Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

2 min read

A New Star is Born

Louisenthal has added a new security thread to its portfolio based on its RollingStar® technology, which combines two security technologies – ColourShift for colour changes and micro-mirrors for dynamic effects arranged according to highly complex algorithms. For the new thread, RollingStar® i+, the two technologies have, through intensive research and in conjunction with magnetics for machine-read, been elevated to a new level.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

6 min read

Counterfeiters Turn their Attention to Polymer

It was only a matter of time! One of the claimed benefits of polymer is that it is more resistant to counterfeiting and hence more secure, and the figures bear that out.

Banknotes Counterfeiting

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

3 min read

Smart Solutions for Banknote Destruction from CPS and Hunkeler

Whilst the focus on cash is generally concentrated on substrates and features, production and circulation, the end of life is also key as regards the secure, clean and efficient disposal of both waste and notes no longer fit for circulation.

Banknotes Companies Technology

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

3 min read

Russia Moves Forward with New Series

The Deputy Chairman of the Bank of Russia, Mikhail Alekseev, has provided local media with more details of the new Russian series, which will start going into circulation with the new 100 rubles in 2022. It will be followed by the 1,000 and 5,000 rubles in 2023, the 500 rubles in 2024 and 10 and 50 rubles in 2025. The 200 and 2,000 rubles, both introduced in 2017, will not be included in the new series.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

2 min read

CCL Secure Targets Note/Coin Boundary with SPARTAN

CCL Secure has unveiled SPARTAN™ – an ‘ultra-durable’ new polymer substrate that has been designed specifically to provide a new option for central banks and issuing authorities who have low denomination, high transaction velocity denominations that sit on the cusp of the note/coin boundary.

Banknotes Coins Companies

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

2 min read

Vietnam Marks 18 Years of Polymer Banknotes

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) is celebrating not just its 70th anniversary, and the 30th anniversary of the National Banknote Printing Plant, but is also marking its 18th year of using polymer banknotes from CCL Secure.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Kerre Corbin

27 May 2021

4 min read

Getting Behind the Counterfeit Banknote Statistics

COVID19 led to a decline in the number of counterfeit banknotes in 2020. Or did it?

Banknotes Counterfeiting COVID-19

Clemens Berger

29 April 2021

5 min read

Hybrid ADDvance® – Creating Long Lasting Confidence

In last month’s Currency News™, Clemens Berger of Louisenthal wrote about the importance of embedded security features and how they are the benchmark for the overwhelming majority of banknotes. This month, he follows up with more information specifically on how their substrate family – Hybrid ADDvance® – is part of that story.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

29 April 2021

2 min read

Mexico’s 100 Peso Wins IBNS Banknote of the Year Award

Mexico’s new 100 peso banknote has beaten more than 100 other candidates to win the prestigious Banknote of the Year Award for 2020, awarded by the International Bank Note Society (IBNS).

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

29 April 2021

4 min read

Denmark’s Route to Upgraded Banknotes

Late last year Danmarks Nationalbank began the upgrade of its banknote series with a new 500 kroner, setting the scene for more advanced security features across all its banknotes.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

29 April 2021

2 min read

Hybridised Systems – The Future of Banknotes?

At the recent Digital Document Security Online conference, held at the end of March, Sina Gebrodt, a final-year student at the Design Academy Eindhoven, reported on the project that she and Madison Bucher, a user-experience designer, had undertaken on the future of banknotes. This project was sponsored by Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions (K&B).

Banknotes Technology

Tim Berridge

29 April 2021

4 min read

What Makes Polymer Banknotes Green?

For many people, their perception of plastic is negative. Plastic is one of the world’s ‘bad guys’ these days, with newspaper headlines and TV programmes dominated by images of polluted oceans or mountainous garbage dumps. But, as always, the truth is more nuanced than the ‘all plastic is bad’ trope might have you believe.

Banknotes Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

29 April 2021

4 min read

A Match Made in Heaven – Portals to Acquire Fedrigoni’s Security Business

Portals, the second largest commercial banknote and security paper manufacturer, has entered into an agreement with Fedrigoni, one of the leading European producers of specialty papers and self-adhesive labels, to buy its security business based in Bollate in Italy, which specialises in security threads and foils.

Banknotes Companies

Astrid Mitchell

29 April 2021

3 min read

In Other News…

Japan will begin issuing newly redesigned ¥500 coins from around November, the Finance Ministry has said, after their initial release in the first half of the fiscal year from April was postponed due to the pandemic, and in particular delays to updates to ticket and automated teller machines.

Banknotes Central Banks Coins

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

2 min read

The Unique Identity of a Polymer Banknote

When a polymer banknote is produced, a number of opacification layers are printed onto the core substrate so that it can accept the traditional banknote printing processes such as litho, intaglio, screen and letterpress printing.

Banknotes Counterfeiting Technology

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

3 min read

Bitcoin and Banknotes – When Physical Meets Digital

Cryptocurrencies, the best known of which is Bitcoin, exist almost entirely in the digital sphere, connecting with the physical world only if the owner writes down their digital key or if they use one of the growing number of ATMs where they can exchange their cryptocurrency for physical cash. A new venture, Noteworthy, is looking to change that, embedding cryptocurrencies into what will look and feel like a traditional banknote.

Banknotes Technology

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

4 min read

In Other News…

The Central Bank of Iraq has added a feature to its banknotes to protect them from bacteria and viruses, including the coronavirus strain. The feature is not named, but is described as a biological pesticide developed by international companies specialised in printing banknotes, and is presumed to be incorporated in a coating/varnish. The notes containing the feature will be put into circulation soon.

Banknotes Central Banks Coins

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

2 min read

Russia Unveils New Plans for Banknotes and Cash Circulation

The Board of the Central Bank of Russia has issued its ‘Guidelines for Cash Circulation Development in 2021-2026’. Its over-arching goals are to ensure the stability of cash circulation, optimise costs based on the development of technical infrastructure, as well as the formation of partnerships with banks for holding stocks of banknotes.

Banknotes Central Banks

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

1 min read

ECCB Completes its New Series

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) issued its new $5 polymer banknote into circulation this month, completing the transition of its new family onto SAFEGUARD® polymer banknotes.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Kerre Corbin

29 March 2021

4 min read

The Risks Around Generic Security Features

One increasingly common counterfeit technique is harvesting – the act of taking a security feature from a lower value object and incorporating it into a counterfeit banknote of higher value. There are several ways to minimise harvesting, including making each security feature bespoke.

Banknotes Counterfeiting Substrates, Features