Latest News

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

Astrid Mitchell

1 Dec. 2021

2 min read

New Facility Doubles BEP Budget for 2022

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) has submitted its fiscal year 2022 budget request to Congress. The main component of the $1.9 billion requested funds is for special projects. Chief among them is $897 million for the Replacement Production Facility in Beltsville, Maryland.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

1 Dec. 2021

2 min read

G+D Wins CBDC Award, Takes on Banknote Collection

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has announced Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) as one of the three winners of its Global CBDC Challenge, concluding the first phase of MAS’ study to explore possible retail CBDC solutions.

Banknotes Digital Currency

Astrid Mitchell

1 Dec. 2021

10 min read

Future of Banknote Distribution in Australia

There is no longer any doubt that cash as a means of payment is declining – not just in relative but, increasingly, in absolute terms. The recent high demand for banknotes as a store of value only masks the reduction in their use for transactions.

Banknotes Studies, Reports

Alan Newman

1 Dec. 2021

4 min read

Eye-Catching, Distinctive and Secure

At the latest count a third of all banknotes contain a diffractive feature, in the form of a patch, stripe or thread, 327 to be precise. According to Frank van der Horst of the DNB in his presentation at the recently-concluded Holography Conference, the feature is the second best in public recognition terms after watermarks – which makes one wonder why the other two thirds of banknotes don’t use one!

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

1 Dec. 2021

2 min read

New 50 Pesos Completes Mexico’s G Series

The Bank of Mexico has issued a new 50 pesos, the sixth and final note in its new G series. The front of the new note shows the foundation of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec empire which, according to legend, was established by the Mexica tribe in the place where they found an eagle devouring a snake.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

23 Nov. 2021

3 min read

International Awards for 3 New Banknote Holograms

Banknote holograms were winners in three of the five categories in the Excellence in Holography Awards 2021 organised by the industry trade body, the International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA).

Banknotes Events

Astrid Mitchell

22 Nov. 2021

3 min read

Bank of Canada Survival Analysis of Banknote Circulation

The Bank of Canada (BOC) has a Currency Inventory Management Strategy (IMS) based on its high-speed sorters that capture the image of every banknote, including the serial number, along with the date the banknote was created, shipped from the central bank’s distribution sites and returned to them.

Banknotes Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

28 Oct. 2021

1 min read

Nepal Continues Roll-Out of New Banknote Series

Nepal Rastra Bank began issuing a new series in 2020, starting with 1,000, 100 and 50 rupees. This year, despite the COVID restrictions, it has continued the programme with the issue of new 20, 10 and 5 rupee notes. The new 500 rupees is expected to follow in 2022.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

29 Sept. 2021

1 min read

More Bicentennial Celebrations

Close on the heels of Guatemala, another country in Latin America that has issued a commemorative banknote to celebrates its bicentennial this year is the Bank of Mexico, with a new 20 peso. The latest GUARDIAN® polymer banknote issued in the Bank’s G series of notes, the new 20 pesos depicts the Army of the Three Guaranties (Religion, Union and Independence) entering Mexico City on 27 September 1821.

Banknotes