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.
The European Central Bank (ECB) has today issued the new euro 20 banknote, the latest in the second series of euro banknotes, named “Europa”. The paper banknote, which is mainly blue in colour, consists of new and up-to-date security features to help combat the use of counterfeit banknotes, including tactile features for the visually impaired,…
China’s Central Bank will issue an upgraded 100 yuan banknote from tomorrow, Thursday the 12th November 2015. Though the note looks very similar to its predecessor, it contains various security feature upgrades to help combat counterfeiting. The Bank states there are at least seven improvements to the note’s design which, it claims, will allow cash…
Taxi hailing app Uber has begun accepting cash payments for rides in Indonesia, specifically within the city of Bandung where over two million people reside. Uber users traditionally use a registered payment card to pay for their rides using the Uber app, but in countries where the use of credit or debit cards is less…
On Monday 2 November 2015, the Maldives Monetary Authority launched their new family of banknotes using banknote printer De La Rue’s Safeguard® polymer substrate. The new notes, consisting of Rufiyaa 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000, have been printed , and include De La Rue’s Mask™ intaglio ink feature “These beautiful and secure new banknotes…
Bulgaria’s Central Bank, the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB), has announced that it will issue a new 2 leva circulating coin on the 7th December 2015. The bi-metal coin, which will be issued alongside the current 2 leva banknote, was designed by Vanya Dimitrova and will consist of a yellow coloured central core with a silver…
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the country’s Central Bank, has issued a new 5-rupee coin. The new coin has a different metal composition than its predecessor, consisting of 79% copper, 20% zinc and 1% nickel. The coin is also different in size, now measuring 18.5mm. The existing 5-rupee coin will continue to be legal…
From today, Monday the 12th October, the first of New Zealand’s seventh banknote series will be issued into circulation. The new series $5 and $10 polymer banknotes are being dispensed by banks and retailers from today though only in small quantities to begin with. Around 345,000 new notes have been sent to banks to meet…
The East Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) has announced that it will be issuing a circulating commemorative coin painted with different colours. The press release from the Central Bank has confirmed that the new coin will be issued this month, October 2015, to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Eastern Caribbean Currency Authority (ECCA) banknotes and the…
Sweden’s Central Bank, Sveriges Riksbank, has now launched their new series of 20-, 50- 200- and 1,000-krona banknotes, with the 100- and 500- krona banknotes and 1-, 2- and 5-krona coins to be issued next year in October. The new banknotes were launched on the 1 October, 2015 by the bank, after working on the…
Samsung Pay, the mobile payments application from Samsung, has now been launched in the US. Since Monday, those in the US with a compatible handset, namely Samsung’s Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S6 Edge + and Galaxy Note5, have been able to make mobile payments in stores. Samsung Pay not only works using Near…