Towards the end of 2023, Royal Dutch Kusters Engineering (Kusters) carried out an extensive survey involving central banks globally, in partnership with Reconnaissance International.

The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic (NBKR) has issued the new 5,000 som banknote, the seventh and last banknote of the fifth series, completing the modernisation that started in May 2023. The new series includes denominations ranging from 20 to 5,000 som – all featuring RAPID HD® Detect from Crane Currency.

The Bank of Canada has issued a progress update on the new $20, which will feature King Charles III as the portrait subject, replacing that of the late Queen Elizabeth II. The back will continue to feature the Canadian National Vimy Memorial.

An unscientific rule of thumb taught to those entering the banknote industry used to be that a country needed a population of about 40 million people to justify having their own banknote printing works. This article considers how accurate, or relevant, this rule is in modern times.

In this periodic series summarising counterfeit currency around the world, we focus on the latest news from Switzerland, Ukraine, Spain and Bulgaria.

Antti Heinonen looks at the evolution of central bank engagement with the public on banknotes, considering what lessons can be learned and including his own personal perspective.

The latest edition of The Directory of Currency & Technology Suppliers will be launched at the Banknote Conference this May.

2024 heralds the Year of the Loong (or Chinese Dragon) in the traditional Chinese zodiac calendar. In December 2023, the People’s Bank of China issued a commemorative 20 yuan banknote for the 2024 Chinese Zodiac New Year, crafted from polymer substrate and manufactured by the Beijing Banknote Printing Co, a subsidiary of China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation.

Koenig & Bauer and Graphic Security Systems Corporation (GSSC) have formed a partnership to jointly develop and deliver advanced anti-counterfeiting solutions to customers worldwide.

Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) has announced that it achieved the strongest growth in its history in 2023, setting new records for sales, growth and earnings in line with its strategy as a leading global secure technology company to help to shape the digital transformation of society.

The Royal Mint (TRM), the UK’s oldest company, has announced that it is to pull out of the market for producing foreign circulating coins and blanks, bringing to an end a 700-year old business in producing coins for overseas countries.

Industry custom and practice dictates that a new series of banknotes should be issued every 7-10 years. We don’t know who established that nor how was it determined. As we couldn’t answer these questions, we set out to see whether this convention was being followed by the industry. And to determine if it is still appropriate.

All arrangements are now in place for this year’s High Security Printing (HSP) Latin America, which returns to Santiago, Chile – taking place from 3-5 June. The last time the event was held in Santiago was 2014.

Highlights of the second Cash Sustainability Forum (CSF), which takes place 24-26 June in Frankfurt, are now available.

Possession of counterfeit versus intent to defraud. What’s the difference?

Last month, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System published an International Finance Discussion Paper on the demand for US banknotes at home and abroad. It was authored by Ruth Judson, a staff economist.

The final details for the upcoming Banknote Conference, taking place 13-16 May, have come together.

Central Banking Publications runs an award scheme each year, with 18 different categories, two of which relate specifically to currency.

The National Bank of Poland (NBP) will issue a commemorative 20 zloty banknote in July to mark the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw uprising, a major World War II operation by the Polish underground resistance to liberate the city from German occupation.

In recent years Vietnam has been a go-to country for many of the world players in the technology, automotive, and fashion industries. It is now stepping into a new field – polymer banknote substrates and security features.