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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.

Swaziland changes 10-lilangeni banknote to avoid SA confusion

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 08/08/2017

Confusion between the Swaziland 10-lilangeni and the South African 100-rand banknotes has led to the Central Bank of Swaziland issuing a green version of the note. The confusion between the similar coloured banknote denominations have occurred due to the South African currency also being accepted in Swaziland. The Lilangeni currency was introduced in 1974 replacing…

Vanuatu launches new 5,000 polymer banknote

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 31/07/2017

The Reserve Bank of Vanuatu has issued the next denomination of their polymer banknote family, the 5,000-vatu printed on Guardian™ substrate. The new family of polymer banknotes are being gradually circulated. The first denomination to be issued was the 10,000-vatu, circulated on the 28 July 2010. The 200, 1,000 and 2,000-vatu denominations were all released in…

Trinidad & Tobago changes coin composition, drops 1 cent coin

Coin, NewsBy SMI 25/07/2017

On 1 July 2017, the Central Bank of Trinidad & Tobago began re-issuing new 5, 10 and 25 cent coins having changed their metal composition, and it has also dropped the 1 cent coin. The new coins are manufactured using more cost effective metals to help make savings for the Central Bank of Trinidad & Tobago, estimated to…

Arjowiggins Security agrees to sell Dutch VHP site to Oberthur Fiduciaire

Banknotes, News, TechnologyBy SMI 25/07/2017

Arjowiggins Security has entered into an irrevocable agreement with Oberthur Fiduciaire to acquire the Arjowiggins Security BV subsidiary including the VHP plant in Apeldoorn in the Netherlands. A press release dated 21 July 2017 from parent company, Sequana, has confirmed the sale of its subsidiary Arjowiggins Security BV to Oberthur Fiduciaire, including its VHP plant in…

New coins from Philippines due to be minted this year

Coin, NewsBy SMI 24/07/2017

A new family of circulation coins will be issued by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Central Bank of the Philippines, later this year but it will no longer include the 10-cent denomination coin. According to a report by centralbanking.com, the Central Bank of the Philippines intends to issue its new family of coins by the end…

Thailand to launch commemorative banknotes

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 24/07/2017

The Bank of Thailand has announced that it will issue a new family of commemorative banknotes into circulation on 20 September 2017. A press release from the Bank of Thailand has confirmed that royal permission has been granted for the Central Bank to print and issue the commemorative banknotes in remembrance of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej,…

Counterfeit euro banknotes decrease during 2017

Banknotes, Currency, NewsBy SMI 24/07/2017

The number of counterfeit euro banknotes recorded during the first half of 2017 has decreased compared with the previous six months, but remains on par with the first half of 2016. The European Central Bank has released its latest figures revealing the number of counterfeit euro banknotes identified during the first half of 2017. A total of…

Clydesdale Bank announces date for £10 polymer banknote

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 21/07/2017

Scotland’s Clydesdale Bank has announced that it will issue its £10 polymer banknote on 21 September 2017, one week after the Bank of England is due to issue its own £10 polymer banknote design. The new Clydesdale note will continue to feature the famous Scottish poet and lyricist, Robert Burns, who died 221 years ago. It will also…

Crane Currency nears completion of banknote printing facility in Malta

Banknotes, News, TechnologyBy SMI 21/07/2017

Crane Currency says it will be printing banknotes by the end of 2017, as its new banknote printing facility in Malta nears completion. Crane Currency first announced its intention to invest US $100 million in a new banknote printing facility in Malta in September last year. Following the laying of the facility’s foundation stone at a…

Pobjoy Mint changes Falklands coin due to copyright infringement

Coin, NewsBy SMI 20/07/2017

Pobjoy Mint has announced that it has changed the design of its ‘Britannia Rules the Waves – 2017’ commemorative coin due to a copyright infringement. The bullion 1 crown coin, issued on behalf of the Falkland Islands by Pobjoy Mint, included the phrase “Britannia Rules the Waves” in its design to honour the soldiers that gave…