Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

1 Feb. 2022

2 min read

Progress on ECB’s Environmental Cash Programme

The Banco de España has issued a press release about meeting the European Central Bank’s (ECB) waste goal for banknotes. It puts this in the context of the ECB’s wider programme.

Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

1 Feb. 2022

1 min read

Upgrade for DLR Analytics™

The team behind the multi-award winning cash cycle analytics platform DLR Analytics™ have announced a major upgrade to the existing software.

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

1 Feb. 2022

2 min read

Thailand Adopts Polymer for Highest Use Note

The Bank of Thailand will launch a new 20 baht note on 24 March, marking the transition to polymer of the country’s most widely used denomination, which accounts for 30% of all Thai banknotes in circulation.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

1 Feb. 2022

4 min read

News in Brief

Banknote authentication and security software provider Spectra Systems Corporation has announced three new contract awards, generating $700,000 of additional unforecasted revenue for the 2022 calendar year.

News

Astrid Mitchell

1 Feb. 2022

2 min read

Albania Completes Modern New Series

The Bank of Albania has put into circulation new versions of the 500 lekë and 2,000 lekë, thereby completing its new series which also includes 200, 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 lekë.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

1 Feb. 2022

2 min read

More Dialogue and Interaction for Designers

The International Banknote Designers Association (IBDA) has finalised the agenda for the 6th International Banknote Designers Conference that will take place in Dubrovnik, Croatia from 24-27 October 2022.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

1 Feb. 2022

1 min read

The Green Banknote Initiative

Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) and Papierfabrik Louisenthal have been working on reducing the environmental impact of their banknote production and cash cycle related activities for many years.

Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

1 Feb. 2022

9 min read

The Challenges and Achievements of a 23-Year Career in Banknotes

Ton Roos, who was appointed Director, Banknotes at the European Central Bank (ECB) in 2008, retired on 31 January. Currency News™ spoke to him about the challenges and achievements of his career in the ECB.

Interviews

Astrid Mitchell

1 Feb. 2022

2 min read

Celebrating 20 Years of the Euro, and Record Lows for Counterfeiting

On 1 January 1999, 11 EU countries fixed their exchange rates, adopted a shared monetary policy under the European Central Bank, and launched their new common currency. The euro was born as an electronic currency.

Central Banks Counterfeiting

Astrid Mitchell

1 Feb. 2022

2 min read

New Business Segment for Goznak as it Enters Banknote Processing Market

Russian state printer and mint Goznak has launched its own banknote counting and sorting machine – the BARS-S5. This follows the acquisition last year of BIS (which stands for Bank Innovation Systems), with whom the new machine was co-developed. The first order has already been received from the Central Bank of Russia.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

1 Feb. 2022

2 min read

HUMANIA: One Note, One Jab

Work has now started on the first in the HUMANIA series of banknotes, which are being produced to raise money to support people who have been most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19

Astrid Mitchell

31 Jan. 2022

4 min read

Sustainability Starts with Central Banks

We have covered a number of initiatives by central banks and suppliers (individually or collectively through their associations) to reduce the environmental impact of cash, and will continue to do so.

Comment Free Free

Astrid Mitchell

30 Dec. 2021

3 min read

Israel: Cash – The Point of No Return

Amir Safranovich, Head of Cash Management in the Currency Department at the Bank of Israel (BOI) introduced his presentation at the European Cash Cycle Seminar with the title ‘Cash: The Point of No Return’.

Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

30 Dec. 2021

3 min read

HSP Awards Celebrate Best in Class of 2021

In the absence in 2021 of the HSP Awards, which are normally held three times a year to coincide with the three regional conferences, HSP organiser Reconnaissance International held a series of virtual awards instead.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

23 Dec. 2021

2 min read

People in the News

Bert van Ravenswaaij, the Royal Dutch Mint’s CFO, has been appointed Mint Master, and will take up the position at the beginning of January. He has been at the Royal Dutch Mint since 2017 and is responsible, among other things, for all issues for the collector's market, including commemorative coins and medals.

News

Astrid Mitchell

23 Dec. 2021

2 min read

Cape Verde Goes Clean and Green with New Disposal System

As part of our regular update on technologies and programmes for sustainability in the cash cycle, we report this month on the news that Banco de Cabo Verde has invested in an HKU 4510 from Swiss company Hunkeler Systeme for the secure, clean and energy efficient disposal of banknotes.

Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

23 Dec. 2021

2 min read

New Report Explores Printing Beyond Colour

Many technologies and features with their roots in commercial printing have made, and continue to make, a substantial contribution to secure document production. However, these technologies have for the most part been concerned with producing visual colours, perceived by the unaided eye as conventional colour printing.

Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

23 Dec. 2021

3 min read

Innovations from KURZ in Digitalisation and Threads

The emphasis on the recent round of IACA’s Excellence in Currency Awards, which were presented in October, was on innovations in response to the pandemic that will have lasting value. One such innovation was from KURZ in the form of its ‘Digital Design and Origination Approval Process’.

Substrates, Features Technology

John Winchcombe

23 Dec. 2021

3 min read

Bank of Canada Survival Analysis of Banknote Circulation

The Bank of Canada (BOC) has a Currency Inventory Management Strategy (IMS) based on its high-speed sorters that capture the image of every banknote, including the serial number, along with the date the banknote was created, shipped from the central bank’s distribution sites and returned to them.

Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

23 Dec. 2021

6 min read

Cash Access in a Less-Cash World

In the November issue of Currency News™, we covered initiatives in Australia and the Netherlands to assess the growing trend to digital payments and what these countries are doing, or beginning to think about doing, to ensure ongoing access to cash in a less-cash world.

Cash Handling