Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

23 Dec. 2021

3 min read

Lesotho – Unmatched Security from Within the Roof of Africa’s New Series

On 21 December, the Central Bank of Lesotho (CBL) launched a significantly upgraded series of banknotes, with dynamic and innovative security threads and advanced security print features.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

23 Dec. 2021

4 min read

News in Brief

The Bank of Israel (BOI) held a special ceremony attended by the country’s president to launch a new NIS 5 coin in appreciation of the Israeli health and medical system for their contribution and struggle for the lives and health of Israel’s citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic.

News

Astrid Mitchell

23 Dec. 2021

2 min read

Philippines Polymer Trial Takes Shape

More details have emerged about the polymer trial in the Philippines. Delivery of the first batch will be next April. 500 million pieces of 1,000 piso polymer banknotes will be rolled out by the middle of 2022, and the pilot will last for three years.

Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

23 Dec. 2021

3 min read

In Other News…

HM Government of Gibraltar has issued a new £5 note, replacing the previous, larger version. The new £5 was reduced in size to match the UK polymer £5 (albeit it remains on paper) and the colour changed to a vivid green.

News

John Winchcombe

23 Dec. 2021

4 min read

Japan’s Paradox of Banknotes

While cash transactions in Japan have been declining for some time, the reduction in opportunities to pay in cash and the increased use of ‘stay at home consumption’ during the pandemic has accelerated this decline. At the same time the ratio of banknotes to GDP has risen very significantly.

Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

23 Dec. 2021

4 min read

2021: A Groundhog Year

2021 ended much as it began – disruptions, restrictions, new lockdowns, a virus on the march. However, the two trends where momentum is gathering and real change is beginning to happen are in access to cash and the green revolution.

Comment

Astrid Mitchell

23 Dec. 2021

1 min read

In Celebration of the XXIV Winter Olympics

The Peoples Bank of China has issued a set of 20 yuan commemorative banknotes for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. The set, which includes a polymer note and a paper note, have been produced by China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

22 Dec. 2021

11 min read

A Lifetime Career of Development, Progression and Team Work

After nearly 40 years at Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions, its Technical Director Johannes Schaede is retiring. Or, rather, semi-retiring – since from January 2022 he will be taking up a new supervisory position with Orell Füssli AG.

Free Interviews Free

Astrid Mitchell

22 Dec. 2021

3 min read

Euro Banknotes Set for 1st Redesign in Two Decades

Euro banknotes are facing a redesign for the first time since their launch two decades ago, with a plan to make the currency ‘more relatable to Europeans of all ages and backgrounds’.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

21 Dec. 2021

6 min read

Good Results Fail to Impress the Markets

While the companies we feature in Industry Watch are being directly affected by COVID-19 trends and issues, they are also subject to market trends. COVID-19 has disrupted global economic stability – raw materials, energy and labour are all in short supply, and inflation is on the rise.

Companies COVID-19

Astrid Mitchell

1 Dec. 2021

2 min read

New Facility Doubles BEP Budget for 2022

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) has submitted its fiscal year 2022 budget request to Congress. The main component of the $1.9 billion requested funds is for special projects. Chief among them is $897 million for the Replacement Production Facility in Beltsville, Maryland.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

1 Dec. 2021

6 min read

In Other News…

The National Bank of Romania has issued a new 20 lei banknote. It is intended to fill the gap between the 10 and 50 lei notes, and to honour a woman for the first time on a circulating note – Ecaterina Teodoroiu, a heroine of World War I.

News

Astrid Mitchell

1 Dec. 2021

4 min read

News in Brief

The value of cash in circulation (CIC) in Uganda grew by 5.6% in 2020/21 to 6.03 trillion Ugandan shillings. Of this, banknotes grew by 6% to 5.83 trillion shillings, and coins by 2.65% to 193 billion shillings.

News

Astrid Mitchell

1 Dec. 2021

2 min read

G+D Wins CBDC Award, Takes on Banknote Collection

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has announced Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) as one of the three winners of its Global CBDC Challenge, concluding the first phase of MAS’ study to explore possible retail CBDC solutions.

Banknotes Digital Currency

Astrid Mitchell

1 Dec. 2021

2 min read

Inovinks’ New IR Pigments – More than a Mirage

Infrared (IR) is part of the electromagnetic spectrum that lies immediately beyond red light and is therefore invisible to the naked eye. Because of this, IR inks are widely used in the banknote industry to create covert features that are both highly secure and machine readable, particularly by high speed systems.

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

1 Dec. 2021

3 min read

How CCL Secure and Innovia Films Create Bank Grade Polymer

CCL Secure’s GUARDIAN™ substrate was the catalyst for the development of the market for polymer banknotes over the past three decades, and it remains a key driver for its continuing growth.

Substrates, Features

John Winchcombe

1 Dec. 2021

2 min read

DNB Study Lays Out the Future of Cash in the Netherlands

The Dutch National Bank (DNB) spoke at the recent European Cash Cycle seminar (ICCOS) about the McKinsey study commissioned to consider the cash infrastructure that the Netherlands will need for the next 10 years.

Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

1 Dec. 2021

10 min read

Future of Banknote Distribution in Australia

There is no longer any doubt that cash as a means of payment is declining – not just in relative but, increasingly, in absolute terms. The recent high demand for banknotes as a store of value only masks the reduction in their use for transactions.

Banknotes Studies, Reports

Alan Newman

1 Dec. 2021

4 min read

Eye-Catching, Distinctive and Secure

At the latest count a third of all banknotes contain a diffractive feature, in the form of a patch, stripe or thread, 327 to be precise. According to Frank van der Horst of the DNB in his presentation at the recently-concluded Holography Conference, the feature is the second best in public recognition terms after watermarks – which makes one wonder why the other two thirds of banknotes don’t use one!

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

1 Dec. 2021

3 min read

Central Bank of Nigeria Reports on Cash for 2020

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has made progress in 2020 with introducing and updating new systems to help with its cash management, according to its recently published annual report on cash operations.

Central Banks Studies, Reports