the invention relates to apparatus which allows the validation of banknotes to be performed . the apparatus includes a housing having a banknote receiving portion and a banknote acceptance portion and a banknote path formed through said portions . the banknote receiving portion and the banknote acceptance portion include seamless banknote aligning means forming the banknote path , so as to align the banknotes in use . the apparatus can also include a circuit board comprising the banknote sensing and validation means and the banknote path is arranged to intersect a major plane of the circuit board .