Latest News

James Shepherd-Barron

31 July 2023

3 min read

Cash Goes Bananas

The Cavendish banana, the world’s most consumed fruit, is at risk of extinction due to climate change, viruses and unsustainable agricultural practices. The banana’s decline, suggests Tortoise Media, a UK news organisation, ‘is yet another flashing red light in an economic ecosystem that has ruthlessly prioritised convenience over resilience.’

Cash Handling

Astrid Mitchell

31 July 2023

2 min read

Oumolat Becomes 1st BnEI Member from the Middle East

The Banknote Ethics Initiative (BnEI), which is 10 years old this year, now has 15 members after Oumolat Security Printing LLC was formally accredited by the BnEI Accreditation Council.

Banknotes Counterfeiting

Astrid Mitchell

31 July 2023

9 min read

Central Banks and Cash Round-Up

In our latest monthly summary of central bank annual reports, we look at the Philippines, Korea, Indonesia, Liberia, Eastern Caribbean, Colombia and Taiwan.

News

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2023

2 min read

Mauritania Trials New Substrates versus Polymer

To mark the 50th anniversary of the creation in June 1973 of the ouguiya (MRU) as the national currency of the West African state of Mauritania, the Banque Centrale de Mauritanie is issuing a commemorative MRU 50 banknote on not one but three different substrates.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2023

5 min read

CBPM’s Progress on Sustainable Production and Environmental Protection

According to China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation (CBPM), it has been working on sustainable development for some time and has developed a range of solutions to increase the use of clean energy and efficiency.

Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2023

3 min read

The Absence of Everything – New Concepts Pioneered by BDR and Partners

At the Currency Conference in May, Dieter Sauter, Vice President & General Manager Value Printing for Bundesdruckerei, unveiled the concept behind the ‘Dark Banknote Series‘, and the first note in this series (ExNihilo), which is the result of the SIRALab initiative.

Banknotes Technology

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2023

4 min read

PerceptNote Puts Banknote Designs to the Test

Design testing is not easy but is good practice. Ernesto Gonzalez Candela of Mexican firm UnderCurrency, which offers consulting services and products to assess and improve the performance of banknotes and coins, presented a new tool at the Optical and Digital Document Security conference in April to help central banks optimise their banknote designs and have confidence that they will perform in circulation.

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2023

4 min read

Windows and All That Jazz

SUSI Optics® Jazz™, the latest addition to the SUSI Optics® family of optically variable features for banknotes, was launched at the Currency Conference in May, with a stunning specimen note produced to demonstrate the spectrum of opportunities it offers.

Banknotes Technology

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2023

4 min read

Nassau – A Spectacular Setting for HSP LatAm 2023

Nassau, the Bahamas was the spectacular setting for the 10th HSP (High Security Printing) Latin America conference, which welcomed 250 delegates from 118 organisations and 36 countries, over half from Latin America and the Caribbean.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2023

3 min read

Signs of Recovery as De La Rue Resolves Financial Issues

De la Rue has announced its results for the financial year ending March 2023. These were eagerly awaited following a trading update issued by the company April (see CN April 2023).

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2023

2 min read

Cash Community Initiatives from CashEssentials

The independent think tank CashEssentials has launched two new initiatives – the Cash Academic Network and the Cash Associations’ Forum – both aimed at building bridges within different groups of the cash community.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2023

3 min read

Diebold Nixdorf Enters Chapter 11 to Restructure Debt

Whilst NCR appears to be going from strength to strength, the same cannot be said of Diebold Nixdorf, No 2 in the marketplace.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2023

4 min read

Be Bold. Buy the Best.

If you are responsible for the design and issue of a new banknote, you face a daunting task. As the latest edition of Currency News™ suggests, it can be a complex and unenviable undertaking. Frankly, good luck!

Banknotes Free Free

Kerre Corbin

2 July 2023

2 min read

Counterfeit Corner

This month I would like to discuss the proliferation of novelty notes, which are purchased online and used in exchange for goods and services.

Counterfeiting

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2023

4 min read

News in Brief

SICPA has formally inaugurated the unlimitrust campus, the world’s first centre of excellence dedicated to the Economy of Trust which is assembling innovation players into one single community.

News

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2023

3 min read

NCR – Momentum Builds for Separation

NCR Corporation is the market leader in self-service banking and payment solutions, with a turnover of $7.83 billion in 2022, more than double that of its nearest rival, Diebold Nixdorf (see below).

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2023

3 min read

Awards for Best in Latin American and Caribbean Banknotes

The prestigious Regional Banknote and ID Document of the Year Awards form part of the industry’s annual High Security Printing™ (HSP) Latin America conference.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2023

2 min read

A Good Year for South Africa’s Producers

In its annual report for 2022-23, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has provided details of the financial performance of its minting and banknote printing subsidiaries South African Mint (SAM) and South African Bank Note (SABN).

Central Banks Companies

Astrid Mitchell

2 July 2023

2 min read

Jamaica Makes the Change

The Bank of Jamaica’s new banknote series has now gone into circulation, marking a complete transition to polymer for the country’s currency.

Banknotes

Nikki Strickland

2 July 2023

5 min read

Design Thinking: Security that is Greater than the Sum of its Parts

Banknote users see a holistic banknote when they transact but our industry doesn’t always think holistically. A significant proportion of our time is focussed on individual components and, whilst these are incredibly important, we risk overlooking the essential role of integration in unlocking the next wave of banknote innovation.

Banknotes Technology