Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

27 Aug. 2021

12 min read

The ICA – An Opportunity to be a Force for Good

The International Currency Association (ICA) was founded in 2016 to create a single, cohesive voice for the currency industry. Its principal objective has been, and continues to be, to make the case for cash as a public good at an industry, public and political level, and to demonstrate that cash is a vital part of the present and future payment landscape.

Interviews

Astrid Mitchell

27 Aug. 2021

4 min read

Environment, Cost and Social Responsibility at Heart of New Eastern Caribbean Series

This March, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) issued its new $5 polymer banknote into circulation, completing the transition of the Eastern Caribbean dollar to De La Rue’s SAFEGUARD® polymer that began in 2019. According to the ECCB, the reasons for the transition were threefold – the environment, cost, and security.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

26 Aug. 2021

1 min read

Krypten Plans Release of 3D-GRAM® CONTRUST

Next month, Russian secure hologram company producer KRYPTEN will introduce the 100/50 Nobelists house note, featuring a new 3D-GRAM® CONTRUST photopolymer security patch for use on paper and polymer banknotes.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

26 Aug. 2021

1 min read

A Colourful Celebration Guatemalan Independence

The Bank of Guatemala has published the designs of its new commemorative 20 quetzales banknote and 1 quetzal coin marking the country’s bicentennial anniversary. This will be the first commemorative banknote in the Bank’s history.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

26 Aug. 2021

1 min read

IBDA – New Perspectives

The International Banknote Designers Association (IBDA) has launched a series of New Perspective webinars to keep the industry focused on the wider perspectives regarding innovation and emerging trends, threats and challenges to banknotes, and the ‘bigger picture’ on payments and emerging technologies.

Banknotes Events

Astrid Mitchell

26 Aug. 2021

2 min read

Cash & Payment News August Issue

Cash & Payment News™ didn’t go on holiday in August. Instead, it has focused on the environment, the importance of inclusion, a paper by ESTA on access to cash, a country profile of cash in Rwanda, a study of cash in Italy and the review of a BIS paper on CBDC privacy.

CBDC

Astrid Mitchell

26 Aug. 2021

2 min read

CCL Secure Makes Multi-Million Investment

CCL Secure is cementing its leading position in polymer production for banknotes with major additions to the capabilities of its production lines. The company is investing £9.5 million to include support for its latest two innovations.

Companies

John Winchcombe

26 Aug. 2021

4 min read

How to ‘Green’ the Cash Cycle

Jens Eberhardt, Managing Director of Cashinfrapro, has written a paper – ‘Green Cash Logistics’ – which considers how modern ways of working can reduce the environmental impact of the cash cycle. This article, which appeared in sister publication Cash & Payment News™, is a summary of the paper.

Sustainability

Mark Spencer

26 Aug. 2021

3 min read

Diversity Exemplified in G7 Banknote Denominations

The recent meeting of the G7 (Group of Seven, an inter-governmental political forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US) held in the UK prompted De La Rue to look at the banknotes of the participating countries, which threw up some interesting divergences in their approaches to banknote security.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

26 Aug. 2021

4 min read

All Eyes on COP 26 and Climate Change

On 1 November the latest UN Climate Change meeting, COP 26, starts in Glasgow in the UK. We can expect significant press interest and focus on the event in particular, and the environment in general.

Comment Free Sustainability Free

Astrid Mitchell

26 Aug. 2021

2 min read

Pakistan To Try Out Polymer

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is the latest central bank planning to issue polymer notes, with a commemorative note to mark the 75th anniversary of independence in 2022, and another to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Bank in 2023.

Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

26 Aug. 2021

2 min read

ZEISER Acquires Track and Trace Technology from Inspectron

The German company ZEISER, which provides impact and non-impact serialisation solutions and services to the security printing industry, has acquired the document inspection and track and trace software solutions of Inspectron, UK.

Companies

Louisenthal

26 Aug. 2021

3 min read

Registered Threads – Perfect Security, Perfect Storytelling

In the Banknote of the Month feature in last month’s Currency News™, we covered the Central Bank of Honduras’ new 200 lempira note which, among other features, is the first in the world to incorporate a registered Galaxy® thread. In this article, Louisenthal explains the significance of this new advance in thread technology.

Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

26 Aug. 2021

3 min read

In Other News

Hungary’s central bank – Magyar Nemzeti Bank – has released a series of six new commemorative coins to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the introduction of the forint.

Central Banks News

Astrid Mitchell

26 Aug. 2021

2 min read

No Free Lunches – Next MDC Webinar Covers Hidden Cost of Payments

The next webinar from the MDC (Mint Directors Conference) takes place on 16 September on the topic of ‘What is the Cost to Consumers and Society of Cash v the Cost of ‘Electronic’ / Digital Payments?’

Events

Astrid Mitchell

26 Aug. 2021

4 min read

News in Brief

The Central Bank of Chile is urging citizens to ferret out any spare change they may have lying around amid a national shortage of coins. In a series of recent Twitter posts, the central bank warned that ‘COVID-19 had affected the circulation of cash’ and hurt small retail vendors.

Coins Companies News

Astrid Mitchell

26 Aug. 2021

1 min read

Sign up to the CBDC Academy

With six weeks to go the CBDC Conference, which takes place online from 4-6 October, some 40 central banks have registered to attend and to listen to the 50 speakers who are confirmed in the programme.

CBDC Events

Astrid Mitchell

26 Aug. 2021

2 min read

Nanotech Sells to Smart Light Company

Optical security feature provider Nanotech Security Corporation has agreed to be acquired by Meta Materials, a developer of high-performance functional materials and nanocomposites, for nearly C$91 million.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

26 Aug. 2021

1 min read

Mint & Print is Back

Mint & Print (MAP), the biennial industry conference previously run by the Banque du Liban in Beirut, is back for 2021, but this time taking place in Dubai.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

29 July 2021

4 min read

100 Years of SARB, the Pandemic and Recent Events

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) was founded 30 June 1921, shortly after the end of World War I. Its primary objective was to restore and maintain order in the issue and circulation of domestic currency and restore the gold standard to the pre-World War I rate of exchange.

Central Banks