Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

29 July 2021

2 min read

Cash & Payment News July Issue

In the July edition of Cash & Payment News™ we report a mixed picture about the health of cash.

CBDC

Astrid Mitchell

29 July 2021

4 min read

Royal Mint's Bumper Year Despite COVID-19 and Fall in Circulating Coins

‘The past year has been an extraordinarily challenging one for the world as a whole, and The Royal Mint has been no exception’. These were the opening words in the Chairman’s Report for 2020/21.

Coins Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

29 July 2021

5 min read

SPARK® – the Innovation Journey Continues to FLOW

SPARK® has proved to be one of the most successful and widely used anti-counterfeiting features for banknotes since its launch in 2006.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

29 July 2021

2 min read

Peru Begins Roll Out of New Series

The Banco Central de Reserva del Perú has unveiled the designs of its new banknote series with modern designs, new motifs and leading-edge security features.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

3 min read

In Other News…

The Central Bank of Honduras has announced that a new 200 lempira note will be issued in September. Notes of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 lempiras currently circulate in Honduras. The last note to be introduced – the 500 – was in 1997.

Banknotes Central Banks Coins

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

1 min read

Cash & Payment News June

This month’s Cash & Payment News™ focuses on the environment, research on cash usage, payment challenges and token-based Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).

CBDC

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

1 min read

Defining Minimum Visual Quality Standards: Malaysia’s Approach

It is a challenge to introduce minimum quality standards for banknote fitness. There are a number of good examples of how to manage machines that handle banknotes, whether in a cash centre or elsewhere, the European Central Bank being an example. But reaching those who handle and work with cash without the benefit of machines is more difficult.

Central Banks Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

2 min read

Goznak Buys Banknote Innovation Systems

Goznak has acquired Bank Innovation Systems (BIS), the Russian supplier of banknote inspection and processing equipment, in a deal signed at the start of June.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

2 min read

Support for Euro Remains High, but Not for Low Value Coins

Public support for the euro has reached an all-time high, according to the European Commission's latest Eurobarometer survey.

Banknotes Coins Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

3 min read

Banknote Security: Getting People to Pay Attention

The Bundesbank reported in August 2020 a marked increase in counterfeits where no attempt had been made to mimic the security features. There is a high level of trust in the authenticity of euro banknotes.

Counterfeiting Studies, Reports

Bernd Kümmerle

28 June 2021

6 min read

Before, During and After the Pandemic – Measures Taken, Lessons Learned

I have had the dubious pleasure of having been part of G+D’s global Corona crisis team for the past 15 months, during which time I have had the chance to gain live insight into what has been happening with the more than 11,500 people at the more than 50 sites of our company group worldwide and at our customer sites in almost all countries on this planet during the crisis.

Comment COVID-19

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

2 min read

Imagining the Currency of the Future

The think-tank CashEssentials in collaboration with Wipplay, a community platform dedicated to photography, is back this year for its fourth photo contest, this time inviting participants to focus on imaging the future through the medium of currency.

COVID-19 Events Free Free

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

3 min read

Event Update from Currency Research

Currency Research has announced a webinar focusing on ‘Currency Use and Banknote Technology’, in support of the combined Banknote & Currency Conference.

Events

Antti Heinonen

28 June 2021

8 min read

The Paradoxical Development of the Usage of Cash: a Global Update

The lockdowns and travel restrictions caused by the pandemic have had a great influence on retail shopping and payment habits. Besides the increase in online shopping, the growing use of contactless and mobile payments media have decreased the use of cash in transactions. Several recent payment studies confirm these developments.

COVID-19 Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

2 min read

Albania Rolls Out New Series with Two More Notes

The Bank of Albania has unveiled the next two denominations in its new series – the 1,000 and 10,000 lekës, which go into circulation at the end of June.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

2 min read

New Traffic Light Security Ink from GSI

Gleitsmann Security Inks (GSI) has launched what it terms the ‘world’s first traffic light for banknotes’ in the form of mouve GSI, a unique security feature that will help safeguard cash and other security documents using luminescent colour effects.

Substrates, Features Technology

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

2 min read

The New £50

The introduction of the new £50 was undertaken by the Bank of England Governor, Andrew Bailey, at a special ceremony at Bletchley Park, once the top-secret home of the World War Two codebreakers and where Alan Turing, the subject of the note, carried out his most famous work breaking the Enigma code.

Banknotes

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

16 min read

The Bank of England – Planning for the ‘New Normal’

Cash in the UK is in an interesting place at the moment. The cash paradox – higher demand, lower use – is very much in evidence, as are growing concerns about the future of cash allied to branch and ATM closures, concerted moves from the government downwards to encourage people to pay digitally, and what the cash infrastructure could and should look like in the future.

Interviews

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

2 min read

Changes to Currency News, and New Online Platform

After several months of a COVID-enforced digital only publication of Currency News™, we are happy to announce the resumption of the hard-copy distribution of the newsletter from July. Thank you for your patience during the disruption and we ask a little more forbearance as delivery services attempt to return to something like their pre-COVID levels.

News

Phil Holland

28 June 2021

4 min read

Sustainability and Protecting the Environment in Banknote Presses and Printing

COVID has given companies the opportunity to reflect and look at sustainability and the environment with more pressing urgency. There have been webinars and virtual conferences where this topic has been headlining, with paper manufacturers in particular demonstrating their activities to reduce carbon footprints and ensure the future and life cycle of banknotes is protected.

Companies Sustainability Technology