A media depository is described. The media depository comprises: a media item validation module; a diverter for routing a received media item via either a storage path or a return path; an escrow for temporarily holding received media items; and a printer located between the diverter and the escrow so that the printer can print on any media items transported via the return path.

The invention relates to securing of an article against forgery and falsifying of its associated data, and particularly of data relating to its belonging to a specific batch of articles, while allowing offline or online checking of the authenticity of a secured article and conformity of its associated data with respect to that of a genuine article.

A method for producing security elements in an image which are not visible to the human eye and which cannot be copied, in particular for checking the authenticity of images. The image is imaged by means of a halftone, the halftone consisting of individual image dots arranged adjacent to each other. This is characterized in that at least one field having a random geometric shape or freeform is defined in the image/the halftone. By means of manipulation of image dots in the field and/or by means of manipulation of the entire field, an encrypted information that cannot be copied is stored for comparison with at least one database and the serial number is displayed by means of contours formed in the halftone.

A method for checking the authenticity of products, by checking an image (A) of a product. The proof of authenticity is not visible to the human eye and cannot be copied. This is characterized in that a code stored in a halftone image by manipulation of dots and/or a manipulated field bounded in the halftone image can be read by means of an optical device and compared with a retrievable value in at least one database. In at least one field (F1 to F5) a part of a serial number is determined which describes the structure of the serial number and a hash function used for transmitting the serial number to the database, and this is also characterized in that the serial number is subsequently assembled and encrypted with the corresponding hash function.

A currency information provision system (1) comprises: a database server (2) in which currency image information is stored as one type of currency information about multiple types of currency; and an information processing terminal (3) that acquires target image information (IA), which is image information for a search object, and transmits the target image information (IA) to the database server (2), the database server (2) comparing the target image information (IA) with the currency image information, and thereby searching a candidate currency estimated to be the same type as currency included in the search target, from among the multiple types of currency, and transmitting the currency information (IB) of the candidate currency to the information processing terminal (3), and the information processing terminal (3) providing currency information for the candidate currency.

A currency information provision system (1) comprises: a database server (2) in which currency image information is stored as one type of currency information about multiple types of currency; and an information processing terminal (3) that acquires target image information (IA), which is image information for a search object, and transmits the target image information (IA) to the database server (2), the database server (2) comparing the target image information (IA) with the currency image information, and thereby searching a candidate currency estimated to be the same type as currency included in the search target, from among the multiple types of currency, and transmitting the currency information (IB) of the candidate currency to the information processing terminal (3), and the information processing terminal (3) providing currency information for the candidate currency.

A method for authenticating an object, particularly a security element for protecting value documents, ID documents and products, as well as a security element, a security document, a reader, an individualization device and a server for such a method. The method involves the steps: dividing a first code element into at least one first partial code element and one second partial code element, storing the second partial code element, arranging the first partial code element and/or a second code element on and/or in the object, jointly machine-capturing the first partial code element and the second code element by means of a reader, extracting the first partial code element and the second code element from the data captured by the reader, accessing the stored second partial code element using the second code element as a key, checking whether the code element resulting from merging the extracted first partial code element and the stored second partial code element corresponds to the first code element.

A method for authenticating an object, particularly a security element for protecting value documents, ID documents and products, as well as a security element, a security document, a reader, an individualization device and a server for such a method. The method involves the steps: dividing a first code element into at least one first partial code element and one second partial code element, storing the second partial code element, arranging the first partial code element and/or a second code element on and/or in the object, jointly machine-capturing the first partial code element and the second code element by means of a reader, extracting the first partial code element and the second code element from the data captured by the reader, accessing the stored second partial code element using the second code element as a key, checking whether the code element resulting from merging the extracted first partial code element and the stored second partial code element corresponds to the first code element.

Provided is a paper sheet processing device that is capable of efficiently distinguishing and processing banknotes to be distinguished. This paper sheet processing device is provided with: an identification unit that identifies serial numbers added to paper sheets; and a control unit that executes identification of the paper sheets on the basis of the serial numbers identified by the identification unit, and a serial number list which includes the serial numbers and additional information associated with at least one of the serial numbers.

Provided is a paper sheet processing device that is capable of efficiently distinguishing and processing banknotes to be distinguished. This paper sheet processing device is provided with: an identification unit that identifies serial numbers added to paper sheets; and a control unit that executes identification of the paper sheets on the basis of the serial numbers identified by the identification unit, and a serial number list which includes the serial numbers and additional information associated with at least one of the serial numbers.