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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.

Poland revises circulating coins in 2017

Coin, NewsBy SMI 15/02/2017

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 issues high denomination banknote

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 11/02/2017

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…

Mexico issues commemorative 100-peso banknote

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 06/02/2017

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…

Bhutan reveals design of commemorative Nu.100 banknote

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 06/02/2017

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…

Uruguay upgrade 20 and 50 peso banknotes

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 02/02/2017

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…

Israel prepares for launch of NIS 20 and NIS 100 banknotes

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 01/02/2017

The Bank of Israel is preparing for the launch of the NIS 20 and NIS 100 banknotes, the final banknotes to be issued from its latest Series C banknote family. According to the Bank of Israel, the last two denominations of the new series are expected to be issued at the end of 2017. Preparations are underway…

Counterfeit euro banknotes remain low during 2016

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 30/01/2017

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%…

Solomon Islands issue new $20 banknote

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 23/01/2017

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…

Guatemala upgrades 20 quetzals banknote

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 19/01/2017

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…

Venezuela starts to issue new banknotes

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 17/01/2017

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,…