Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2025

6 min read

HSP First Time in Switzerland – Why Did it Take so Long!

The 2025 edition of the High Security Printing™ EMEA conference was located, for the first time in its history, in Switzerland, in the picturesque city of Basel. The sell-out event attracted 265 delegates, from 117 organisations spanning 44 countries. 38% of the organisations were from government (central banks, issuing authorities) or state printworks.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2025

4 min read

China Celebrates Year of the Snake

2025 heralds the Year of the Snake in the traditional Chinese zodiac calendar. In December 2024, the People’s Bank of China announced the issue of a commemorative 20 yuan banknote for the 2025 Chinese Zodiac New Year.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2025

5 min read

News in Brief

President Trump’s announcement of a directive to the US Treasury Secretary to cease production of the country’s lowest denomination coin, as part of his mission to cut government expenditure, has reignited the debate in the US about the future of the penny, which has been rumbling on for well over a decade now.

News

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2025

3 min read

Managing the Cash Cycle Better

A new white paper investigates how cash management is changing and best practice for optimising efficiency, thereby reducing the cost and environmental impact of cash.

Studies, Reports

3 March 2025

4 min read

Best in Design and Innovation at EMEA Awards

This year’s Regional Banknote the Year Awards for EMEA were presented at a special ceremony during the HSP conference dinner in the traditional Safran Zunft restaurant in the heart of Basel’s charming Old Town.

Banknotes Events

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2025

3 min read

Currency Conference Introduces Updated Agenda Topics

The 2025 Currency Conference is returning to Bangkok, Thailand, from 26-29 May 2025. Conference organiser Currency Research expects to welcome nearly 400 delegates from 70 countries, including 70 central banks and 150 organisations in total. At the time of publication, nearly 50 central banks have already registered for the event.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2025

3 min read

Euro Counterfeits on the Rise Again

554,000 counterfeit euro banknotes were withdrawn from circulation in 2024, according to the European Central Bank. This is an increase of more than 18% compared with 2023, and resulted in a ratio of 18 ppm, compared with 16 ppm the previous year.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

29 Jan. 2025

2 min read

Canadians Explore Technology to Turn E-Waste into Coins

The Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) has announced a new partnership with enim Technologies, which extracts precious metals from e-waste, to explore the possibility of incorporating these metals into the Mint’s future coin production.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

29 Jan. 2025

3 min read

In Other News

The Central Bank of Belize has unveiled the designs of its new banknote series, which will go into circulation in June.

News

John Winchcombe

29 Jan. 2025

1 min read

Cash Recirculation and Local Recycling: from Policy to Practice

A new white paper examines the cash cycle from the perspective of every stakeholder, drawing on interviews and discussions with the 24 organisations that contributed to it. It contains examples and information from around the world, from small and large countries, emerging market and advanced economies and all types of stakeholder.

Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

29 Jan. 2025

2 min read

Note and Coin News

The Bank of China and Banco Nacional Ultramarino – Macau’s two note issuing banks – have introduced new 50 and 100 pataca (MOP) banknotes. They are the third and fourth notes in the new Macau series, following the issue of new MOP 10 and 20 notes last year.

Banknotes Coins

Astrid Mitchell

29 Jan. 2025

5 min read

Cape Town Provides Backdrop to Intersection of Cash and Payments

At the end of November last year, the EMEA Cash Cycle & Payments Seminar took place in Cape Town, South Africa. Organised by Currency Research, the seminar was one of the best-attended regional cash events in recent years, with over 245 delegates from various sectors, including central banks, commercial banks, cash-in-transit companies, and technology providers.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

29 Jan. 2025

3 min read

Fashion, Food and the Best of Security Printing as Intergraf Heads to Milan

The next edition of the Intergraf Currency+Identity conference, which has been connecting technological innovators and institutional end users since 1976, takes place in Milan from 3-5 March.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

29 Jan. 2025

2 min read

From Tradition to Transformation: Komori’s Path to 2030

Komori has released its Integrated Report 2024, a detailed overview of the company’s financial and non-financial performance, along with its plans to create long-term value through innovation, sustainability, and global expansion.

Companies

John Winchcombe

29 Jan. 2025

5 min read

The Opportunity for a Revolution in Currency Management

Chris Skinner, an independent commentator on the financial markets, blogger and author, has written an interesting piece about how technology is changing the way business is delivered. He wrote it about how the digital bank model needs to change, but how might this apply to the world of cash?

Free Substrates, Features Free

Astrid Mitchell

29 Jan. 2025

2 min read

Tenders, Contracts and MOUs

Danmarks Nationalbank has signed an agreement with FNMT–RCM for the production of Danish coins over the next four years.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

29 Jan. 2025

2 min read

People in the News

Shaktikanta Das has been replaced as Governor of the Reserve Bank of India by Sanjay Malhotra, former Revenue Secretary in the Ministry of Finance.

News

Astrid Mitchell

29 Jan. 2025

5 min read

News in Brief

On 12 December De La Rue made known that it had entered talks with a consortium to sell up to 40% of its equity, which would value the company at about £245 million.

News

Duncan Reid

21 Jan. 2025

8 min read

PPM Gives False Sense of Security About Counterfeiting

Due to its relative ubiquity, ppm serves as a useful means of comparing trends both within and between countries. But as a metric it has its shortcomings. This article examines some of those shortcomings and proposes an alternative method based on the number of banknotes used for cash transactions.

Counterfeiting Free Free

Astrid Mitchell

21 Jan. 2025

6 min read

Q&T Hi-Tech Polymer: Driving Innovation with Speed, Not Imitation

Last year, Currency News reported on the introduction of a new polymer substrate for banknotes — POLYSECURE — from Q&T Hi-Tech Polymer Co. Ltd, a Vietnamese manufacturer. Luong Ngoc Anh, the founder, Chairman, and CEO of Q&T, was interviewed at the High-Security Printing Conference Asia in Bangkok, Thailand, to gain insights into the company's journey and aspirations.

Interviews