The materials and nanotechnology specialist Meta Materials – which acquired the security features company Nanotech Security Corp in 2021 – has announced a workforce reduction of 80%. It is understood that most of the workforce of over 100 has already been let go.

On July 20, 1969, more than 500 million people around the world watched the Moonlanding, the ‘great leap for mankind’ - a technical feat that opened new horizons for humanity.

Gary Spinks of Security Fibres introduced his presentation in one of the Innovation Sessions at the Banknote Conference with the acknowledgement that, in the great scheme of things, security fibres are an infinitesimally small element of security paper, and therefore the impact of more sustainable fibres is limited. Even so, he said, everyone needs to do their bit.

In an era marked by rapid digitalisation and evolving payment methods, the enduring role of physical currency remains a cornerstone of economic stability and financial inclusion. It is within this context that the upcoming Global Currency Forum (GCF) in Muscat, Oman, assumes paramount significance.

The IACA 2024 Excellence in Currency Technical Awards, which are sponsored by Currency News, were presented at the dinner on the last evening of the Banknote Conference, 15 May.

The winner of the IACA Best New House Note at this year’s Banknote Conference was Bundesdruckerei (BDR), which launched its new note – Ignis – from the ExNihilo series during the conference.

A forum is a meeting where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged, and that is the aim of the Cash Sustainability Forum, providing the opportunity for all stakeholders involved in cash to meet, share, understand and learn.

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.