Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

1 March 2023

5 min read

Getting Cash Moving Again in a Crisis-Stricken Country

Currency News spoke to Dr Georges Chalhoub, Director, Cash Operations at Banque du Liban to find out more about recent events in the country and how, in the midst of these, the Bank continues to keep innovation alive.

Interviews

Astrid Mitchell

1 March 2023

4 min read

People in the News

The Japanese government has appointed academic Kazuo Ueda as the next Bank of Japan Governor. He was a member of the BoJ’s policy board between 1998 and 2005, and before that an economics professor at the University of Tokyo. He will succeed Haruhiko Kuroda, whose second five-year term ends in April.

News

Astrid Mitchell

1 March 2023

2 min read

Cash Industry Directory is Back

Back by popular demand, the latest edition of The Directory of Currency & Technology Suppliers is now being compiled. This sought-after directory is an essential resource for central banks and issuers, printers and mints, and everyone in the cash cycle to identify suppliers and partners.

Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

1 March 2023

2 min read

Oberthur Buys Into Micro-Optics

Francois Charles Oberthur (Oberthur) has acquired a 65.5% stake in Rolling Optics, a Swedish developer of micro-optics technology, for a sum believed to be in the region of $15-20 million.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

1 March 2023

3 min read

Low Levels of Euro Counterfeiting for 2022

2022 saw the second lowest level of counterfeits as a proportion of total banknotes in circulation in the history of the euro (2021 being the lowest year).

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

1 March 2023

4 min read

In Other News…

The Bank of Israel has announced that most new coins entering circulation with Hebrew mint year 5782 (2022 in the Gregorian calendar) will feature updated inscriptions. This encompasses four coin denominations – the NIS 10, NIS 5, NIS ½, and 10 agorot.

News

John Winchcombe

1 March 2023

4 min read

Resilience of Cash in Crises

If we look at the frighteningly long list of disasters and crises in 2022 and the start of 2023, these events are random, often unexpected and usually large scale. What connects them all is the disruption of the ability to use digital payments. The knee jerk answer historically is to turn to cash.

Comment Free Free

Astrid Mitchell

1 March 2023

6 min read

Preparing for Future Crises in Germany

Germany has been working over the past three years on a project known as BASIC, which aims to strengthen the resilience of the cash supply infrastructure in the event of an emergency or crisis.

Cash Handling Central Banks

Alexander Huber

1 March 2023

2 min read

A Quick Trip to the ‘Enhanced’ Galaxy

Advanced technologies continue to improve and become even more sophisticated. This is definitely so for the enduring R+D work focused on reducing the banknote counterfeit threat.

Banknotes Counterfeiting Technology

Astrid Mitchell

1 March 2023

7 min read

How Ukraine is Managing Cash in a War

Whilst the Russian invasion of Ukraine exactly one year ago may have come as a surprise to many, it certainly didn’t to the Ukrainians themselves, who as early as Autumn 2021 were taking steps to minimise risks to the cash supply chain and decentralise the storage of cash stocks in anticipation of major disruption.

Cash Handling Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

1 Feb. 2023

5 min read

News in Brief

Brazil and Argentina, with the two largest economies countries in South America, wish to forge closer ties, including by developing a common currency, according to a joint statement by their presidents.

News

Astrid Mitchell

1 Feb. 2023

4 min read

All Eyes on Africa as Egypt Hosts Spectacular ACF

The COVID-delayed African Currency Forum finally took place two years and a few months later than originally planned in Luxor, Egypt from 15-18 January, attracting 305 delegates from 46 countries, including 25 central banks and state printworks from Africa itself.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

1 Feb. 2023

3 min read

Good Planning Leads to a Smooth Transition for Croatia

Croatia joined the Eurozone on 1 January 2023, bringing the number of European Union member states using the single European currency to 20.

Central Banks News

Astrid Mitchell

1 Feb. 2023

6 min read

New Series for Barbados – Bajan to the Bone

At the end of last year, the Central Bank of Barbados issued a new banknote series, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of its foundation, which is only the second major redesign in its half-century history of issuing the national currency (the 2013 series being the first).

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

1 Feb. 2023

2 min read

KBBNS Teams with SONECT for Access to Cash

Koenig and Bauer Banknote Solutions (KBBNS) has signed a new partnership with the virtual ATM company SONECT as part of its strategy to help reinvent the way we move, access and manage cash in society.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

1 Feb. 2023

2 min read

NASPS – a Lotus Flower in the Desert

The National Company for Advanced Industries and Integrated Strategic Printing Solutions (NASPS) unites the production of a wide range of ID and travel documents, excise stamps, holograms, security paper, payment cards, personalisation systems and the development of information systems and storage under one roof.

News Technology

Astrid Mitchell

1 Feb. 2023

4 min read

20 Years of Currency News – Here’s to the Next 20

January 2023 marks the 20th birthday of Currency News™, so we thought we would take a quick tour of the last two decades and provide a back-of-the-envelope analysis of the differences in the cash ecosystem, and issues and priorities, between then and now.

Comment Free Free

Astrid Mitchell

27 Dec. 2022

4 min read

News in Brief

Bulgaria has signed a memorandum of understanding with the European Commission and the Eurozone group president, paving the way for the country to start minting its own euro coins once it receives approval for eurozone membership.

News

Astrid Mitchell

27 Dec. 2022

4 min read

Sustainability: A Part of Life at Australia’s Banknote Precinct

Sustainability as a concept has been best defined by the United Nations Brundtland Commission as 'meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs'.

Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

22 Dec. 2022

4 min read

2022 – An Annus Horribilis?

There was a palpable sense of optimism as 2021 concluded that – despite disruptions, restrictions, new lockdowns and a virus on the march again – things were finally improving and would start going back to where they were, or at the very least, to somewhere different but nevertheless better than the previous two years.

Comment