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.

Poland 1 zloty coin_courtesy of NBP

Poland revises circulating coins in 2017

The Narodowy Bank Polski (NBP), The Central Bank of Poland, has started issuing revised circulating coins consisting of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 grosz, and 1 zloty. The 10 grosz coin has been issued today, 15 February 2017, and the 1 zloty coin is expected to be issued on 20 February. The remaining denominations will…

Poland 500 banknote 2017_courtesy of NBP

Poland issues high denomination banknote

The Narodowy Bank Polski, the Central Bank of Poland, has issued a new high denomination banknote into circulation, the 500 złoty banknote. The new 500 note joins the currently circulating family of banknotes consisting of the 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 zloty. According to a Central Bank press release, the new denomination will ensure the uninterrupted…

Thumbnail image of the 200-peso commemorative banknote.

Mexico issues commemorative 100-peso banknote

On 5 February 2017, the Banco de México introduced a 100-peso banknote and 20-peso coin to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the enactment of the Mexican  Constitution. The paper banknote, which is 134mm by 66mm, is predominantly coloured red and yellow. It includes a colour changing security ink feature to illustrate a book which changes…

Thumbnail image of Bhutan commemorative 100 banknote.

Bhutan reveals design of commemorative Nu.100 banknote

The Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan has revealed the design of the Nu.100 banknote commemorating the first birthday of His Royal Highness The Gyalsey, Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck. One million of the Bhutan notes are being printed by banknote printers Orell Füssli Security Printing in Switzerland. The predominantly yellow and orange coloured banknote includes SICPA’s SPARK® Live Truspin optically…

Thumbnail image of Uruguay 50 peso banknote.

Uruguay upgrade 20 and 50 peso banknotes

The Central Bank of Uruguay has released new 20 and 50 peso banknotes with upgraded security features. The notes are part of the currently circulating F 2015 banknote family. The new notes entered circulation on 1 February 2017. The new banknotes include tactile markings on the short sides of the note, to aid those with visual impairments…

Euro currency

Counterfeit euro banknotes remain low during 2016

There has been a drop in the number of counterfeit euro banknotes detected during 2016 compared to the previous two years, according to the latest figures from the European Central Bank (ECB). In total, 684 thousand counterfeit banknotes were withdrawn from circulation during 2016, a 23.9% reduction from those withdrawn in 2015 and an 18.4%…

Thumbnail image of Solomon Islands new $20 banknote.

Solomon Islands issue new $20 banknote

The Central Bank of Solomon Islands has issued the new twenty dollar banknote, the third denomination in its latest family of banknotes. Having been launched last Friday the 20 January, the new $20 banknote will begin circulating today. The banknote, designed and printed by De La Rue, displays a bold purple colour and contains elements illustrating the…

Thumbnail of Guatemala's upgraded twenty quetzals banknote

Guatemala upgrades 20 quetzals banknote

The Banco de Guatemala has issued an upgraded version of the twenty quetzals banknote, including an optically variable security ink feature. Optically variable SPARK® ink is used by the central bank to depict a pink scroll of parchment located near the right short edge side of the note. It replaces the moiré security feature used on the previous…

Thumbnail of Venezuela new high denomination banknotes

Venezuela starts to issue new banknotes

Venezuela has issued three denominations of their new banknote series, in response to the country’s soaring inflation. On 16 January 2017, the Banco Central de Venezuela, the country’s central bank, began circulating the new 500, 5,000 and 20,000 bolivar banknotes. The paper banknotes include electrotype watermarks, UV features, anti-copier line structures, micro text, windowed security thread, magnetic security features,…