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Russia Unveils New 100-Ruble Bill Before FIFA World Cup

Mikhail Japaridze / TASS

Russia’s Central Bank has unveiled new 100-ruble ($1.63) bills to commemorate the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

The front side of the banknote depicts a boy admiring the legendary Soviet goalkeeper Lev Yashin diving for the ball. A soccer ball with an embossed map of Russia adorns the back side of the blue-and-green technicolor bill.

A slew of soccer-themed security features double as easter eggs, including holographic images that change colors when brought under a UV light or seen under different angles; microimages of fans; and a microtext of the World Cup host cities.

The features are all listed in the QR code on the bottom right corner of the polymer banknote.

A total of 20 million commemorative bills will enter circulation before the start of the tournament next month, Russia’s Central Bank has said.

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