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SMI is the acknowledged world leader in the provision of independent technical & commercial expertise to the currency industry. Founded in 1994, SMI consultants each have many years’ experience working in the currency industry, and consequently have extensive knowledge and understanding of all aspects of the banknote and coin markets, offering consultancy services on a range of issues related to the security, manufacture, issue, circulation and management of physical cash in the economy.

Venezuela issues new high value 100,000 banknote denomination

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 02/11/2017

The Central Bank of Venezuela has issued a new high value 100,000 bolivars banknote denomination, as part of efforts to ease the continuing cash crisis in the country. A press release from the Banco Central de Venezuela, the country’s Central Bank, issued yesterday confirmed that the new banknote denomination will enter circulation this week. The…

Ukraine bans new Russian banknotes

Banknotes, Currency, NewsBy SMI 19/10/2017

It has emerged that the new 200-ruble banknote has been banned in Ukraine, as the design of the Russian note includes an image of the peninsula of Crimea which the Kremlin annexed in 2014. In a press release issued on the 13 October, the National Bank of Ukraine said that the ban includes all Russian currencies showing “maps, symbols,…

Russia issues new banknote denominations

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 18/10/2017

Following an announcement last year, the Bank of Russia has issued two new banknote denominations consisting of the 200 and 2000 rubles. An announcement was made on the Central Bank’s website on the 12 October 2017, confirming that the new banknote denominations had entered circulation. The new denominations join the currently circulating Russian banknote series consisting of…

Bank of England launches Banknote Checking Scheme

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 12/10/2017

The Bank of England has launched a new Banknote Checking Scheme to reduce the number of counterfeit banknotes being accepted by businesses. The Scheme, launched by the Bank of England on the 10 October, is aimed at cash-handling businesses and, it says, promotes the checking of banknotes at the point of sale (POS) through targeted training. By…

New Swiss 10-franc banknote unveiled

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 12/10/2017

The Swiss National Bank has unveiled the design of the new 10-franc banknote from its latest Ninth Banknote Series, due to be issued on 18 October 2017. The 10-franc note is the third of six denominations from the new Ninth Banknote series, following the release of the 20-franc last May and the 50-franc in April 2016. The design of…

Bank of Scotland issues Safeguard® £10 banknote

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 10/10/2017

The new ten pound banknote from the Bank of Scotland has begun to circulate, printed on De La Rue’s Safeguard® polymer substrate. Like its predecessor, the new ten pound banknote features portraits of Scottish historical novelist, playwright and poet, Sir Walter Scott, as well as illustrations of the Bank of Scotland’s Head Office, The Mound, and Scotland’s…

Chief Cashier discusses forecasting future banknote demand

Banknotes, Currency, NewsBy SMI 06/10/2017

At this week’s Future of Cash Conference, the Bank of England’s Chief Cashier Victoria Cleland gave a speech regarding the future of cash and the factors affecting banknote demand. Victoria Cleland gave the speech yesterday at the conference, being held in Vienna. Cleland recognises that there are many alternatives to cash that are increasingly being used by people. However,…

CCL Secure and De La Rue win England polymer contract

Banknotes, News, TechnologyBy SMI 05/10/2017

CCL Secure and De La Rue have been awarded ten-year contracts by the Bank of England to supply polymer substrates for the new £20 banknotes. Under the terms of the contract, CCL Secure will supply the Bank of England with Guardian™ substrate for 75% of the first call-off volume, and De La Rue will supply its…

Dominican Republic commemorative $500 banknote

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 05/10/2017

The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic has issued a commemorative $500 banknote, celebrating the 70th anniversary of the institution. Image courtesy of the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic The banknote uses the same design as the circulating version and includes many of the existing security features such as a latent image, watermark and microtext, but…

New coins and note to celebrate Brunei Golden Jubilee

Banknotes, Coin, NewsBy SMI 05/10/2017

The Central Bank of Brunei celebrates the Sultan’s 50-year reign with a commemorative polymer banknote and coin set, and issues the fifth series of circulation coins. The country has celebrated the Golden Jubilee of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, having been on the throne for fifty years. To mark the occasion the country’s Central Bank, the Autoriti Monetari…