Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

3 July 2024

4 min read

New Zealand Marks 25 Years of Polymer Banknotes

New Zealand adopted polymer banknotes in 1999. At the time, Brian Lang was Head of Currency at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ). To mark the 25th anniversary of polymerisation, we sat down with Brian to discuss the rationale behind the transition and assess its results.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

3 July 2024

7 min read

Equinox: On the Cusp of Change

Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions (KBBNS) has run its ‘Equinox’ customer event in parallel with the DRUPA print conference and through into June. It has used the event to showcase what it does, to launch a number of new developments, particularly its AKTINA™ product, and to make the case for thinking about banknotes, and banknote printing differently.

Companies

Francisco Mandiola

3 July 2024

5 min read

A Day Late and a Dollar Short?

Is dollarisation a cure-all for unstable, hyper-inflationary nations? It is very hard to make that judgement, especially since stronger currencies, whether it be the dollar or euro, are also subject to changes in their value which may or may not benefit the dollarised economies in the short-term.

Comment Free Free

Astrid Mitchell

3 July 2024

2 min read

People in the News

The Federal Council of Switzerland has appointed Martin Schlegel as the new chairman of the governing board of the Swiss National Bank (SNB). He succeeds Thomas Jordan at the helm, who is retiring after more than 12 years in the position.

News

Chander S Jeena

3 July 2024

9 min read

Central Banks and Cash Round-Up

After a gap, this month we return to the periodic series of articles covering cash information in central bank annual reports, with news from Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, the ECB, Ghana, Nepal, Philippines and Saudi Arabia.

News

Kerre Corbin

3 June 2024

2 min read

Counterfeit Corner

In this article, Kerre Corbin of Kerrency details what happens to counterfeits when they are handed in and considers whether these notes included in the counterfeiting statistics reported by central banks.

Counterfeiting

Astrid Mitchell

3 June 2024

2 min read

Glory Bounces Back

Glory – the Japanese developer of cash handling, management and automation systems for the financial, retail, vending, transportation and gaming sectors – has reported an impressive increase in sales for 2023-24 and a return to profit, driven largely by a resurgence in the domestic market.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

3 min read

In Other News…

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.

News

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

2 min read

Note and Coin News

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.

Banknotes Coins

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

5 min read

IACA Awards – the Winners Are…

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.

Events Technology

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

2 min read

Every Little Bit of Sustainability Helps

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.

Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

3 min read

Ignis House Note – Out of Darkness Comes Fire

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.

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

3 min read

Cash Sustainability Forum Draws Close

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.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

2 min read

IQ Structures and Hueck Folien Launch Nanoswitch™

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.

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

2 min read

Future of Meta Materials in Doubt

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.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

5 min read

Some Ups, Some Downs for Mints

Three of the main mints have recently published their annual results for 2023. It’s something of a mixed bag, with overall positive results, but not necessarily driven by circulating coins.

Coins

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

2 min read

A New Polymer Enters the Market

There was a time when the market for polymer substrates, albeit small, was dominated by one supplier. The market grew, and so did the number of suppliers, CCL Secure and GUARDIAN™ being joined by De La Rue with SAFEGUARD®.

Technology

John Winchcombe

29 May 2024

4 min read

Time for Confidence in Cash

The Banknote Conference took place 13-16 May in Fort Worth, Texas. Organised by Currency Research, it was attended by nearly 425 delegates from 72 countries and 183 organisations. Of those, 92 were central banks and/or printworks.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

4 min read

News in Brief

Further to the completion of the acquisition of OpSec Security for $270 million, Crane NXT has announced a restructuring of its business segments.

News

Astrid Mitchell

29 May 2024

3 min read

CPS Returns, Launches Green Strategy

Just over a year ago, CPS announced that it was exiting the market for high-speed banknote sorting systems and pivoting to software and services. It was then back in force at the Banknote Conference, unveiling its new strategy for sustainability, flexibility and digitisation for the banknote fitness sorting and authentication sector.

Sustainability