Counterthinking
To counter counterfeiting why not make every banknote unique?
These days we have networks, computers, image processing and databases after all.
Then if two notes turn up anywhere in the country that have the same image then it’s red alert.
Or if a note turns up that isn’t in the database, same deal.
Of course they could do all this with the existing numbers on the notes. Maybe they do. Maybe not.

https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gq.com%2Flong-form%2Fthe-great-paper-caper&ei=a3NyVO2uIoro8gXx3oGACQ&usg=AFQjCNHWNfp4IAmGA3hI96KRZqX21yVeHQ&bvm=bv.80185997,d.dGc
thought this might be interesting