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.
From September 2015 the UK spending limit on contactless cards will increase from £20 to £30 per transaction. When the technology was first introduced the spending limit was £10, which increased to £20 following fast take-up of the payment method. The increase to £30 follows a serge in the use of contactless payments in the…
According to a report by online news source the Pakistan Tribe, Pakistan’s currency in circulation increased from Rs 1,224 billion to Rs 2,500 billion between 2009 and 2014, an increase of 104%. The State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) Deputy Governor of Operations, Mr Kazi Abdul Maktadir, discussed Pakistan’s rising currency in circulation during the Conference…
Germany’s Central Bank, The Deutsche Bundesbank, has released their 2014 counterfeit banknote statistics which shows a large increase in comparison with 2013. The number of counterfeit banknotes removed from circulation during 2014 by banks, retailers and police authorities totaled 63,000 notes, with a nominal value of €3.3 million, a 63% rise compared to 2013. Though…
The European Central Bank (ECB) has released its banknote counterfeit figures for the second half of 2014, showing an increase in the number of fake banknotes withdrawn from circulation. 507 thousand counterfeit banknotes were removed, an increase of 53% compared to the first half of 2014 and an increase of 44% compared to the same…
From the 1st February 2015, the Central Bank of Cuba will issue new denomination banknotes, 200,500 and 1000 pesos, into circulation. The aim is for the new high denomination banknotes to ease economic transactions, as currently the highest denomination banknote is the 100 peso note. All three notes will have the same dimensions, 150 x…
The new year brings a new currency for Lithuanians, as, on the 1st January 2015, Lithuania became the 19th member of the euro currency area, replacing the previous Lithuanian litas currency to the Euro at an exchange rate of €1= LTL 3.45280. Lithuanians have 2 weeks to continue paying for items using Lithuanian litas, but…
According to a statement released by the National Bank of Ukraine, a new 100 hryvnia banknote will be released into circulation on March 9, 2015. The new banknote is the result of a long term project to replace the previous banknote series issued between 2003 and 2007. The new notes will run alongside the previous…
The European Central Bank (ECB) has announced that the €20, the next banknote from the Europa series of banknotes, will be unveiled on 24 February 2015. The new €20 is the third banknote to be released from the second series of Euro banknote, following the €5 and €10 issued in May 2013 and September 2014 respectively.…
Following the unveiling in November, the Central Bank of Nigeria has issued the new commemorative N100 banknote into circulation today. The paper note was first revealed on Wednesday the 12th November by the President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, at the Council Chambers, State House, Abuja. The new note not only includes advanced anti-counterfeit security…
On the 01 December 2014 the Central Bank of Kazakhstan issued its new 1000 tenge banknote into circulation. The new paper banknote design, which is predominantly coloured yellow and brown, includes 2 SPARK security features from SICPA. It also includes a windowed security thread and watermark amongst other modern anti-counterfeit security features. The note will…