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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.

Scotland unveils new £5 and £10 polymer banknotes

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 28/04/2016

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has unveiled the designs of the new £5 and £10 polymer banknotes which are to begin circulating in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Banknote images courtesy of the Royal Bank of Scotland The notes are printed on De La Rue’s Safeguard® polymer substrate and includes their SPARK® Orbital™ optically variable…

Uruguay issues new 2000 banknote

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 28/04/2016

The Banco Central del Uruguay (BCU) has issued a new 2000-pesos cotton paper banknote containing a variety of updated security features. The Series B banknote was issued on 27 April 2016 and will circulate alongside the current Series A denomination last issued on 1 October 2003. The note is the second of the new Series B…

New Zealand wins Bank Note of the Year 2015

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 25/04/2016

New Zealand’s new $5 banknote has won the International Bank Note Society (IBNS) Bank Note of the Year award. International Bank Note Society The annual award from the IBNS recognises exceptional circulating banknote designs which have “artistic merit and/or innovative security features”. The winner of the award is decided by vote between members of the IBNS. The…

Coins are here to stay says Royal Mint

Cashless Payments, Coin, NewsBy SMI 20/04/2016

The Royal Mint has issued a statement saying that coins are here to stay, in response to a report by the Co-op which has predicted the “death of cash and bankcards”. Though the Co-op identifies that nearly two thirds of all transactions made within its retail stores are paid for using cash, it has seen the use…

Polymer banknote release confirmed by Bank of England

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 18/04/2016

The Bank of England has confirmed that the new £5 polymer banknote will be issued in September 2016. The new banknote will be the first of three new polymer banknotes to be issued by the Bank, consisting of the £5, £10 and £20 banknote denominations. On the 2nd June full details of the new five pound…

Discover the Swiss 50 banknote via new app

Banknotes, News, TechnologyBy SMI 13/04/2016

A new app will soon be available from the Swiss National Bank to help the public familiarise themselves with the new 50-franc banknote. The free mobile app, compatible with Apple iOS and Android smartphone operating systems, allows users to position their mobile device over the new banknote and, using the device’s camera, view details regarding the…

Russia to issue 200 and 2,000 ruble banknotes

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 13/04/2016

Yesterday, the Bank of Russia issued a statement confirming that it plans to supplement its banknotes with two additional denominations: the 200 and 2,000 rubles. The new banknotes, which are expected to enter circulation by the end of 2017, are being introduced to make cash payments easier for its citizens, citing that they will help to reduce the…

Australia reveals $5 banknote

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 12/04/2016

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has revealed the design of the new $5 banknote denomination which is to enter circulation on 1 September 2016. The new denomination is the first to be revealed of the next generation of banknotes, which will eventually replace the current series of notes that began circulating in 1992. During the development…

Ukraine issues 500 hryvnia banknote

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 11/04/2016

The new 500 hryvnia banknote will begin circulating today following its issue by the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU). Director of the NBU Cash Circulation Department, Mr Viktor Zaivenko, said that today’s issuance marks the continued efforts by the NBU to revamp the design of the banknote series designed between 2003 and 2007 as part of…

New Zealand reveals new $20, $50 and $100 notes

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 11/04/2016

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has today revealed new $20, $50 and $100 banknotes. The notes complete the seventh series of banknotes called Brighter Money, joining the $5 and $10 notes which began circulating in October last year. The new banknotes were presented at Government House by the Governor-General, Lt Gen the Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae,…