Currency
EU considers deeper sanctions against Syrian central bank
European Union considers further financial sanctions against Syria amid continued repression of Syrian people; EU foreign affairs committee to discuss on Monday
Finland announces markka conversion deadline
Finns have until February 29 to change markka banknotes and coins to euro; currency outstanding valued at $386 million
China ups gold coin production
People’s Bank of China more than doubles issuance of gold panda coins for 2011; demand outstripping minting
Malaysia announces new banknotes and coins for 2012
Bank Negara Malaysia to issue new banknotes and coins; design will be “distinctively Malaysia”
Russia launches Olympic coins
Bank of Russia launches Sochi 2014 coin series to “promote Olympic values in Russia and abroad”
Sweden picks famous faces for new banknotes
Riksbank announces motifs to be emblazoned on new banknotes; include actress Greta Garbo, author Astrid Lindgren and singer Birgit Nilsson
SNB to close Geneva office as cash distribution services are outsourced
Swiss National Bank says Geneva office will close next year as cash distribution services to be carried out by private firms; fifteen staff affected by closure
Estonia nabs firms over euro leak
Bank of Estonia fines two companies for mishandling euro coins ahead of the currency’s launch in 2011; strong link to coin sale in neighbouring Latvia
Czech National Bank withdraws smallest banknote
Czech National Bank says Kc50 note will be replaced with coin in April; cites cost of replacing notes and change in value
Bank of Russia wants to scrap kopek coin
Russian central bank proposes that one and five kopek coins be abolished due to high metal prices and low demand
Bank of Israel: Currency Department Annual Review (2009)
Bank of Israel currency department’s report for 2009 reviews new cash payments system policy
Holocaust museum slams Romanian central bank over ruling on anti-Semite coin
US Holocaust Memorial Museum labels National Bank of Romania’s decision to keep anti-Semite coin in circulation “misguided”
Romania keeps coin featuring anti-Semite in circulation
Romania says it will keep a controversial coin featuring an anti-Semite despite calls for ban by Jewish community
Romania to review calls to ban coin featuring anti-Semite
National Bank of Romania to reconsider circulation of coin portraying religious leader who called for exile of Jews from country; move follows protests from Jewish community
Cash holding on the rise
Notes and coins in circulation were on average 1.1% higher than December, new data from the Bank of England show.
ECB official praises Slovakia's euro entry
The changeover from Slovak koruna to euro, which took place in January, was very smooth, said Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo, a member of the European Central Bank's Executive Board.
Ireland's Hurley to stay on after term ends
The governor of Ireland's central bank, John Hurley, has agreed to stay on beyond the official end of his first seven-year term in March.
Optimising cash supply
Central banks need to take a business minded approach to their cash-supply function, argues Brian Lang