Wanted: banknotes with thermochromic ink

I am on the hunt for a cheap banknote that has thermochromic ink (changes appearance with an increase in temperature). This is a similar mechanism to those colour-changing coffee mugs that start all black or dark brown and then go pale when heated, to reveal text or an image.

There are two Latvian notes that are known to have this feature. These are the ones:

500 Latu - Latvia – Numista

100 Latu - Latvia – Numista

Both of those are out of reach for me: they are rare and expensive.

What I would like is to get something affordable. The problem is information is scarce on these. If you Google it or try to use AI to find out what notes have it, you most likely will end up chasing a false lead.

If you have a CONFIRMED example of thermochromic ink, please post it here.

Dear Odd Job

I have both the notes. 

These are hybrid notes and both my notes are replacement notes. The dealer I bought from in Latvia personally went to his local bank and handpicked the notes for me and as such the replacement notes for both. Such a nice seller.

My question to you is, what is thermochromic ink and how do I find that out from the notes? Do I need any tools to assist with this?

Thanks

If those were mine I would test like this:

1. Put in a thin plastic sleeve, like the Storage Boutique sleeve

2. Try first with just the heat of your finger, place it here on the denomination block for about 30 seconds
 

The brown 500 should disappear and all you see is the pattern of small 500s behind

If that doesn't work you have to find something equivalent to the heating pad they use in the labs to check these notes. 

By the way if you have a 500 that is UNC and is a replacement, that is major money now! 

I can try the first option as I do not have any heating pad. My notes are stored away, not in house, so I will try that when I get the notes.

As for the both the notes, yes they are both UNC conditions. I paid a high price for both the notes too: -

100 Latu US$234 (bought in 2008)

500 Latu = Latu 535 + US$30 postage + Paypal fee 2.9%. In total it was US$1099 back in 2011. 

The problem with these kinds of high value notes is that there is a limited secondary market and finding someone to buy them can be hard. I only have one note each.

Bumping this because I am still looking for banknotes with thermochromic properties. 

ahkai

As for the both the notes, yes they are both UNC conditions. I paid a high price for both the notes too: -

 

100 Latu US$234 (bought in 2008)

500 Latu = Latu 535 + US$30 postage + Paypal fee 2.9%. In total it was US$1099 back in 2011. 

That's just a tad more than 10 percent over still exchangable face value. That's the bargain of the century!