Latest News

Nikki Strickland

29 July 2021

4 min read

Large Area and High Impact… It’s All About the Windows for Polymer Banknotes

The window in the polymer banknote is proven as a strong security feature. This article lays out why. Windows are a simple way to authenticate a banknote and come with a clear public education message.

Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

29 July 2021

4 min read

EverFit Takes Step Forward with New Portals/Banque de France Agreement

The banknote paper manufacturer Portals has signed a licence agreement with the Banque de France (BdF) for its multi-layer banknote technology, EverFit®.

Banknotes Companies Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

29 July 2021

4 min read

CINEMA – From Concept to Completion

Launched in 2020, CCL Secure’s new CINEMA™ security feature is gaining many admirers for its ability to combine 3D style depth with movement in a single feature, says the company.

Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

29 July 2021

5 min read

SPARK® – the Innovation Journey Continues to FLOW

SPARK® has proved to be one of the most successful and widely used anti-counterfeiting features for banknotes since its launch in 2006.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

2 min read

New Traffic Light Security Ink from GSI

Gleitsmann Security Inks (GSI) has launched what it terms the ‘world’s first traffic light for banknotes’ in the form of mouve GSI, a unique security feature that will help safeguard cash and other security documents using luminescent colour effects.

Substrates, Features Technology

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

5 min read

Qatar’s New Banknotes – Art, Progress and Technology Brought Together

The Qatar Central Bank formally launched its 5th Series of banknotes on Qatar National Day, 18 December 2020, replacing the 4th Series that was issued in 2003. The Qatar Central Bank wished to modernise the banknotes and to incorporate the latest security features. The new series, designed by De La Rue in close co-operation with the Qatar Central Bank, has achieved this whilst maintaining a thematic link to previous designs.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

2 min read

A New Star is Born

Louisenthal has added a new security thread to its portfolio based on its RollingStar® technology, which combines two security technologies – ColourShift for colour changes and micro-mirrors for dynamic effects arranged according to highly complex algorithms. For the new thread, RollingStar® i+, the two technologies have, through intensive research and in conjunction with magnetics for machine-read, been elevated to a new level.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

3 min read

Russia Moves Forward with New Series

The Deputy Chairman of the Bank of Russia, Mikhail Alekseev, has provided local media with more details of the new Russian series, which will start going into circulation with the new 100 rubles in 2022. It will be followed by the 1,000 and 5,000 rubles in 2023, the 500 rubles in 2024 and 10 and 50 rubles in 2025. The 200 and 2,000 rubles, both introduced in 2017, will not be included in the new series.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

2 min read

CCL Secure Targets Note/Coin Boundary with SPARTAN

CCL Secure has unveiled SPARTAN™ – an ‘ultra-durable’ new polymer substrate that has been designed specifically to provide a new option for central banks and issuing authorities who have low denomination, high transaction velocity denominations that sit on the cusp of the note/coin boundary.

Banknotes Coins Companies

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

2 min read

Vietnam Marks 18 Years of Polymer Banknotes

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) is celebrating not just its 70th anniversary, and the 30th anniversary of the National Banknote Printing Plant, but is also marking its 18th year of using polymer banknotes from CCL Secure.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

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

Clemens Berger

29 April 2021

5 min read

Hybrid ADDvance® – Creating Long Lasting Confidence

In last month’s Currency News™, Clemens Berger of Louisenthal wrote about the importance of embedded security features and how they are the benchmark for the overwhelming majority of banknotes. This month, he follows up with more information specifically on how their substrate family – Hybrid ADDvance® – is part of that story.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

29 April 2021

4 min read

Denmark’s Route to Upgraded Banknotes

Late last year Danmarks Nationalbank began the upgrade of its banknote series with a new 500 kroner, setting the scene for more advanced security features across all its banknotes.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

1 min read

ECCB Completes its New Series

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) issued its new $5 polymer banknote into circulation this month, completing the transition of its new family onto SAFEGUARD® polymer banknotes.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Kerre Corbin

29 March 2021

4 min read

The Risks Around Generic Security Features

One increasingly common counterfeit technique is harvesting – the act of taking a security feature from a lower value object and incorporating it into a counterfeit banknote of higher value. There are several ways to minimise harvesting, including making each security feature bespoke.

Banknotes Counterfeiting Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

4 min read

New £50 Note Celebrates Science and Diversity

The Bank of England has unveiled the design for the new £50 which, when it goes into circulation in June, will compete the transition to a new all-polymer series.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Clemens Berger

29 March 2021

9 min read

Banknote Security – Don't Take the Risk! Embedded Security Features are the Benchmark for the Overwhelming Majority of Banknotes

The technology platforms used for banknotes continues to rise ever higher, for all security levels – 1, 2 and 3. Challenging and beating the counterfeiter is central to the design, functionality and security of banknotes. And we note that with a well-defined security feature matrix to raise the bar, there can be success.

Banknotes Counterfeiting Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

2 March 2021

1 min read

Libya Marks Anniversary with New Polymer Note

The Central Bank of Libya has issued a new 5 dinar note on De La Rue’s SAFEGUARD® polymer substrate, its launch coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the 17 February 2011 Revolution. It is the country’s second polymer note, the first – the 1 dinar – having been issued in 2019.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

2 March 2021

4 min read

The Modern Omani Renaissance in Banknotes

ln celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Modern Omani Renaissance, the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) has launched a new series. Oman, officially the Sultanate of Oman, is located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula at the mouth of the Arabian Gulf, sharing its borders with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The first national currency was introduced in 1970, replacing the Gulf rupee. Its current name, the Omani rial, was adopted in 1972. Coins were introduced earlier, in 1941.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

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