Four separate cash-related stories from four separate countries in the last month. One theme in common, however, which is the enduring personal attachment to banknotes – dare one say the emotional support – that currency involves. In other words, what unites them is the fact that emotion still prevails when it comes to a nation’s calling card, even in those countries which are supposedly doing away with cash, as is claimed to be the case in Denmark and the UK.

The readers of this article are likely to agree that cash, whether banknotes or coins, is a wonderful thing. Although the siren call of convenience is luring people to digital alternatives, cash remains part of the fabric of our societal DNA.

This heading paraphrases words attributed to Mark Twain when his obituary was published while he was still alive. They seem strangely apt right now when it comes to cash.

Life used to be so simple. You could pay with cash, with a cheque or with a wire transfer. Today the number of payment options is big, and getting bigger, as ‘bank money’ fragments into a myriad of different products and payment rails. In addition, add in crypto currency, stablecoins and CBDCs. Where will it all end?

American Eagle, a US clothes manufacturer, hired the actress Sydney Sweeney for their autumn 2025 denim campaign. The campaign led to an increase in sales, attracting nearly a million new customers between July and September. The two products in the adverts, named after Sweeney, sold out – the denim jacket in a day and the jeans in a week.

The Bank of England (BOE) and the European Central Bank (ECB) have both started the process of designing new banknote series. With counterfeiting levels low, the rationale for these new series seems to lie in a wish to ‘renew’ and ‘reinvigorate’ people and the idea of the nation (UK) or community (Europe). To deliver this, playing it ‘safe’ risks failure. Can the designers rise to the challenge?

As of early 2025, the Economic Policy Uncertainty Index has reached its highest levels this century, signalling a period of significant macroeconomic volatility. Similarly, the World Uncertainty Index (WUI) has nearly tripled, increasing from approximately 16,043 in Q1 2024 to around 48,146 in Q1 2025. This significant surge in uncertainty is global, affecting all regions.

The European Central Bank has published the production requirements for euro banknotes for 2026, which – at just under 1.95 billion – is nearly half that of 2025 (3.4 billion) and the second lowest figure since the euro was introduced in 2002 (the only year it was lower was in 2004). The value is €56 billion.

On 4 April Microsoft turned 50 years old. Amazon is just over 30, Meta is 21 and the iPhone is just 18. Will they last as long as Microsoft?

In case you missed it, 8 March was International Women’s Day. It was an opportunity for organisations to celebrate the achievements of the women in their workforce, notably on social media. The currency industry, traditionally viewed as a bastion of male dominance, was no exception.