The objective of the present invention is to effectively prevent fraud, theft, and the like occurring with respect to a medium manufactured from a source material. This medium is a medium that is cut into a prescribed shape from a source material on which an identifier capable of specifying a location and capable of being read by a reading device is attached at a corresponding location. The prescribed location on the medium is specified as an authentication location enabling recognition of the medium, and at least a portion of the identifier capable of specifying the prescribed location is set as an identifier of the medium.

A secure item including a revealing screen and a combined image, or an assembly comprising a secure item and another object. The secure item including one of the revealing screen and the combined image, and the object including or forming the other one of the revealing screen and the combined image. The combined image being made up of a plurality of interlaced images each interlaced image and/or the revealing screen being made up of a plurality of elements. The revealing screen making it possible, when placed on top of the combined image, to observe various revealed images by moving the revealing screen relative to the combined image and/or by changing the observation angle, the revealed images each including a certain proportion of each interlaced image, and the elements being made up of one or more micro-patterns.

Herein is described a scratch-off structure comprising the following layers in order: a substrate having a first layer showing information thereon, a second layer comprising a polymeric film and being substantially transparent; a third layer comprising a transparent electrostatic ink; a fourth layer, wherein the fourth layer is coloured. Methods for making scratch-off structures and collections of scratch-off structures are also described.

Core-shell nanoparticles comprises a phosphorescent core and metal shell comprising at least two metals The phosphorescent core may comprise an up converting phosphor. The phosphorescent core may comprise a trivalent rare earth cation. The phosphorescent core further may comprise a monovalent alkali metal. The phosphorescent core may optionally comprises a second and also optionally a third trivalent rare earth cation.

Core-shell nanoparticles comprises a phosphorescent core and metal shell comprising at least two metals The phosphorescent core may comprise an up converting phosphor. The phosphorescent core may comprise a trivalent rare earth cation. The phosphorescent core further may comprise a monovalent alkali metal. The phosphorescent core may optionally comprises a second and also optionally a third trivalent rare earth cation.

A transaction card package assembly comprising at least one transaction card, at least one sample product, and a card holder, and methods and system for processing the same.

A gift card presenter for holding a gift card within a greeting card is provided. The presenter comprises a body for holding the gift card, and a coupling element for coupling the body to the greeting card. In one embodiment, the presenter may comprise a paper mechanic coupled to first and second interior faces of the greeting card, the paper mechanic configured to hold the greeting card and display it when the greeting card is opened. In another embodiment, the presenter comprises a body for holding the gift card, the body having a first half and a second half that each include interior and exterior faces. The presenter may be opened to display or partially display the greeting card. The presenter may be coupled to the inside and/or the outside of the greeting card, to provide a pleasing presentation of the gift card given with the greeting card.

The invention provides an authenticatable ballot and method wherein a printable substrate is provided with at least one of overt authenticating indicia and covert authenticating indicia. The overt and covert authenticating indicia provide a means for voters and ballot counting entities to authenticate ballots by verifying the presence of sanctioned overt and covert authenticating indicia. The overt authenticating indicia is observable by the human eye without the use of any specialized tool or light source. The covert authenticating indicia are not readily apparent to the human eye and require the indicia to be resolved using a specialized tool, such as an ultraviolet or infrared light source.

The invention provides an authenticatable ballot and method wherein a printable substrate is provided with at least one of overt authenticating indicia and covert authenticating indicia. The overt and covert authenticating indicia provide a means for voters and ballot counting entities to authenticate ballots by verifying the presence of sanctioned overt and covert authenticating indicia. The overt authenticating indicia is observable by the human eye without the use of any specialized tool or light source. The covert authenticating indicia are not readily apparent to the human eye and require the indicia to be resolved using a specialized tool, such as an ultraviolet or infrared light source.

A security device is provided including a first pattern of elements and a second, overlapping, pattern of elements spaced by a transparent layer, the first and second patterns in combination obstructing the passage of light transmitted to a viewer through the device to a varying degree depending on the viewing position. The first and second patterns of elements are configured such that a first region of the device exhibits a maximum change in the degree of obstruction when the device is tilted relative to the viewer about a first tilt axis, and a second region of the device exhibits a maximum change in the degree of obstruction when the device is tilted relative to the viewer about a second tilt axis which is not parallel to the first tilt axis.