japan 5 sen 1944 banknote

How can you tell if the japan 5 sen  1944 banknote is authentic? I just purchased 3 that look identical. They have on the top left & lower right the red mark of  ( 6 ). I think there is supposed to be a watermark that is able to be seen under a uv light. I can't see one. Where exactly would it be located. Thank you.

I can't say anything about authenticity with just text but the red numbers are block numbers not serials, so having multiple notes with the same number is normal.

I am not 100% sure as I don't own this particular type but notes of such a small denomination usually aren't worth specially prepared paper and that is outside of a major war (also KM doesn't list one).

Where did you get the idea of having to look at a watermark under UV? As far as I know this could work but why someone wants to stare into UV light is beyond me just use light with a normal visible light spectrum. 😅

Is it this note?

N#205534

I do not have one. I am just curious. 

I checked a P52a, block 12

I checked with a 254nm blacklight and a 365nm LED light.  Both of these give off some visible light too.  I also looked with a regular visible light.

Well I was amazed but there seems to be a watermark.  But there is no visibility enhancement with either UV source.  It can be seen with the regular light too.  I am amazed because the face value is so small.  It might be a simple Paulownia symbol.  But, to be honest, it is so faint it could be some random pattern in the paper.

On my note it is at the bottom, just right of center.  There is a piece of watermark in the lower left corner, but most of it is cut off when the note was cut normally at the mint.

Could you please take a picture? If it's a simply design it was often used in a staggered formation.

Idolenz,

I will try.  But it has to be tomorrow.  I did this once on a note known to have a watermark and it was very difficult to capture the image.  I will do it with the regular visible light.

-→ I want to add to my earlier reply the obvious statement that UV lights can be dangerous to the eyes.

Idolenz, 

                banknoteworld.com had in their description of this note “placing the note under a UV light would reflect a watermark image of a Paulownia leaves”. That is where I found out about a watermark.

ahkai,

             Yes it is. That is the note I am talking about.

I hope this works, capturing watermarks has always been difficult for me.  I use a variation of the Signoscope T2 used by stamp collectors. 

The note in question is placed against the polished surface of a block of lead glass.  The sides of this block have a frosted surface.  The glass is illuminated from the side(s) through one or more of the frosted surfaces with the light(s) adjusted till the watermark seems visible.  I then take a photograph without flash.

If possible I limit my inspection to outside the design.  There is simply to much bleed through of the design from the back face.  In the case of this P52a note, there appears to be other watermarks as Idolenz described a “staggered formation”, for example one located with the horseman, but they do not show well in the photo.

I think I see a similar watermark in a P53 note.  Again, I see no enhancement with either UV source mentioned above.  It could be a UV source at a different wavelength would work better.  Again, playing with these UV sources can be bad for the eyes.

Thank you, so it's similar to the 100 yen note:

The 10 sen note seems to also have a watermark.

Please add your picture to the watermark section of

N#205534 

Idolenz,

It is done.  It is the first time to add to the catalog, please feel free to message me with any criticism of comments. 

I appreciate the help Idolenz & Fairfield. 

Ja mam z wyraźniejszym znakiem wodnym. Ale nie wiem czym się różnią wersje. Może ktoś powie.

Doesn't look that different in terms of size and looks just a better difference of paper density.