Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

6 min read

The Future of Banknote Security – A Professor’s View

When handling cash, we normally glance at each banknote for less than a second. Central banks and banknote issuers are coming to realise that this brief glimpse provides a crucial opportunity for public authentication.

Banknotes Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

2 min read

Fiji Celebrates Rugby Triumph at Olympics

The Reserve Bank of Fiji has issued a commemorative $7 banknote to celebrate the achievements of its Rugby 7s teams at the Tokyo Olympics, where the men’s and women’s teams picked up a gold and a bronze medal respectively.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

1 min read

De La Rue Publishes SBTi Targets

De La Rue has recently submitted targets to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, consistent with limiting global temperature increases to no more than 1.5°C.

Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

5 min read

Bioguard™ – the Precautionary Solution for Safer Banknotes

As has been well documented, sensational and alarmist claims in the media at the outset of the pandemic that handling cash transfers COVID has done long term and potentially irreparable damage to public confidence.

COVID-19 Free Substrates, Features Free

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

4 min read

HSP Latin America Builds Back Better

After two years of COVID inflicted disruptions, Reconnaissance International was able to restart the acclaimed series of High Security Printing Conferences with a fiesta feel in Mexico City.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

2 min read

New Security Ink Facility for India

The Reserve Bank of India has opened a new security ink manufacturing unit, VARNIKA, which will be operated by its subsidiary Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited in Mysore.

Banknotes Central Banks

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

2 min read

The EMEA Cash Cycle Seminar (ICCOS) – Istanbul

Following on from the successful trio of Banknote Conference, Currency Conference and Digital Currency Conference in February, Currency Research is preparing for their next in-person event, the EMEA Cash Cycle Seminar.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

4 March 2022

3 min read

KURZ Moves on With KINEGRAM DYNAMIC®

KURZ has been a pioneer in the use of diffractive optical anti-counterfeit features on banknotes since its earliest developments on the Australian dollar and the Austrian shilling. Its acquisition of OVD Kinegram (OVDK) in 1999 added proprietary optical features to its existing strengths in materials technology.

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

4 March 2022

1 min read

Long, Longer, Longest Yet

In 2019, the Central Bank of the Bahamas issued the $50 banknote in its new CRISP Evolution series, which used Durasafe® substrate from Landqart and included a RAPID® windowed thread from Crane Currency.

Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2022

2 min read

Meta Materials Previews New KolourOptik Stripe

Meta Materials Inc, a developer of high-performance functional materials and nanocomposites and new owner of Nanotech Security, previewed a new technology from its security products business – KolourOptik® Stripe – at the Banknote & Currency Conference.

Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2022

1 min read

Guyana’s Celebration of Independence

The Bank of Guyana has launched a new $2,000 banknote to mark the 55th anniversary of Guyana’s independence from the UK, in 1966. The release, which was delayed by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, is the first Guyanese banknote to use polymer substrate.

Banknotes

Kerre Corbin

3 March 2022

5 min read

Why Perception Studies Need to Be Considered in a Wider Context

One the sessions at the Banknote & Currency Conference was ‘Perception Studies: Producing Actionable Information to Support Data-Driven Decision Making’, in the context of: what are the most effective features on a banknote? What do people use to authenticate them? What captures their attention and how do we know?

Comment Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2022

2 min read

Brinks’ Digital Vision to Disrupt the Cash Management Industry

Last December Brinks disclosed its three year strategic plan and 2024 financial targets, with a major focus on new digital cash payment solutions. According to CEO Doug Pertz, ‘Brink’s is evolving from a route-based logistics company with growing organic revenue and expanding margins into a key player in the broader payments ecosystem - with a focus on digital cash payment solutions.'

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2022

4 min read

IACA Awards – the Winners Are…

The first day of the Banknote & Currency Conference, 22 February, saw the presentation of the latest International Association of Currency Affairs (IACA) Excellence in Currency Awards. Out of the 39 nominations, a shortlist of 15 was drawn up by the IACA Awards Committee for each of the four categories covered by the awards. These were then put to a ballot of IACA members.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2022

1 min read

Open House at Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions

Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions is holding a series of one-day events, which will take place from 26-29 April and 8-12 May at its premises in Lausanne, Switzerland. Live presentations will be organised across sustainability, modularity and digitalisation.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2022

4 min read

Kazakhstan’s New 20,000 Tenge – Memorable on So Many Counts

The National Bank of Kazakhstan is renowned for its early adoption of high-tech security and innovative design, and has established itself as a testing ground for new features, with these trialled on commemorative and house notes before being adopted on circulating notes.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2022

4 min read

SPARTAN: Transformational New Option at the Note/Coin Boundary

According to CCL Secure, the SPARTAN banknote has been engineered specifically for the note/coin boundary and is the result of researchers creating not only a brand new kind of polymer but also reimagining the banknote production process.

Banknotes Technology

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2022

5 min read

Good Times Return for Cash Industry Leaders

February is when several of the leading listed companies in cash report their annual results for the previous year. In 2019, all bar one reported strong results and optimistic outlooks. Needless to say, this was before COVID struck, and the optimism was quickly overturned in 2020 as the pandemic took its toll.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2022

3 min read

The Industry Finally Gets Together Again

The Banknote & Currency Conference was the first major industry event to take place in person since the start of the pandemic. The four day event, followed by the one-day inaugural Digital Currency Conference, welcomed more than 450 delegates from 180 organisations and 53 countries.

Events Free Free

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2022

4 min read

Understanding an Industry

All too often notifications arrive about a new study into an aspect of the cash industry, the cash cycle or payments. The trouble is that if it is written by an industry-insider, the competitive value is so high that the document has to talk in bland generalisations.

Comment