Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2025

1 min read

New Round Up of New Notes and Coins

Currency News™ is publishing a round-up of all new banknotes and coins issued in 2024. This annual summary will be issued each year from now on, covering the previous year’s new issues.

Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2025

3 min read

Note and Coin News

The National Bank of Kazakhstan has issued a commemorative 1,000 tenge note celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory and the end of World War II in Europe.

Banknotes Coins

Astrid Mitchell

21 May 2025

2 min read

Be Smart with BeeSmart

In keeping with our apiology theme (ie. the study of bees), one company that is using the stripey stingers to support a major financial literacy initiative is Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions, who presented the BeeSmart educational platform at the recent HSP EMEA conference in Basel.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

18 May 2025

4 min read

From Money Trees to Honey Bees – Cash that Buzzes

The United Nations and its agencies hold international observance days (and in some cases weeks or even years) to promote global issues . There are 218 overall – many on familiar topics such as women, family, oceans, the environment. But there are some unexpected ones too - toilets, potatoes, tea, tuna, bicycles, seagrass.

Banknotes Coins Free Free

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2025

5 min read

News In Brief

Tuvalu is home to 11,000 people and now, for the first time, five ATMs as well, thereby opening up electronic banking for the tiny Pacific island’s inhabitants.

Cash Handling Coins Companies

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2025

2 min read

Sensors and Polymer Fuel Spectra Growth

Spectra Systems reported a strong performance for fiscal year 2024, which for the first time included the financial results for Cartor Security Printers (CSP), which it acquired in December 2023.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2025

9 min read

Central Banks and Cash Round-Up

Our periodic series of articles covering cash information in central bank annual reports is playing catch-up, particularly as it is around this time of year that a number of central banks issue their annual reports for 2024 (and in some cases, previous years).

Central Banks

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2025

4 min read

The Consumer Decides

On 4 April Microsoft turned 50 years old. Amazon is just over 30, Meta is 21 and the iPhone is just 18. Will they last as long as Microsoft?

Comment

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2025

2 min read

New Currency for Curaçao and Sint Maarten

A country that has issued not just a new family of banknotes and coins, but a whole new currency, is Curaçao and Sint Maarten, where the Caribbean guilder (Gg) went into circulation on 31 March, replacing the Netherlands Antilles guilder.

Banknotes Coins

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2025

3 min read

Kazakhstan Continues Saka-Style Banknote Roll-Out

On 25 December 2024, the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) introduced a new design for the 2,000 tenge banknote. On March 28, 2025, it was the turn of the 1,000 tenge.

Banknotes Coins

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2025

6 min read

In Other News…

The Bermuda Monetary Authority’s (BMA) new $5 polymer banknote has won the International Bank Note Society’s (IBNS) Bank Note of the Year Award for 2024.

News

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2025

3 min read

Cape Town Presents MDC 2025 Coin Awards

The 32nd Mint Directors Conference (MDC) has recently concluded in Cape Town, South Africa. The event hosted the MDC Coin Awards, which were presented during the MDC Gala Dinner at Cape Point Vineyards.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2025

3 min read

De La Rue Goes Private in £263M Atlas Deal

De La Rue, the 211-year-old British icon known for printing some of the world’s most secure banknotes, is turning the page. In a move that marks the end of its public market journey, US- based Atlas Holdings (through its vehicle ACR Bidco Limited) will acquire the company for £263 million in an all-cash deal.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2025

2 min read

Giesecke+Devrient Reports Strong Growth

Giesecke + Devrient (G+D) reported its highest revenue in the company’s history, with sales of €3.132 billion for 2024 surpassing its previous record of just under €3 billion in 2023. The company also reported incoming orders of €3.3 billion, again an all-time high, suggesting that the growth strategy is set to continue.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2025

2 min read

Komori Secures 1st Banknote Order with BEP

Komori Corporation has announced that it has won a major order for multiple banknote printing systems from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP).

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2025

2 min read

People in the News

Abdul Qader al-Husriya has been appointed Governor of the Central Bank of Syria.

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