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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.

Gibraltar issues £100 banknote using De La Rue’s Safeguard®

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 30/08/2016

Gibraltar has issued a new polymer £100 banknote to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Sir Joshua Hassan, Gibraltar’s first Chief Minister. The new banknote uses De La Rue’s polymer Safeguard® substrate, and is the first time a holographic foil, namely Depth™ Image, has been used with the polymer substrate. The hologram is visible from either…

De La Rue enters joint venture with Kenya

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 19/08/2016

British banknote manufacturer De La Rue has signed an agreement to enter a joint venture with the Government of Kenya. A press release from De La Rue confirmed that the agreement was made on 18 August 2016, saying that it “strengthens and builds on our existing long term strategic relationship with the Government of Kenya”. The partnership…

Colombia to issue 50 thousand peso banknote next week

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 12/08/2016

The Banco de la República of Colombia has confirmed that it will begin to issue the $50,000 denomination banknote next week, on Friday 19 August 2016. This will be the third banknote of the new series issued by the central bank of Colombia, following the $100,000 and $20,000 issued this year in March and June respectively. According to…

Thailand issues commemorative banknote

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 12/08/2016

The Bank of Thailand has issued a 500-Baht commemorative banknote, celebrating the 7th cycle birthday anniversary of Thailand’s Queen Sirikit on 12 August 2016. The banknote was unveiled by Mr Veerathai Santiprabhob, the Governor of the country’s central bank. The front of the commemorative banknote remains the same as the currently circulating denomination, but the reverse design…

Liberia to introduce new banknotes

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 28/07/2016

The Central Bank of Liberia has announced that it will soon issue a new series of banknotes. The statement available from the Central Bank of Liberia’s website confirms that, in keeping with its statutory mandate to at all times ensure that the integrity of the Liberian Dollar is uncompromisingly maintained, a new series of banknotes will soon…

Counterfeit euro banknotes decline in 2016

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 23/07/2016

The counterfeiting of euro banknotes has decreased during the first half of 2016, figures from the European Central Bank show. The counterfeiting of euro banknotes has decreased during the first half of 2016, figures from the European Central Bank show. During the first half of 2016, 331,000 counterfeit euro banknotes were withdrawn from circulation. This continues…

Watch the Making of the New Fiver

Banknotes, News, TechnologyBy SMI 07/07/2016

Watch how the new fiver £5 note from the Bank of England is made. The film, from the Bank of England, shows the new £5 note being printed by De La Rue at the Bank of England print works in Loughton, Essex, UK. The new £5 banknote, called the New Fiver, was unveiled earlier this month…

Five facts about the new euro €50 banknote

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 06/07/2016

Following yesterday’s unveiling of the new euro €50 banknote, which will be issued on 4 April 2017, the European Central Bank (ECB) have posted a video detailing five facts about the new banknote. The video looks at the 50 euro banknote’s use throughout the Euro system, how often the current circulating denomination is counterfeited, its production costs, and…

New 50 euro banknote revealed by ECB

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 05/07/2016

The European Central Bank (ECB) has today revealed the new €50 euro banknote which is to begin circulating on 4 April 2017. The new banknote is the latest of the Europa banknote series issued by the central bank, gradually replacing the original euro currency issued in 2002 with one that includes up-to-date security features to reduce the risk…

Belarus re-denominates banknote series

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 04/07/2016

On 1 July 2016, the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus redenominated the Belarusian ruble, following a decision taken by Edict of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 450 dated 4 November 2015. This has resulted in, for the first time in the history of the Belarusian ruble, coins being introduced into…