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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.

Bank of England unveils the new ten pound banknote

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 18/07/2017

The Bank of England has unveiled the design of the new ten pound polymer banknote due to begin circulating on the 14 September 2017. The new polymer banknote is the second of the new series of banknotes to be issued by the Bank of England, following the release of the New Fiver last September. Celebrating the works…

Madagascar begins circulating new banknote series

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 17/07/2017

A new family of banknotes has today begun to circulate, issued by the Central Bank of Madagascar with the addition of a new high value denomination. Today, Madagascar banknote denominations of 2,000, 5,000, 10,000 and a brand new high value denomination of 20,000 Ariary (US $6.80) have been issued into circulation. The remaining 100, 200, 500 and…

Visa Inc. wages war on cash payments

Cashless Payments, NewsBy SMI 17/07/2017

Visa Inc. has announced a new initiative called The Visa Cashless Challenge, encouraging US small businesses to stop using cash by offering thousands of dollars in reward. The Visa Cashless Challenge invites small US-based food service businesses such as restaurants, cafes or food truck owners to describe “what cashless means for them, their employees and customers”. If…

Armenia changes denominations of new 3rd Generation Banknote series

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 14/07/2017

The Central Bank of Armenia has announced that they will be changing the denomination structure of their next 3rd Generation Banknote series, with the addition of a lower value banknote and removal of the highest value note. Citing an increased use in cashless payments within the country, the Central Bank has confirmed that the 100,000 dram…

Brunei & Singapore commemorative banknotes

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 10/07/2017

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Currency Interchangeability Agreement, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore have issued commemorative polymer banknotes. The Monetary Authorities of both Brunei Darussalam and Singapore have jointly issued a set of two $50 commemorative polymer banknotes at a ceremony held on 5 July 2017. The Currency Interchangeability Agreement was originally established in 1967 to…

Louisenthal appoints new Chairman of Management Board

Currency, NewsBy SMI 06/07/2017

Clemens Berger has been appointed as the new Louisenthal Chairman of the Management Board. Berger takes over the position from Dr. Wolfram Seidemann, who has been the Louisenthal Chairman since 1 November 2016. Since joining in 2001, Berger has held several management positions at the substrate and foil manufacturing company. Since 2010, he has been responsible…

Syria issues new denomination 2000 pound banknote

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 04/07/2017

The Central Bank of Syria has issued a new high denomination 2,000 pound banknote featuring President Bashar al-Assad, the first time he has appeared on Syrian currency since he assumed office in July 2000. The note is one of several printed years ago, reportedly by Goznak, but, says Central Bank Governor Duraid Durgham, it was delayed…

Louisenthal wins IACA Award for Best Specimen Banknote

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 03/07/2017

The Louisenthal “Water” house note has won the Best Specimen Banknote award, presented by the International Association of Currency Affairs (IACA). The “Water” specimen house note includes the optically variable RollingStar® LEAD security foil shown on the left of the adjacent image, as well as the RollingStar® Registered security thread, seen in the right hand note. Louisenthal, a…

The ATM is 50 years old, and still going strong

Banknotes, News, TechnologyBy SMI 27/06/2017

Fifty years ago today, the world’s first cash machine was installed at a Barclays Bank branch in Enfield, London. The machine was invented by John Shepherd-Barron and his team at De La Rue Instruments Ltd. The new machine, or Automated Teller Machine (ATM), allowed customers to withdraw ten £1 banknotes using a special voucher that…

CCL Secure wins award for polymer banknote substrate Guardian™

News, TechnologyBy SMI 23/06/2017

CCL Secure has won the CFI.co 2017 ‘Most Innovative Banknote Technology Global’ award for its Guardian™ polymer banknote substrate. CFI.co will run a feature on the award and CCL Secure, formerly Innovia Security until their acquisition by CCL Industries last month, in an upcoming edition of its journal. The CFI.co Judges’ Report recognises that Guardian™ has 4%…