Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2025

3 min read

Fall in US Counterfeits, Says New Report

Financial authorities remain concerned about counterfeiting US currency; however, recent studies suggest a declining trend in the circulation of fake banknotes. A new report by Ruth Judson and published by the Federal Reserve – Estimating the Volume of Counterfeit US Currency in Circulation – provides insights into counterfeit US dollar circulation and its economic impact.

Studies, Reports

Antti Heinonen

3 March 2025

4 min read

Counterfeiting and Metrics – the Debate Continues

In the December issue of Currency News™ I wrote on whether note issuers are keeping ahead of the counterfeits, with an update on the latest counterfeiting data, using as one of the data points the ppm metric (parts per million, ie. the number of counterfeits detected versus the number of genuine notes in circulation). The following month, Duncan Reid wrote about the shortcomings of the ppm as a metric. It is great that the topic has raised debate, and Duncan’s article provides the few interesting viewpoints, which Currency News has invited me to comment on.

Counterfeiting

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2025

5 min read

Central Banks and Cash Round-Up

Continuing with the periodic series of articles covering cash information in central bank annual reports, this month we travel to Korea, and also to South America, with a review of two countries, one small and stable (Uruguay) and the other larger and not so stable (Venezuela).

Central Banks

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2025

11 min read

A Foot in Both Camps – How G+D is Navigating the Digital Transformation in Money

The landscape of currency is undergoing a significant transformation. While cash remains a fundamental means of payment, the rise of digital transactions and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) is reshaping the future of money.

Interviews

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2025

5 min read

Positive Picture for Cash Companies Continues in 2024

Each February and March we cover the previous year’s results for the leading companies in cash management, most of whose financial years run from January to December. Between them these results provide a useful means of taking the pulse of our industry.

Comment Companies

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2025

1 min read

Currency Data Now Available on Tap

Data both allows and creates questions. Answering questions generates information. Information allows decisions and actions. Without accurate, relevant, reliable, consistent, standardised and timely data, creating and delivering anything is hard, particularly change.

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2025

2 min read

Autentium – the New Polymer Substrate for Banknotes

Back in May last year we covered the pre-launch at the Banknote Conference of a new polymer substrate from Covestro, and in December the official launch under the name CERTEVO®. It appears we were premature, as that launch referred to the version intended for ID and secure document, not currency.

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2025

4 min read

In Other News…

The Bank of Zambia has announced the introduction of a new family of notes and coins, which will be introduced at the end of March.

News

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2025

2 min read

Bahamas’ New Crisp Evolution $1 Green Banknote

The Central Bank of The Bahamas (CBB) has released its new CRISP Evolution $1 banknote. While the design remains basically the same as its predecessor, the previous note was printed on Giesecke + Devrient’s Hybrid™ substrate, while the updated version features its Hybrid ADDvance® substrate.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2025

6 min read

HSP First Time in Switzerland – Why Did it Take so Long!

The 2025 edition of the High Security Printing™ EMEA conference was located, for the first time in its history, in Switzerland, in the picturesque city of Basel. The sell-out event attracted 265 delegates, from 117 organisations spanning 44 countries. 38% of the organisations were from government (central banks, issuing authorities) or state printworks.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2025

4 min read

China Celebrates Year of the Snake

2025 heralds the Year of the Snake in the traditional Chinese zodiac calendar. In December 2024, the People’s Bank of China announced the issue of a commemorative 20 yuan banknote for the 2025 Chinese Zodiac New Year.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2025

5 min read

News in Brief

President Trump’s announcement of a directive to the US Treasury Secretary to cease production of the country’s lowest denomination coin, as part of his mission to cut government expenditure, has reignited the debate in the US about the future of the penny, which has been rumbling on for well over a decade now.

News

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2025

3 min read

Managing the Cash Cycle Better

A new white paper investigates how cash management is changing and best practice for optimising efficiency, thereby reducing the cost and environmental impact of cash.

Studies, Reports

3 March 2025

4 min read

Best in Design and Innovation at EMEA Awards

This year’s Regional Banknote the Year Awards for EMEA were presented at a special ceremony during the HSP conference dinner in the traditional Safran Zunft restaurant in the heart of Basel’s charming Old Town.

Banknotes Events

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2025

3 min read

Currency Conference Introduces Updated Agenda Topics

The 2025 Currency Conference is returning to Bangkok, Thailand, from 26-29 May 2025. Conference organiser Currency Research expects to welcome nearly 400 delegates from 70 countries, including 70 central banks and 150 organisations in total. At the time of publication, nearly 50 central banks have already registered for the event.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

3 March 2025

3 min read

Euro Counterfeits on the Rise Again

554,000 counterfeit euro banknotes were withdrawn from circulation in 2024, according to the European Central Bank. This is an increase of more than 18% compared with 2023, and resulted in a ratio of 18 ppm, compared with 16 ppm the previous year.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

29 Jan. 2025

2 min read

Canadians Explore Technology to Turn E-Waste into Coins

The Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) has announced a new partnership with enim Technologies, which extracts precious metals from e-waste, to explore the possibility of incorporating these metals into the Mint’s future coin production.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

29 Jan. 2025

3 min read

In Other News

The Central Bank of Belize has unveiled the designs of its new banknote series, which will go into circulation in June.

News

John Winchcombe

29 Jan. 2025

1 min read

Cash Recirculation and Local Recycling: from Policy to Practice

A new white paper examines the cash cycle from the perspective of every stakeholder, drawing on interviews and discussions with the 24 organisations that contributed to it. It contains examples and information from around the world, from small and large countries, emerging market and advanced economies and all types of stakeholder.

Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

29 Jan. 2025

2 min read

Note and Coin News

The Bank of China and Banco Nacional Ultramarino – Macau’s two note issuing banks – have introduced new 50 and 100 pataca (MOP) banknotes. They are the third and fourth notes in the new Macau series, following the issue of new MOP 10 and 20 notes last year.

Banknotes Coins