Latest News

Jonathan Ward

26 April 2023

5 min read

The Paradox of Counterfeit Deterrence and Detection

When we look at a piece of art, what exactly are we seeing? This of course depends on who we are, expert or amateur; but it also depends on our mood, our state of mind, and how much time we have.

Counterfeiting

Astrid Mitchell

26 April 2023

3 min read

US Coin Production Returns to More Normal Levels. Solution to Penny Remains Elusive

The United States Mint continued to manufacture circulating coins at high levels in 2022, albeit fewer than in the two previous years, which had been characterised by coins not circulating through the economy as rapidly as before the pandemic. The drop in volumes produced and revenues for the year marked a return to a more normal pattern of demand.

Coins

Astrid Mitchell

26 April 2023

3 min read

BEP Ramps up for New Catalyst Series

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing’s outgoing Director, Len Olijar called 2022 an exciting year on many fronts in his introduction to the agency’s Annual Report, citing progress in a number of areas, including the goal of upgrading its facilities.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

25 April 2023

2 min read

Koenig & Bauer Exceeds Forecast

Koenig & Bauer has reported that, based on its preliminary and as yet unaudited figures, group EBIT for 2022 has exceeded its own forecast, as well as market expectations. This was in spite of a challenging environment characterised by supply chain constraints and an associated increase in material and energy costs, and a loss in one of its main divisions – the Digital and Webfed segment.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

25 April 2023

3 min read

De La Rue Impacted by Low Banknote Demand

De La Rue has recently provided a trading update, which indicates both a small (mid-single digit percentage) drop in profitability below market expectations (of £30-33 million) for 2022/23 but an uncertain outlook for 2023/24, with a potentially sharp reduction in profits. The share price fell 20% on the news.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

23 April 2023

3 min read

Record Results Even in a Challenging Year for G+D

Giesecke+Devrient has described 2022 as having a challenging business environment but one in which it has achieved strong results. The challenges have included rising energy, raw material and logistic costs, worldwide inflation, supply chain challenges, particularly for chips, and the impact of the war in Ukraine.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

23 April 2023

4 min read

The Drop in Demand for New Banknotes – New Predictive Models Needed

Whilst we have reported in the last two issues on broadly positive financial results for the cash management sector, the same cannot be said of the banknote production side of the industry, as De La Rue’s recent trading update shows.

Banknotes Cash Handling Free Free

Astrid Mitchell

23 April 2023

5 min read

Central Banks and Cash Round-Up

In the start of a new series in Currency News, we will be providing a summary of each month of central bank annual reports, and in particular developments regarding cash – be it circulation, management or counterfeiting.

Central Banks Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

23 April 2023

4 min read

Note and Coin News

Bankgo Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has won the International Bank Note Society (IBNS) Banknote of the Year award for 2022 for the 1,000 piso note, breaking the Banco of Mexico’s winning streak after it scooped the award for both 2020 and 2021.

News

Astrid Mitchell

18 April 2023

4 min read

Pulsar™ Threads – a Dynamic Response to the Threat of Counterfeiting

In the February issue of Currency News, we covered the acquisition by Oberthur Fiduciare (OF) of two thirds of the shares of the Swedish micro-optics firm RollingOptics, signalling its intention to focus on the growing area of micro-optics for security features. But even before this acquisition, OF had launched Pulsar™.

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

18 April 2023

4 min read

Crane NXT Goes for Growth as a Newly Independent Company

Crane NXT has announced the completion of its separation from Crane Co., the US-based industrial products and processes conglomerate, and its launch as an independent, publicly traded company.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

2 April 2023

3 min read

Hungary Regulates Minimum Currency Infrastructure Requirements

Hungary is the latest country to intervene in the cash cycle to ensure ongoing access to cash for its citizens in light of declining usage, with a new regulation from Magyar Nemzeti Bank (MNB) governing minimum requirements for the number of ATMs operated by commercial banks.

Central Banks

Astrid Mitchell

2 April 2023

2 min read

Nigeria’s About Turn on Currency Changeover

The Central Bank of Nigeria has halted its naira redesign programme, 10 days after the Supreme Court ruled that it hadn’t given sufficient notice to the public to exchange the old notes for new.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

2 April 2023

3 min read

Komori’s Environmental Journey and Commitment

Komori Corporation is 100 years old this year and has recently published its annual integrated report for 2022 covering value creation, business strategies, sustainability and its corporate data.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

2 April 2023

1 min read

What to Do with Banknotes at End of Life?

As part of its Cash & Payments Sustainability Forum initiative, on 5 April Reconnaissance International will be joined in the first of a series of online seminars looking at end-of-life solutions for banknotes by FedCash® Services, Pakistan Security Printing Corporation and Giesecke+Devrient to talk about different ways of disposing of unfit cotton banknotes.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

2 April 2023

2 min read

New Expert Counterfeit Service for Currency

Renowned counterfeit expert Kerre Corbin has set up Kerrency Ltd – a new independent consultancy for the banknote industry to provide guidance and training to central banks, police agencies, commercial banks and security industry companies on counterfeiting issues.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

2 April 2023

2 min read

Voith’s Papermaking for Life

Voith Group includes Voith Paper, which is well known in the banknote paper making world as the manufacturer of paper machines. In its 2022 Sustainability Report it gives details of its ‘Papermaking for Life’ programme designed to contribute to more sustainable paper production.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

2 April 2023

2 min read

Bahamas Recognised with 2023 Public First Award

The Central Bank of The Bahamas was awarded the 2023 Public First Award during the event’s Appreciation Dinner on 14 March, in a ceremony at the Xara Lodge, Rabat, Malta.

Central Banks Events

Astrid Mitchell

2 April 2023

9 min read

Oumolat Means Currency, and Business

Oumolat Security Printing, which began operations in 2016, is not only the industry’s newest banknote printing company. Located in Abu Dhabi, it is also the first in the Middle East, taking advantage of the strategic location to offer banknote printing and services to the world.

Companies Interviews

Astrid Mitchell

2 April 2023

4 min read

The Story of the Demise of Cash Processing Solutions

In the January issue of Currency News™, we covered the closure of Cash Processing Solution (CPS), the second supplier of high-speed sorting systems after Giesecke+Devrient, and the creation of a series of new entities to continue with the profitable software and services side of the business.

Companies