Latest News

Steve Craig

1 June 2022

3 min read

Currency and the Metaverse

Among the customary technical presentations and product launches at conferences, the one given by Komori at the recent Global Currency Forum on the topic of the metaverse was very much ‘out of the box’. Here Steve Craig of Komori explains what the metaverse is, and how Komori is looking at harnessing it for banknote production.

Banknotes Technology

Astrid Mitchell

1 June 2022

3 min read

Spain’s New Printworks Complete – Machinery Moves In

The construction of the Banco de España’s new printworks for IMBISA just outside Madrid – the first new state-owned printing plant in the EU in over 50 years – has now been completed, and work has started on moving in the new equipment.

Banknotes Central Banks

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2022

2 min read

The Innovation Keeps Flowing

As described in the Banknote of the Month feature in the February issue of Currency News™, Kazakhstan’s new 20,000 tenge is memorable on a number of fronts – not least because the use of the Durasafe® substrate enabled the first ever application of a stripe in a vertical orientation, but also because it is the world’s first circulating note to incorporate SICPA’s new SPARK Flow® feature.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2022

3 min read

Malawi’s New 5,000 Kwacha – Advanced Security for the Warm Heart of Africa

In their mandate to help maintain economic stability and confidence in the currency, central banks must continually evaluate the cash cycle imperatives and pressures for business and community in their countries.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2022

1 min read

Yet Another Award for Mexican Banknotes

The Banco de México has continued its award-winning streak with the International Bank Note Society (IBNS) Banknote of the Year award for 2021 for the 50 peso. It won the same award for 2020 for the new 100 peso. And both notes recently earned it the HSP Regional Banknote of the Year award.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

4 min read

Uzbekistan – Great Silk Road Reflected in Designs and Threads

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan issued a new series last year, based on the theme of the ‘Great Silk Road’ – the network of trade routes which played a central role in facilitating economic, cultural, political, and religious interactions between the East and West.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

2 min read

Connected Banknote Wins Digital Currency Award

Orell Füssli Security Printing and AUGENTIC’s Connected Banknote – the UTOPIAN DUAL – won the Advancement of Digital Currency Award at the Digital Currency Conference in Washington DC last month, which took place immediately after the Banknote & Currency Conference.

Banknotes Events

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

2 min read

More Caribbean Countries Switch to Polymer

The switch from paper to polymer banknotes in the Caribbean is gathering speed, with two countries announcing in March that they will be making the change.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

6 min read

The Future of Banknote Security – A Professor’s View

When handling cash, we normally glance at each banknote for less than a second. Central banks and banknote issuers are coming to realise that this brief glimpse provides a crucial opportunity for public authentication.

Banknotes Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

2 min read

Fiji Celebrates Rugby Triumph at Olympics

The Reserve Bank of Fiji has issued a commemorative $7 banknote to celebrate the achievements of its Rugby 7s teams at the Tokyo Olympics, where the men’s and women’s teams picked up a gold and a bronze medal respectively.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

2 min read

New Security Ink Facility for India

The Reserve Bank of India has opened a new security ink manufacturing unit, VARNIKA, which will be operated by its subsidiary Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited in Mysore.

Banknotes Central Banks

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2022

1 min read

Guyana’s Celebration of Independence

The Bank of Guyana has launched a new $2,000 banknote to mark the 55th anniversary of Guyana’s independence from the UK, in 1966. The release, which was delayed by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, is the first Guyanese banknote to use polymer substrate.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2022

4 min read

Kazakhstan’s New 20,000 Tenge – Memorable on So Many Counts

The National Bank of Kazakhstan is renowned for its early adoption of high-tech security and innovative design, and has established itself as a testing ground for new features, with these trialled on commemorative and house notes before being adopted on circulating notes.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2022

4 min read

SPARTAN: Transformational New Option at the Note/Coin Boundary

According to CCL Secure, the SPARTAN banknote has been engineered specifically for the note/coin boundary and is the result of researchers creating not only a brand new kind of polymer but also reimagining the banknote production process.

Banknotes Technology

Astrid Mitchell

1 Feb. 2022

5 min read

Bahamas New Series – a Case Study for Successful Feature/Substrate Pairings

In October 2021, the Central Bank of the Bahamas (CBB) released its new $100 banknote, completing the roll-out of its CRISP (Counterfeit Resistant Integrated Security Product) Evolution series which it began back in 2016.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

1 Feb. 2022

2 min read

Thailand Adopts Polymer for Highest Use Note

The Bank of Thailand will launch a new 20 baht note on 24 March, marking the transition to polymer of the country’s most widely used denomination, which accounts for 30% of all Thai banknotes in circulation.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

1 Feb. 2022

2 min read

Albania Completes Modern New Series

The Bank of Albania has put into circulation new versions of the 500 lekë and 2,000 lekë, thereby completing its new series which also includes 200, 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 lekë.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

23 Dec. 2021

3 min read

Lesotho – Unmatched Security from Within the Roof of Africa’s New Series

On 21 December, the Central Bank of Lesotho (CBL) launched a significantly upgraded series of banknotes, with dynamic and innovative security threads and advanced security print features.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

23 Dec. 2021

1 min read

In Celebration of the XXIV Winter Olympics

The Peoples Bank of China has issued a set of 20 yuan commemorative banknotes for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. The set, which includes a polymer note and a paper note, have been produced by China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

22 Dec. 2021

3 min read

Euro Banknotes Set for 1st Redesign in Two Decades

Euro banknotes are facing a redesign for the first time since their launch two decades ago, with a plan to make the currency ‘more relatable to Europeans of all ages and backgrounds’.

Banknotes