A radio frequency security element is provided for electronic surveillance of articles of merchandise. The security element comprises a lower strip conductor (1) and an upper strip conductor (5), which are wound in opposite directions. The upper and lower strip conductors and superimposed and connected in a common contact zone. The coil turns of the two conductor strips each have an included angle of rotation less than 2. The security element has an improved detection rate and is particularly stable against changes in the resonance frequency.