Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2026

2 min read

Finalists for IACA Excellence in Currency Awards (Technical) 2026

The International Association of Currency Affairs (IACA) has announced the finalists for the 2026 Excellence in Currency Awards, which are all technical and include four categories.

Awards

Astrid Mitchell

27 March 2026

2 min read

DataVault Unlocked – Notes and Coins of 2025

Formerly known as Money Matters, this article is a continuation of the periodic series utilising information drawn from DataVault, the powerful online database which enables users to search, sort and aggregate data on all of the world’s banknotes and circulating coins.

Free Studies, Reports Free

Astrid Mitchell

5 March 2026

2 min read

£1 Billion at Stake: The Battle for UK Security Printing Contracts

The UK is navigating a pivotal moment in its national infrastructure, embarking on major security printing tenders totalling over £1 billion covering banknotes, passports, and excise-control stamps.

News

Astrid Mitchell

5 March 2026

1 min read

Award for Japan’s New Series

The Bank of Japan was joint winner of the Best New Banknote Series at the HSP Asia conference in Kuala Lumpur last December for the new 10,000, 5,000, and 1,000 yen notes.

Awards

Astrid Mitchell

5 March 2026

1 min read

CCL Wins in Vietnam

CCL Secure has been awarded a tender by the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) to supply GUARDIAN™ polymer substrate for the 200,000 dong (VND) denomination.

News

Astrid Mitchell

5 March 2026

1 min read

Will Pakistan Replace Banknotes with Coins?

Further to the news that Pakistan’s federal government has formed a committee to investigate whether the 10 rupee banknote should be phased out in favour of its existing equivalent coin (see CN January 2026), a new currency management report has recommended that it should, noting that the shift could save the country billions.

News

Astrid Mitchell

5 March 2026

1 min read

No New Currency for West African States

Mali’s Ministry of Economy and Finance has said that claims circulating on social media about the imminent introduction of a common currency for the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) are false.

News

Astrid Mitchell

4 March 2026

4 min read

HSP EMEA Makes Its African Debut with a Record Audience

This February, HSP EMEA marked its 21st edition with its largest event yet. For the first time, the conference was on the African continent (Rabat, in Morocco), highlighting the region’s growing economic momentum and role in global technology and development, particular as regards secure printing, identity management, and related technologies.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

4 March 2026

4 min read

Celebrating the Best in Design and Innovation 13

The Regional Banknote of the Year Awards form part of the High Security Printing (HSP) EMEA conference. This year there were awards for Best New Banknote, Best New Series and Best New Commemorative Banknote, along with Best House Note and, for the first time, Best New Process or Technology.

Awards Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

4 March 2026

1 min read

Updated Banknote for Peru

The Central Reserve Bank of Peru has issued a new version of the 200 soles banknote.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

4 March 2026

4 min read

Fiji’s New Banknote Series – Where Island Legacy Meets Modern Vision 14

The Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) has introduced a new family of Fijian dollar banknotes, with a launch ceremony held on 2 December 2025. The notes – in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 – were designed and printed by Crane Currency on CCL Secure’s GUARDIAN™ substrate, and is the first polymer series to use the integrated MOTION SURFACE® micro-optic stripe on all denominations. The banknotes were issued on 2 January 2026.

Awards Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

4 March 2026

4 min read

In Other News

The National Bank of Ukraine has released a modified 200 hyrvnia (UAH) banknote. While the 2019 design and security features remain, the revised notes carry the slogan: ‘Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!’

News

Astrid Mitchell

4 March 2026

5 min read

Safeguarding Cash

On 8 March Switzerland is asking its citizens whether cash acceptance should be included in the constitution, something Slovakia introduced in December last year. On 1 January Australia introduced (limited) cash acceptance legislation and on 4 February the Netherlands passed its Cash Payments Act. It feels as if wherever you look action is being taken to safeguard cash.

Cash Handling Free Free

Astrid Mitchell

4 March 2026

2 min read

Euro Counterfeits Go into Reverse

444,000 counterfeit euro banknotes were withdrawn from circulation in 2025, according to the European Central Bank. This is a decrease of more than 20% compared with 2024, and a reversal of the trend which had seen numbers climb since 2021. In terms of the counterfeiting ratio, for 2025 it was 14 ppm, compared with 18 ppm the previous year.

Counterfeiting

Kerre Corbin

4 March 2026

3 min read

Fake Currency from China Seized in Operation Decoy Crackdown

On 11 February 2026, Europol announced that Operation DECOY III prevented an estimated €1.2 billion counterfeit banknotes and coins from entering circulation. This was a joint operation between customs and police organisations that were targeting criminal networks distributing fake currency through the post.

Counterfeiting

James Shepherd-Barron

4 March 2026

7 min read

Symbols of Stabilisation – How Banknotes Help Rebuild Nations

Following the overthrow of the Assad regime in late 2024, Syria’s transitional government introduced a re-designed and re-denominated series of banknotes at the beginning of 2026 (see CN January 2026). It did this as part of a monetary reform strategy aimed at re-establishing a sound banking sector based on financial stabilisation, transparent foreign exchange, secure digital payments, and sustainable financial inclusion.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

4 March 2026

3 min read

People in the News

David Iván Espinoza Torrico has been sworn in as the new President of the Central Bank of Bolivia, replacing Edwin Rojas Ulo who had been serving as Interim President.

People

Astrid Mitchell

4 March 2026

6 min read

Composting from Waste of Intaglio Wiping Solution

In a separate development to its new app, BioBanknote, has developed a composting solution for the disposal of solid waste created in intaglio wiping solution, often referred to as ‘sludge’.

Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

4 March 2026

2 min read

Central Banks Strengthen Ties on Banknote Production

Banque de France (BdF), the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB), and Banco de Portugal (BdP) are strengthening their cooperation in the field of banknote production, building on ties dating back to 2017.

Central Banks

Astrid Mitchell

4 March 2026

2 min read

Bolivia Discontinues Banknotes in Wake of Plane Crash

The Central Bank of Bolivia (CBB) has announced that, as a result of the plane crash that occurred on 27 February in the district of El Alto (part of the capital, La Paz), banknotes in the denominations of Bs10, Bs20 and Bs50 of Series B, corresponding to the New Boliviano Banknote Series, are no longer legal tender.

Banknotes