Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2025

4 min read

Best in Banknotes Recognised in HSP Latin America Awards

The Regional Banknote and ID Document of the Year Awards form part of the industry’s High Security Printing (HSP) Latin America conference. The awards at this year’s event were presented at a special ceremony during the conference dinner on top of the iconic Sugarloaf Mountain.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2025

2 min read

Belgium Inaugurates New State-of-the-Art Cash Centre

The National Bank of Belgium (NBB) has officially inaugurated its new cash centre – an environment-friendly facility from where all cash logistics for Belgium will be coordinated.

Central Banks

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2025

1 min read

New Themes Sought for Bank of England Notes

The Bank of England has announced a public consultation into the redesign of its banknotes – the first in more than 50 years.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2025

5 min read

News in Brief

Hueck Folien and IQ Structures, two leaders in banknote security features, have announced a strengthened partnership that builds on the success of their Nanovista™ venture, following what they describe as an overwhelmingly positive market response to their joint efforts.

Companies News

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2025

2 min read

Glory Sales Fall Back After New Issue Surge

In April last year, Glory – providers of cash management and automation systems – launched its 2026 Medium Term Management Plan, a three year business transformation project designed to help drive customers’ own digital transformation with best-in-class products and software platforms.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2025

9 min read

Central Banks and Cash Round-Up

For June, our summary of newly-published central bank annual and other reports takes a look at Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, and India.

Central Banks

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2025

7 min read

GUARDIAN™ ENVIRO – the Next Step in Sustainability for Central Banks

CCL Secure – the pioneer in polymer substrates for banknotes – has launched a more sustainable version of GUARDIAN™ substrate, which builds on decades of work to drive greener outcomes with polymer banknotes. According to the company, independent evidence shows polymer banknotes lower emissions, reduce the use of raw materials, and limit waste through recycling, with more than 85% of GUARDIAN banknotes being recycled right now.

Interviews

2 July 2025

2 min read

Watermarks for Polymer in New Boa Sorte House Note

The presentation at HSP Latin America by Ian Brigham of Spectra Systems covered the new house note that has been produced by Casa da Moeda do Brasil on its Fusion™ polymer substrate. The ‘Boa Sorte’ note incorporates a level 3 taggant unique to Fusion as well as, for the first time, a new level 1 optical security feature from Oberthur - Kryptonome™.

Features

2 July 2025

2 min read

Continuity Plus Confidence for De La Rue as it Moves to Private Ownership

As Currency News™ went to press, we learnt that the sale of De La Rue PLC to Atlas Holdings for £263 million – announced in April – has now completed. De La Rue will delist from the London Stock Exchange and re-register as a Private Limited Company.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2025

2 min read

From Money to Medals in Indonesia

The Bank Indonesia (BI) office in Bali has come up with a novel – and appropriate – way to recycle end of life banknotes – by turning them into medals that were given to participants in the QRIS Summer Run Bali fun run.

Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2025

5 min read

Cash is a Handshake

Cash is not just a store of value or a transaction, it’s a means of mutual human connection – in other words, a handshake. So said Mark Gould, Chief Payments Executive at Federal Reserve Financial Services, in his keynote address at the Currency Conference in Bangkok in May.

Events Free Free

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2025

2 min read

End of Penny Production Confirmed – At Last

After years of debate about the future of the US one cent coin (penny), the US Treasury has now confirmed that its production will stop once stocks of blanks, the last order for which was placed this month, are used up.

Coins

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2025

4 min read

News in Brief

The East African Community (EAC) has re-established the region’s Monetary Affairs Committee (MAC) following the appointment of new heads of central banks, bringing hope for new ideas to get the implementation of a single currency for the region back on track, after the initial deadline of 2024 was extended to 2031.

News

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2025

5 min read

New Currency Focuses on the World Under the Seas

As described in last month’s Currency News™, the new Caribbean guilder has now been issued. It’s been a long time coming, but well worth the wait.

Banknotes Free Free

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2025

10 min read

Crane Currency – People, Purpose, and Paper Money

It’s an exciting time for Crane NXT. Crane NXT (‘CXT’ – NYSE) just completed the acquisition of De La Rue’s Authentication business, and combined it with its existing portfolio, the Smart Packaging assets of TruTag and brand protection specialist OpSec (acquired in 2024) to form a new company – Crane Authentication. Together with Crane Currency, these form the newly-created business unit Security & Authentication Technologies (SAT), which sits alongside Crane Payment Innovations.

Interviews

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2025

2 min read

G+D: Anchoring Trust in a Digital Era

Giesecke+Devrient will hold its customer event – the G+D Currency Technology Symposium 2025 – from July 7-10 at its Munich headquarters. Themed ‘Currency Fast Forward,’ this event will examine the pivotal role of public currency as a foundation of trust in the rapidly evolving digital landscape, highlighting the indispensable role of cash as critical infrastructure, a public asset, and a key element of national security.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2025

4 min read

A Tale of Two Currencies – A Riddle, Wrapped in a Mystery, Inside an Enigma

The European Central Bank has published the production requirements for euro banknotes for 2026, which – at just under 1.95 billion – is nearly half that of 2025 (3.4 billion) and the second lowest figure since the euro was introduced in 2002 (the only year it was lower was in 2004). The value is €56 billion.

Comment

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2025

9 min read

Central Banks and Cash Round-Up

This month, the focus of our periodic series of articles covering cash information in central bank annual and other reports is split between Europe and Asia, with updates from Germany, Portugal, Spain, Hong Kong, Korea and Sri Lanka.

Central Banks

Antti Heinonen

27 May 2025

9 min read

Does the Number of Banknotes in Circulation Already Exceed 900 Billion?

If every central bank and monetary authority were to consistently publish the number of banknotes in circulation, this article wouldn’t be necessary. However, that isn’t the case, and the question is raised every now then in discussions. Various estimates, some around 550 billion, are cited in industry reports and presentations, which prompted me to dig deeper as the numbers seemed low. This article highlights some of the challenges involved when considering the question and provides an estimate for further discussion.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2025

4 min read

IACA Excellence in Currency Awards 2025 – the Winners Are...

The Currency Conference gala dinner on 28 May hosted the presentation of the latest International Association of Currency Affairs (IACA) 2025 Technical Excellence in Currency Awards.

Events