As part of its modernisation programme, Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL) has commissioned new banknote printing lines at both of its printworks - Currency Note Press, Nashik and Bank Note Press, Dewas.

There are many functional and secure features available that meet the needs of the various cash cycles, banknote issuing authorities and end users. One such feature is the taggant, which overcomes the challenges of the degradation of visible security features in that it continues to perform even when the note is subject to extensive wear and tear.

When a central bank is designing a new series or upgrading the security of the existing designs how can it be certain that the security features selected will be resilient against counterfeiting? How do they choose from the many features and technologies on offer?

Banknote durability is an ongoing topic of interest for central banks. More durable banknotes have a reduced impact on the environment and save the central bank money because they need replacing less often.

At the European Cash Cycle last autumn, the presentation by Josef Vrana, Senior Banknote Issuance Expert, Directorate Banknotes for the European Central Bank (ECB), covered euro cash trends and the effect of COVID-19 to date.

The Bank of Thailand will launch a new 20 baht note on 24 March, marking the transition to polymer of the country’s most widely used denomination, which accounts for 30% of all Thai banknotes in circulation.

Banknote authentication and security software provider Spectra Systems Corporation has announced three new contract awards, generating $700,000 of additional unforecasted revenue for the 2022 calendar year.

The Bank of Guyana has announced that it will shortly be issuing a new $2,000 banknote on polymer to commemorate the 55th Anniversary of Independence.

Organisers of the High Security Printing Conferences (HSP), Reconnaissance International, have announced the programme for the upcoming HSP Latin America event.

Russian state printer and mint Goznak has launched its own banknote counting and sorting machine – the BARS-S5. This follows the acquisition last year of BIS (which stands for Bank Innovation Systems), with whom the new machine was co-developed. The first order has already been received from the Central Bank of Russia.

Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) and Papierfabrik Louisenthal have been working on reducing the environmental impact of their banknote production and cash cycle related activities for many years.

Optimism towards the end of last year that the pandemic was running its course have been frustrated by the emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID. But while some events have been thwarted, others are going ahead as planned.

Ton Roos, who was appointed Director, Banknotes at the European Central Bank (ECB) in 2008, retired on 31 January. Currency News™ spoke to him about the challenges and achievements of his career in the ECB.

On 1 January 1999, 11 EU countries fixed their exchange rates, adopted a shared monetary policy under the European Central Bank, and launched their new common currency. The euro was born as an electronic currency.

The Bank of Albania has put into circulation new versions of the 500 lekë and 2,000 lekë, thereby completing its new series which also includes 200, 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 lekë.

Flights have been booked, hotel reservations have been made and final preparations are being made so that, after two years apart, Currency Research can bring the majority of the industry back together for some long-overdue discussions, professional networking, and a lively exchange of information and views.

The International Banknote Designers Association (IBDA) has finalised the agenda for the 6th International Banknote Designers Conference that will take place in Dubrovnik, Croatia from 24-27 October 2022.

In October 2021, the Central Bank of the Bahamas (CBB) released its new $100 banknote, completing the roll-out of its CRISP (Counterfeit Resistant Integrated Security Product) Evolution series which it began back in 2016.

Work has now started on the first in the HUMANIA series of banknotes, which are being produced to raise money to support people who have been most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

De La Rue has announced a trading update on the financial year ending March 2022, as well as an update of progress on its Turnaround Plan, which unsurprisingly has been impacted by the pandemic.