Counterfeit
ECB set for €50 note launch
The European Central Bank is to launch the fourth banknote in the new Europa series on April 4; the new note will retain design elements from previous series, but will feature revamped security features
UK launches new £1 coin
New £1 is the “world’s most secure coin”, mint claims, integrating new security features previously used solely for banknotes; businesses have until October 2017 to recalibrate machines
Somalian central bank to print first notes since 1991
New 1,000 shilling looks set to enter circulation in 2017 with extensive assistance being provided by the IMF; central bank has struggled to operate amid civil war
Ghana issues banknote with QR code
New ¢5 note with 2D barcode to help educate the public on the numerous security features; bank to celebrate sixtieth birthday in August
Cash is here to stay – SNB’s Zurbrügg
SNB official says reports of cash’s “death” are “exaggerated”; central bank has no plans to stop printing banknotes as its popularity remains
Seychelles to demonetise old 100- and 500-rupee notes
Improved security features need to be “put to best use”, says the central bank; the general public have until June 29 to spend or exchange the old banknotes
New Australian $10 to feature works of native authors
RBA launches second banknote in new series, celebrating native authors; new note will feature similar security elements to new A$5 launched last year
BoE says launch of £10 to go ahead, despite tallow traces
UK central bank will continue to print the £10 on the same substrate as the controversial fiver; options may be reconsidered for the £20
Consultancy and advisory services provider of the year (bespoke): Innovia Security
Polymer bank note provider also offers a suite of advisory services from design through to recycling to prepare central banks for the transition to ‘plastic’ bank notes, as highlighted in Nicaragua
Banknote and currency services provider of the year: Crane Currency
Leading micro-optics provider continues to deliver a full range of services from design to print to a large number of central banks around the world to ensure integrity of cash
National Bank of Poland to release new highest value banknote
500-zloty note will enter circulation on February 10 and be the last of the new series, which was first announced in 2014
ECB reports 20.7% drop in number of counterfeits
Number of counterfeits ticked up in the second half of 2016, but annual figures are down; €50 note still dominates in terms of counterfeit volume, with new note to be released in April
Polymer banknote provider Innovia bought for $845 million
Innovia bought by Canadian competitor following a “successful” year; CCL to build on the polymer provider's expertise in the field
Macedonian notes: world’s first security thread in long window
New designs entering circulation feature De La Rue’s Kinetic StarChrome; central bank also begins withdrawal of the D5,000 note
Sama unveils new banknote designs with updated features
Six denominations to feature new security thread and improved features for the visually impaired; new coin design also launched by Saudi central bank
Seychelles issues first full banknote series in 18 years
The central bank spends around $2.6 million producing new series; SCR10 note transformed into coin in the new series, while the SCR500 note gets a facelift
RBS issues first polymer banknotes
Polymer note printed on De La Rue ‘Safeguard’ substrate is first in RBS's new series; Scottish novelist and poet Nan Shepherd features on the front of the note
Netherlands Bank to move gold and banknote operations out of Amsterdam by 2022
Highly secure location will house anti-counterfeiting and sustainable banknote operations
331,000 counterfeit notes withdrawn in H1 2016 – ECB
Figures show 80% of all the counterfeits were €20 and €50 notes; number of total counterfeits withdrawn in first half of 2016 lower year on year
Latvian central bank becomes lead authority on counterfeiting
New anti-counterfeiting centre will take over from police the task of detecting fake currency in all currencies; new approach will be more efficient and will not need more resources, bank says
Sarb sets out five-year strategy in annual report
Central bank outlines objectives to be achieved by 2020, including around reserves, inflation and counterfeiting; while governor praises progress of financial stability bill
Philippines central bank reveals counterfeiting arrests
Central bank says it was behind four successful anti-counterfeiting operations in Q1; has the legal authority to make arrests and seize property
To play the counterfeiter
The Reproduction Research Centre in Copenhagen helps central banks to counterfeit colour-shifting technology and machine-readable codes on banknotes in a bid to reduce fraud
Swiss National Bank bolsters security features of first banknote in new series
The new series printed on three-layered substrate boasts a range of new security features; Sfr50 enters circulation on April 12