In Other News…

• The Bank of Israel has announced that most new coins entering circulation with Hebrew mint year 5782 (2022 in the Gregorian calendar) will feature updated inscriptions. This encompasses four coin denominations – the NIS 10, NIS 5, NIS ½, and 10 agorot.

The word ‘Sheqalim’ has been replaced in English with the word ‘Shekels’ on all coins and the words ‘New Shekel’ have been added to the half-shekel (NIS ½) coin in Arabic. ‘Agorot’ has also been added to the 10 agorot coin in Arabic.

The remaining two denominations, the NIS 1 and NIS 2 coins, featuring the updated inscriptions are set to be distributed in the coming months.

The change brings the circulating coins in line with the existing inscriptions on banknotes and commemorative coins issued by the Bank of Israel.

All coins currently in circulation will remain legal tender and co-circulate with the updated versions. The obverse of all coins remains the same, with no changes announced.

• A new 50 Jordanian dinar (JD) – the second in the new series – has now gone into circulation. Like the new JD 1 denomination, which was issued last month, it has been printed on durable paper by De La Rue and includes a hologram depicting a seven-looped star on the front and a 4mm wide RAPID® thread from Crane on the reverse. A portrait of HM King Abdullah II and the Dome of the Rock also appear on the front, and a vignette of the Mujib Valley on the reverse.

New JD 5, 10 and 20 notes will be issued progressively throughout the course of 2023.

• The Argentinean government has approved the issue of a new 2,000 peso banknote, which is likely to go into circulation in the second half of the year. It will feature pioneering doctors Cecilia Grierson and Ramón Carrillo on the front, and an image of the investigative medical facility Istituto Dr Carlos Malbrán on the reverse.

Because of persistent high inflation, the current highest denomination, the 1,000 peso, is now worth less than US$3. There have been calls for several years now to ease the pressure on the note (which accounts for 75% of all notes in circulation) by introducing not just a 2,000 peso, but 5,000 and even 10,000 peso notes as well. For the time being, however, only the 2,000 pesos is scheduled for issue.

• The Caymans Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) has announced that, in replacing the portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II on its banknotes with that of King Charles III, it will be taking the opportunity to introduce a new look for the currency, which was last redesigned in 2010.

The current series features local marine life, flora and fauna as well as scenic locations and references to its seafaring history. CIMA is now seeking the public’s input via an online survey to help determine preferred themes for the new design, with participants able to select from specific themes or submit ideas of their own.

Whatever the chosen theme, the portrait of the monarch as head of state will remain on any new design selected. The notes will be produced on polymer, and CIMA has indicated an introduction date of 2024.

In the meantime, CIMA has issued commemorative versions of its $25 and $50 banknotes as part of its 25th anniversary celebration. The special notes include a holographic foil patch with CIMA’s 25th anniversary logo, located to the left of the late Queen’s portrait.