Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

31 July 2023

1 min read

Japan to Issue New Series in 2024

The Bank of Japan will start issuing its new series of banknotes in around the first half of July 2024. The actual date of issue will be announced when the necessary preparations have been completed.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

31 July 2023

2 min read

Cash & Payment News

The July issue of Cash & Payment News™ – our sister publication, analyses how cash is used and the wider payments eco-system.

Cash Handling

Astrid Mitchell

31 July 2023

3 min read

Lesotho's Green Banknote Meets the Kingdom's Sustainability Goals

On 17 July the Central Bank of Lesotho unveiled its first Green Banknote, in commemoration of the 60th birthday of the King of Lesotho, His Majesty King Letsie III, who has reigned since 1996.

Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

31 July 2023

2 min read

IN Groupe Buys GSI

IN Groupe, owners of the optical features specialist SURYS, has agreed to buy 100% of the shares of Gleitsmann Security Inks from hubergroup Deutschland for an undisclosed consideration in cash.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

31 July 2023

3 min read

People in the News

Michele Bullock has been announced as the next Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), making her the first woman to lead the central bank. She replaces Philip Lowe, and will begin her seven-year term in September.

News

Astrid Mitchell

31 July 2023

2 min read

Shortlist of New Euro Design Themes Unveiled

The European Central Bank (ECB) is asking European citizens about their views on the proposed themes for the next series of euro banknotes, which have now been made public.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

31 July 2023

3 min read

Polymer Features Pay Homage to the Universe

Security features embedded into the substrate of a banknote are particularly difficult for counterfeiters to replicate effectively – and the technology behind these features has advanced significantly in the past several years.

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

31 July 2023

2 min read

More Coins on Horizon for Polish Mint

The Mint of Poland (Mennica Polska), which trades on the Warsaw Stock Exchange as the only publicly-listed mint, has three distinct business segments – minting, electronic payments and real estate development.

Coins

Astrid Mitchell

31 July 2023

3 min read

Royal Mint Invests in New Future to Offset Falling Demand

The Royal Mint (TRM) announced its results for 2022/23 which, according to Anne Jessopp, its Chief Executive, was a pivotal year as it embarked on a five year business transformation plan.

Coins Companies Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

31 July 2023

2 min read

Bulgaria Delays Euro Entry, Agrees on Coins

Bulgaria is delaying its entry into the eurozone, and is likely to adopt the single currency in January 2025, as opposed to 2024 as originally planned.

Banknotes Coins

31 July 2023

12 min read

SURYS – Acquisitions Point to Ambitions in Physical and Digital Security

Currency News spoke to Frederic Trojani, CEO of SURYS and Executive Vice President for the Secured Components Division of IN Groupe, about the company’s history, how being part of IN Groupe is helping it fulfil its ambitions in the currency market, and the benefits that the two recent acquisitions will bring.

Companies

31 July 2023

4 min read

From Costa Rica to Meta’s Latest Plasmonic Banknote Security Feature

Meta Materials Inc has been a pioneer in banknote OVD technology for the past decade with innovations in micro-, nano- and now plasmonic structures. The company has also developed in-house secure foil production so that it can offer banknote stripes direct to customers.

Banknotes Technology

Astrid Mitchell

31 July 2023

2 min read

New Printworks for Poland

The Polish state-owned printer and papermaker PWPW is building a new banknote printing plant and paper mill on an 18-hectare site in Warsaw, recently purchased from the state-owned pharmaceutical company Polfa Tarchomin for PLN 143 million (€32 million).

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

31 July 2023

4 min read

How to Do Demonetisation Well – the Kenyan Experience

Demonetisation has had something of a bad press in recent years, the disruption caused by the removal of the 500 and 1,000 rupees in India of 2016 and, more recently, Nigeria’s naira redesign being cases in point.

Central Banks Free Studies, Reports Free

Kerre Corbin

31 July 2023

2 min read

Counterfeit Corner

Let’s talk statistics, even though it is not my favourite subject!

Counterfeiting

Astrid Mitchell

31 July 2023

2 min read

KURZ Recognised for Sustainability Progress

KURZ, the market leader in security foils for banknotes, has announced that it has been awarded a silver medal from the well-known sustainability rating agency EcoVadis, having achieved excellent results in all four areas examined – the environment, labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement.

Companies Sustainability

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