Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2022

1 min read

Yet Another Award for Mexican Banknotes

The Banco de México has continued its award-winning streak with the International Bank Note Society (IBNS) Banknote of the Year award for 2021 for the 50 peso. It won the same award for 2020 for the new 100 peso. And both notes recently earned it the HSP Regional Banknote of the Year award.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2022

2 min read

Mint of Finland Returns to Profit

After several years of losses, the Mint of Finland has reported a significant increase in sales and return to profit for 2021. Consolidated revenue increased by 45% to €83 million, due largely to a good order backlog at the beginning the year.

Coins Companies

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2022

2 min read

MDC Online Bridges the Gap for Mints

The Mint Directors Conference is normally held every two years, providing an opportunity for discussions, information-sharing and debate within and about the industry.

Coins Events

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2022

3 min read

EMEA Cash Cycle Seminar (ICCOS) is Back – in Istanbul

In early June Currency Research will host its first in person Cash Cycle Seminar since COVID forced a postponement of the planned March 2020 event in Amsterdam.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

1 May 2022

3 min read

In Other News…

The Central Bank of Tunisia has issued two new banknotes – the 5 and 50 dinars – which will co-circulate with the existing versions. The 50 dinar features the former Prime Minister, Hédi Nouira, and the 5 dinar a portrait of the engineer, agronomist and activist Slaheddine Amami.

News

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

4 min read

Uzbekistan – Great Silk Road Reflected in Designs and Threads

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan issued a new series last year, based on the theme of the ‘Great Silk Road’ – the network of trade routes which played a central role in facilitating economic, cultural, political, and religious interactions between the East and West.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

5 min read

A Mixed Bag in Latest Results from Cash Leaders

Last month, we covered the annual results of five of the major companies in the cash sector – Brinks, Loomis, NCR, Diebold Nixdorf and Crane Co. All bar one reported an increase in both sales and profits. This month is the turn of Spectra Systems, Orell Füssli and Prosegur, where the results are more mixed.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

2 min read

People in the News

Ida Wolden Bache, currently Acting Governor of Norges Bank, has now been appointed Governor, after NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced he would not take on the role, his appointment having been announced in early February as the successor to Øystein Olsen.

News

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

5 min read

Russia Invades Ukraine, Sanctions, Energy Crisis, Inflation and COVID – Markets Surprisingly Stable!

In the December edition of Industry Watch, the focus was on COVID, and the emergence of a new variant that was a major blow to the anticipated return to relative normality.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

3 min read

Awards Recognise Outstanding Design and Innovation in Latin American Banknotes

Special awards have been made to a number of newly introduced banknotes that have demonstrated outstanding technical sophistication and excellence in design and security.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

2 min read

GCF 2022 Ready to Launch at New Location in Port Aventura

The organisers of the Global Currency Forum (GCF) confirm they are ready to launch the first event for the global currency industry from the industry’s leading suppliers, the GCF partners who represent the entire life cycle of currency.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

2 min read

KURZ Issues Sustainability Report

Optical security feature and foil manufacturer KURZ has published a report – Communication on Progress – which presents the company’s sustainability performance to date in detail and also discusses its goals and plans.

Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

2 min read

Connected Banknote Wins Digital Currency Award

Orell Füssli Security Printing and AUGENTIC’s Connected Banknote – the UTOPIAN DUAL – won the Advancement of Digital Currency Award at the Digital Currency Conference in Washington DC last month, which took place immediately after the Banknote & Currency Conference.

Banknotes Events

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

3 min read

G+D’s Green Banknote Initiative

According to Giesecke+Devrient, the sustainability revolution has accelerated to embrace an ever-growing range of environmental and social issues.

Companies Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

2 min read

IMMERSE with SICPA

The decade-defining global pandemic, climate-driven disasters and economic disruptions have all had a profound impact on our personal, professional and social lives.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

2 min read

The Role of Cash in War

In Russia and in Ukraine people have turned to cash, with large queues at bank branches and ATMs. The National Bank of Ukraine enacted a temporary cash withdrawal limit of 100,000 Ukrainian hryvnia per day — the equivalent of about $3,339 – and both countries have imposed capital controls.

News Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

5 min read

News in Brief

The Royal Mint has announced a partnership with Quintet Private Bank to introduce the use of recycled gold in an exchange-traded commodity (ETC).

News

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

3 min read

Environmental Impact of New Swiss Banknote Series – Complexity Offsets Savings

The Swiss National Bank has conducted a Life Cycle Analysis on its 9th series of banknotes. The study looked only at those elements of the life cycle directly under the control of the SNB, the manufacture, wholesale distribution and disposal of notes.

Studies, Reports Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

3 min read

Winners of Central Banking Awards 2022

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipians, the Central Bank of Costa Rica, the East Caribbean Central Bank and De La Rue were winners in four of the Central Banking Awards 2022, presented annually by the Central Banking Journal and which number over 30 categories.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

1 April 2022

2 min read

More Caribbean Countries Switch to Polymer

The switch from paper to polymer banknotes in the Caribbean is gathering speed, with two countries announcing in March that they will be making the change.

Banknotes