Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2025

10 min read

Orell Füssli – Combining Trust and Technology in an Increasingly Digital World

In the February issue of Currency News™, we ran an interview with Wolfram Seidemann of Giesecke+Devrient on how the company is navigating the digital transformation in money. But G+D is not the only banknote solutions provider diving into the digital world. Orell Füssli, with a legacy spanning more than 500 years, is also firmly established as a leader in high security printing. And, like G+D, it is expanding its expertise to include digital security solutions as well.

Interviews

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2025

4 min read

New Currency Family Celebrates the Natural Beauty of Zambia

Zambia is a landlocked country in Southern Africa known for its abundant mineral resources, particularly copper, and home to the renowned Victoria Falls and a rich cultural heritage. It has a population of around 19.6 million and its currency is the Zambian kwacha (which is subdivided into ngwee).

Banknotes Coins

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2025

3 min read

Koenig & Bauer Expands Digital Authentication Offering

As noted in the December issue of Currency News™, as part of its recent restructuring Koenig & Bauer has spun out its inspection systems and protection technologies into a separate business unit – Vision & Protection (V&P) – headed by Julian Schubert, formerly Vice President of Data, Vision and Authentication Solutions.

Technology

Aleksei Faleev

1 May 2025

4 min read

How Commercial Bank Cashiers View Security Features of Modern Banknotes

At the High Security Printing™ (HSP) Asia conference in Bangkok last December, currency and counterfeit expert Aleksei Faleev gave a presentation on a survey conducted among cashiers in Kyrgyzstan to gauge their knowledge of and preferences for banknote security features. He has subsequently written this article based on that presentation.

Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2025

2 min read

New Cash Environmental Resource Launched

Reconnaissance, co-publisher of Currency News™, launched a new website on 22 April (World Mother Earth Day) as a cash community asset to capture and consolidate initiatives, work and research from every part of the cash cycle and provide tools to support organisations on their pathway to a greener future.

Sustainability

Aleksei Faleev

13 April 2025

4 min read

How Commercial Bank Cashiers View Security Features of Modern Banknotes

At the High Security Printing™ Asia conference in Bangkok last December, currency and counterfeit expert Aleksei Faleev gave a presentation on a survey conducted among cashiers in Kyrgyzstan to gauge their knowledge of and preferences for banknote security features. He has subsequently written this article based on that presentation.

Banknotes Counterfeiting

Astrid Mitchell

31 March 2025

3 min read

People in the News

The Bank of England has appointed Sarah John, current Chief Cashier, as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), replacing Ben Simson.

Central Banks Companies

Antti Heinonen

31 March 2025

9 min read

Impacts of Recent Developments on the Cash Cycle: A Global Analysis

Even though innovations in digital payments have accelerated in recent decades, cash is the only payment option for a number of citizens in every country. Moreover, the great majority of people would like to keep cash as one of their payment options – even in those countries where its share in transactions is already small. Cash is also used for precautionary reasons as well as a store of value and has a significant role in various crises and uncertainties.

Cash Handling

Astrid Mitchell

31 March 2025

2 min read

Banque de France Takes EverFit® to the Next Level

Banque de France used the opportunity of Intergraf Currency+Identity to launch EverFit® Enhanced on the Industry Innovation Arena Stage of the conference, the latest significant upgrade to the composite banknote since its introduction in 2014.

Banknotes Companies

Astrid Mitchell

31 March 2025

3 min read

HSP Latin America Returns to Rio

The programme will shortly be published for the High Security Printing (HSP Latin America) conference, which returns 9-11 June to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – the location for the inaugural event back in 2012.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

31 March 2025

2 min read

ODDS 2025 Conference

Registration is now open for the Optical & Digital Document Security™ (ODDS) conference, which will be held in Warsaw from 15-17 September 2025.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

31 March 2025

2 min read

The Future of Cash in an Uncertain World

Another conference taking place in Warsaw later this year is The Future of Cash conference, from 3-5 November, which will bring together key stakeholders from across the cash community to explore innovative strategies for shaping the future of the cash cycle.

Cash Handling Events

Phillipa Peploe

31 March 2025

5 min read

Women on Currency

Across the world, banknotes commemorate and celebrate leading and noteworthy people from across history and culture. In essence, they are the business cards and the cultural identity of each country, acting as a physical symbol of national pride.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

31 March 2025

3 min read

In Other News…

The Central Bank of the UAE has issued a new 100 dirham (AED) polymer banknote, printed by Oumolat on SAFEGUARD with two clear windows. It is part of the CBUAE’s Third Issuance of the National Currency Project, and the final note to be issued in the all-polymer series, which comprises five denominations.

News

Astrid Mitchell

31 March 2025

5 min read

News in Brief

Last month, we reported that Saudi Arabia has a new currency symbol for the riyal. This month, its neighbour, the United Arab Emirates, has also unveiled a new currency symbol for the dirham – both physical and digital.

News

Astrid Mitchell

31 March 2025

4 min read

Gender Parity in Currency – Some Way Still to Go

In case you missed it, 8 March was International Women’s Day. It was an opportunity for organisations to celebrate the achievements of the women in their workforce, notably on social media. The currency industry, traditionally viewed as a bastion of male dominance, was no exception.

Comment

Astrid Mitchell

31 March 2025

2 min read

SPL Partners with G+D for Paper Upgrade

Pakistan’s banknote papermaker Security Papers Ltd (SPL) has entered into a strategic partnership with Giesecke+Devrient to upgrade its PM-2 paper machine, first commissioned in 2004. This initiative aims to enhance SPL’s capacity to produce banknote paper that meets international standards and incorporates the latest security features.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

31 March 2025

2 min read

New State of the Art Cash Centre for Angola

President João Lourenço of Angola has officially opened the National Bank of Angola’s new high-tech cash centre – Casa do Kwanza – in the capital, Luanda for the storage, processing and distribution of the country’s currency, the kwanza. The cash centre has been four years in the making, at a budgeted cost of c. Kz 33 billion, and will be able to process up to 4 million banknotes daily.

Cash Handling

Astrid Mitchell

31 March 2025

6 min read

Positive Picture for Cash Companies Continues in 2024 (Part 2)

Last month, we covered the annual results of four of the major companies in the cash sector – Crane NXT, Brinks, Loomis, and Diebold Nixdorf, all of which turned in a respectable performance, showing that the challenges of the COVID years are now a thing of the past.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

31 March 2025

2 min read

Oberthur Partners with Giriraj Foils in India

Oberthur Fiduciaire has partnered with Giriraj Foils, a well-respected name in India’s high-security films, stamping foils and laminates market, to deliver advanced authentication solutions tailored for the Indian market. The partnership was announced at the ASPA Traceability and Authentication Forum in New Delhi earlier this month.

Companies