green ink.

Parts of the figures comprising the see-through element, the numerical indication of the denomination 500, are printed in a blank space in the shape of a parallelogram that adjoins the watermark area at the top.

At the bottom of the watermark area there is the numerical indication of the denomination 500 in blue ink.

At the bottom of the note on the right of the center there is the numerical indication of the denomination 500 in a thin line (negative image).

The serial number (consisting of a two-letter series and seven-digit number) is printed twice: in the top left- hand corner in black ink and in the bottom right-hand corner in red ink. The black ink serial number differs from the red ink one in style and size.

There are geometric fragments and antiscanning grids on the back of the note.

Security features

The note is printed on a special tinted non- fluorescent paper with a beige tone corresponding to the dominating color of the note. The paper 100% consists of cotton.

There is a multi-tone local watermark, light watermark element, security thread and security fibers.

1. WATERMARK

The portrait of Hryhorii Skovoroda repeating the portrait printed on the face of the note. The image is located on the right in the front of the note and is visible when the note is held up to the light.

2. LIGHT WATERMARK ELEMENT

The graphic character of the national monetary unit of Ukraine, the hryvnia, placed in the left bottom part of the Hryhorii Skovoroda portrait.

3. SECURITY THREAD

A fully embedded into the paper coded polymer thread (1.5 mm wide) visible on the left of the watermark area when the note front is held up to the light. The following transparent direct and inverse images are visible on the thread: 500 ГРН (banknote denomination), element of the Small National Emblem of Ukraine, the trident, (these elements are 1.2 mm high), and microlettering containing the numerical indication of the denomination (500). The thread appears yellow-blue under ultraviolet light, the section of each color being 20 mm long. The fluorescent parts on the note fringes may be random in length.

4. OPTICALLY VARIABLE INK (OVI)

Used on the intaglio-printed rhombus divided into four fragments of different sizes on the right of the portrait beneath the legend УКРАЇНА on the front of the note. The ink switches its color when viewed at different angles: from purple (crimson-violet) when viewed stra- ight-on to olive-green at a sharp angle up to the light.

5. SEE-THROUGH ELEMENT

 Elements that complement each other to form the numerical indication of the denomination 500 when the note is held up to the light.

These are the parts of the figure 500 printed in a blank space in the shape of a parallelogram that adjoins the watermark area at the top on the front and back of the note. When the note is held up to the light the figure 500 becomes visible.

6. RELIEF ELEMENTS

A special type of printing when the ink is raised above the paper surface and can be felt by touch (portraits, legends, numerical indications of the denomination, microlettering). Used on the front of the note only.

There are the following intaglio-printed elements on the note: the Small National Emblem of Ukraine and the legends УКРАЇНА and НАЦІОНАЛЬНИЙ БАНК УКРАЇНИ along the upper side of the note, the legend П'ЯТСОТ along the left side of the note, symbol for the partially sighted, numerical indications of the denomination in the bottom right and top left corners of the note as well as two groups of seven lines perpendicular to both the left and right sides of the note.

7. SYMBOL FOR PARTIALLY SIGHTED

The raised numerical indication of the denomination in the form of three vertical dots in the middle of the right side on the front of the note.

8. LATENT (HIDDEN) IMAGE

The numerical indication of the denomination (500) hidden behind the coat image on the portrait on the left.

The image becomes visible when the note is held up to the light at a sharp angle: dark against a light background when the note is looked at from the short side and light against a dark background when the note is looked at from the long side.

9. MICRO LETTERING

 Repeated inscriptions that can be read under a magnifying glass.

On the front of the note:

—         the intaglio-printed inscription ГРИГОРІЙ СКОВОРОДА (positive image) along the coat collar on the portrait on the left (repeated thrice);

—         the intaglio-printed inscription УКРАЇНА (negative image) repeated on the coat on the right;

—         the offset-printed abbreviation НБУ (positive image) repeated inside the parallelogram on the left of the numerical indication of the denomination on the watermark area;

—         two offset-printed bands reading 500 (positive image) on the right and left of the blank space on the watermark area.

On the back of the note:

—        the Skovoroda words: ВСІ НАУКИ ВСІ ПРОМИСЛИ НАМ МИЛІШІ ВІД ТОГО ЩО ЄДИНЕ НАС ЗАГУБЛЕНИХ ЗНАХОДИТЬ І НАМ ЖЕ САМИХ НАС ПОВЕРТАЄ (negative image) repeated four times and comprising the oval rim around the watermark area;

the numerical indication of the denomination in the bottom left-hand corner of the note containing the figure 500 (negative image, the figures are of different thickness).

10. “ORLOFF” PRINT

A special type of printing ensuring an abrupt change of one color into another without intermittence and displacement of graphic elements of the pattern.

11. RAINBOW PRINT

 A special type of printing ensuring a smooth change of one color into another without intermittence and displacement of graphic elements of the pattern.

12. ANTISCANNING GRID

 Thin lines placed at different angles on both sides of the note that form a moire pattern when the note is copied or scanned.