A Celebration of Independence – and Technology

In November 2022, Algeria’s central bank, the Banque d’Algérie, issued a new 2,000 dinar banknote to commemorate 60 years of Algerian independence and to mark the occasion of the 31st Summit of the League of Arab States, which was hosted in Algiers.

There are two versions of the note – a limited edition of 1 million carrying the logo of the Arab League Summit, and a further edition of 9 million notes which will have a slightly different design and will go into circulation in the first half of 2023.

Both versions feature a number of advanced security features from different suppliers, representing a remarkable example of industry collaboration between Bundesdruckerei, Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions (KBBNS), KURZ, Landqart, SICPA and the Bank. The project was completed, from the first original concept to issue, in a matter of months.

Algeria is part of the Maghreb region of North Africa, located on the Mediterranean to the north. With a landmass of 2.38 million sq km, it is the tenth largest country by area in the world, and the largest in Africa. Its population of 44 million makes it the ninth most populous country in Africa. It has one of the largest economies on the continent, based largely on oil and gas exports.

Having been a colony of France for 132 years, it gained independence in 1962 following the Algerian War. The Algerian currency – the Algerian franc – was introduced in 1964. The currency is denominated in notes of 100 and 200 Algerian francs, which date back to 1992 and are rarely used, 500 and 1,000 Algerian francs, the latest version of which were issued in 2018, and the 2,000 franc, which was last redesigned in 2020.

The current coin series, introduced in 1992, ranges from 1 to 200 dinars.

The new 2,000 dinar note was designed by Algerian’s printworks, Hotel des Monnaie, in collaboration with KBBNS, and printed by Bundesdruckerei using the latest generation of KBBNS’ presses, including numbering, varnishing and finishing.

The note is designed in a vertical format and on the front features the Martyr’s Memorial (a monument in Algiers commemorating the Algerian War fashioned in the shape of three standing palm leaves), a map of the Arab world and, in the window, a map of Algeria, along with the Arab League Summit logo.

On the reverse is an image of the minaret of the Mosque of Algeria, the Hoggar Mountains, the Roman ruins of Tipaza, a palm tree and a caravan of dromedaries.

It is printed on Landqart’s composite substrate Durasafe®, which offers the opportunity for large scale windows to optimises the visibility of the security thread.

This takes the form of a 4.5mm wide KURZ THREAD with KINEGRAM COLORS® and FLUX technology, exhibiting a dynamic movement effect. The years ‘1962’ and ‘2022’ are visible in negative microtext in the metallised areas of the thread. The green and silver colours, meanwhile, harmonise with the banknote design and echo the colours of the Algerian national flag.

Moreover, the banknote includes the advanced SUSI Flip™ from KBBNS, an image comprising a two-dimensional line structure printed in one light-coloured visible ink, which under UV light becomes multi-coloured. It also includes a SPARK Flow® DIMENSION feature from SICPA.

‘The 2,000 dinar commemorative banknote features a combination of a highly detailed, secure, and aesthetic design, combined with sophisticated and state-of-the-art security features positioned on the note, ensuring the safest and most efficient behaviour possible in the cash cycle’, commented KBBNS.