Secure value tokens
The present invention provides value tokens having improved security while achieving enhanced decorative effects, contrasting edge “spots”, increased physical weight, and flexibility of construction and design. Stacked structures formed from pluralities of layers are featured.
1. A value token comprising:
a central layer having two substantially planar sides and at least one electronic security device;
a first outer layer superposed upon a first of the sides of the central layer;
a second outer layer superposed upon a second of the sides of the central layer, wherein the central layer and two outer layers are adhered or sealed to each other so as to form a stacked structure with each layer having a common peripheral geometry; and
a plurality of apertures on the periphery of the stacked structure and passing through the stacked structure,
each of said apertures being filled with a solid body.
2. The value token of claim 1 wherein the central layer comprises an aperture holding an insert comprising said electronic security device.
3. The value token of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second outer layers comprises at least one decorative element.
4. The value token of claim 1 further comprising at least one enhancing layer.
5. The value token of claim 1 wherein the solid bodies filling the peripheral apertures provides visual contrast to at least one other component of the token.
6. The value token of claim 1 further comprising at least one surface mounted element.
7. The value token of claim 6 wherein the surface mounted element displays an attributed value of the token.
8. The value token of claim 1 wherein the electronic security device is a radio frequency identification (RFID) device.
9. The value token of claim 8 wherein the RFID device holds an activatable signal indicative of an assigned value of the token.
10. The value token of claim 8 wherein the RFID device holds an activatable signal indicating an unique identity of an individual token.
11. The value token of claim 8 further comprising a resonance antenna.
12. The value token of claim 1 further comprising at least one visual security element.
13. The value token of claim 12 wherein at least one of the visual security elements is a hologram.
14. A value token comprising a set of stacked layers adhered or sealed to each other and with each layer having a substantially common peripheral geometry, comprising:
a. a central layer containing at least one electronic security device;
b. a contrast layer on each side of the central layer;
c. a décor layer superposed on each of the contrast layers; and
d. a plurality of apertures on the periphery of and passing through the set of stacked layers, each of said apertures being filled with a solid body having visual contrast with at least one other component of the stack.
15. The value token of claim 14 further comprising a visual indication of a value assigned to the token.
16. The value token of claim 14 further comprising at least one visual security element.
17. The value token of claim 14 having the overall shape of a disc.
18. The value token of claim 14 having the overall shape of a rectangular prism.
19. The value token of claim 14 wherein the electronic security device contains encrypted data indicative of an unique identity of the token.