Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

30 Aug. 2021

10 min read

Catch Me if You Can – ECB Reports on Cash and COVID

A new report published last month – ‘Catch Me (If You Can): Assessing the Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission via Euro Cash’ – by the European Central Bank (ECB) sought to answer key questions such as, how long do coronaviruses remain infectious on banknotes and coins? Is it possible to become infected through contact with cash?

COVID-19 Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

29 July 2021

4 min read

Royal Mint's Bumper Year Despite COVID-19 and Fall in Circulating Coins

‘The past year has been an extraordinarily challenging one for the world as a whole, and The Royal Mint has been no exception’. These were the opening words in the Chairman’s Report for 2020/21.

Coins Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

1 min read

Defining Minimum Visual Quality Standards: Malaysia’s Approach

It is a challenge to introduce minimum quality standards for banknote fitness. There are a number of good examples of how to manage machines that handle banknotes, whether in a cash centre or elsewhere, the European Central Bank being an example. But reaching those who handle and work with cash without the benefit of machines is more difficult.

Central Banks Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

2 min read

Support for Euro Remains High, but Not for Low Value Coins

Public support for the euro has reached an all-time high, according to the European Commission's latest Eurobarometer survey.

Banknotes Coins Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

3 min read

Banknote Security: Getting People to Pay Attention

The Bundesbank reported in August 2020 a marked increase in counterfeits where no attempt had been made to mimic the security features. There is a high level of trust in the authenticity of euro banknotes.

Counterfeiting Studies, Reports

Antti Heinonen

28 June 2021

8 min read

The Paradoxical Development of the Usage of Cash: a Global Update

The lockdowns and travel restrictions caused by the pandemic have had a great influence on retail shopping and payment habits. Besides the increase in online shopping, the growing use of contactless and mobile payments media have decreased the use of cash in transactions. Several recent payment studies confirm these developments.

COVID-19 Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

3 min read

Bank of England Annual Report – Banknotes Increase, Counterfeits Fall

The week before the issue of the new £50, the Bank of England published its annual report for 2020/21, which showed an increase in notes in circulation of £10.3 billion (14%). It credited this increase to the launch of the new polymer £20 note in February 2020 and the pandemic. These figures are quite a contrast to the Reserve Bank of India’s annual report, also issued recently, which saw a 7.2% increase.

Central Banks Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

3 min read

A Busy Year for the RBI

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has published its 2020/21 Annual Report which saw a small rise in demand for banknotes and the RBI continuing with its programme of developing how it does its business.

Central Banks Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

3 min read

A Year of Pivot for RCM, as Bullion Sales Boom, But Coins Decline

The Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) has announced its financial results for 2020. Overall, sales were boosted by 74% due to booming demand for gold bullion products. However, the increased revenue was matched by increased costs, so did not result in a corresponding increase in profit. Instead, profits were lower by 35% due to lower revenues from other parts of the business, among them circulating coins.

Coins COVID-19 Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

2 min read

Telling the Cash Environmental Story to the Green Community

In November 2021 the UN Climate Change Conference, COP26, will take place in Glasgow. Currency News™ has started work to issue a paper, ‘Cash: A Roadmap to Sustainability’, ahead of the conference.

Studies, Reports Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

29 April 2021

4 min read

More Than You Knew There was to Know – the ‘Security Threads for Banknotes’ Report

The evolution of the security thread has happened at breakneck speed, with the pace accelerating in recent years. Today 95% of all paper banknotes contain a security thread and the options available can feel bewildering even to those familiar with banknotes. There is now a new way to make sense of all this – read the just published ‘Security Threads for Banknote’ report from Currency News™.

Studies, Reports Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

29 April 2021

3 min read

Using Advanced Maths for Inspection

A number of central banks are investing time and money to understand the life cycle and performance of banknotes based on tracking the changes in individual banknote detector scores over time. It does this by reading banknote serial numbers, and their detector data, and analysing the results. Given the number of detectors on a sorting machine, the volume of data generated reaches the realms of ‘big data’.

Central Banks Studies, Reports

Marc Surrency

29 April 2021

10 min read

‘Four Nations’ Common Adversarial Analysis Assessment Methodology

The Four Nations group was founded in 1978 and consists of five central bank members – the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Bank of Canada, Reserve Bank of Australia, Bank of England and Banco de México. The group is a forum in which its members share information and experiences on banknote development, issuance and distribution, counterfeit deterrence, and relevant technical studies.

Central Banks Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

29 April 2021

3 min read

Impact of COVID-19 on Cash Operations in Malaysia

The year of the pandemic saw Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) take a wide range of steps to ensure payments worked effectively, according to its 2020 Annual Report.

Central Banks COVID-19 Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

29 April 2021

2 min read

Bank of Canada Reports on 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic saw payment behaviour deviate markedly from historical trends. Unsurprisingly this features heavily in the Bank of Canada’s 2020 annual report. On one hand it put pressures on its cash inventories as the Bank moved fast to boost stocks at its regional distribution centres. Its operations centres had to respond with agility and to innovate to ensure cash supply was uninterrupted.

Central Banks COVID-19 Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

2 March 2021

1 min read

BIN Global Central Bank Survey Results

Banknote Industry News (BIN) surveyed 36 central banks at the end of 2020 with a wide range of questions. Two thirds of those surveyed did not change their banknote handling practices in the pandemic, neither disinfecting nor quarantining notes. The 25% who have changed their practices, continue with them. Although a quarter said that trust and confidence in banknotes had been reduced by the pandemic, 69% said there was no change.

Central Banks Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

2 March 2021

2 min read

Security Threads for Banknotes

A new special report, ‘Security Threads for Banknotes’, is about to be released. Published by Currency Publications, it follows the successful and informative Special Report ‘Diffractive Features on Banknotes’. Published in a similar format, the 130-page report is available in both printed and digital form.

Studies, Reports Substrates, Features