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.

Denmark to stop coin and banknote production

Banknotes, News

The Central Bank of Denmark, Danmarks Nationalbank, issued a press release on the 21st October advising of their decision to stop coin and banknote production from 2016, citing a drop in demand. Though the Bank recognises that the volume of cash in circulation within Denmark is high, it has seen a trend of falling demand…

Norway confirms motifs for new banknote series

Banknotes, Currency, News

Norges Bank, the Central Bank of Norway, has issued a press release confirming the motifs which are to be used for their new banknote designs. 8 participants selected from a competition held earlier this year produced designs, of which 2 banknote proposals were chosen: Ripple Effects by Enzo Finger, and Norwegian Living Space by The…

De La Rue shares plunge after profit warning

Banknotes, News

UK based banknote printer De La Rue has seen its shares drop 30% after it issued a profits warning, with this year’s profits expected to be £20m lower than the previous financial period. The company, which produces the UK’s biometric passports and prints banknotes for countries worldwide, warned that industry trading conditions had “deteriorated” causing prices…

Euro 10 banknote_europa series

New euro €10 banknote issued today

Banknotes, News

The European Central Bank has today released the new €10 banknote into circulation. The new cotton-paper banknote includes various new security features making it more resistant to counterfeiting but, says the ECB, is still easy for users to check its authenticity using the feel, look and tilt method. As with all banknotes within the new Europa series,…

Myanmar to issue new 5,000 kyat banknote

Banknotes, News

According to various local websites, the Central Bank of Myanmar is due to issue a new 5,000 kyat banknote. The new design will incorporate modern security features to prevent counterfeits being accepted in circulation. It is thought that the new banknote will be put into circulation on the 1st October 2014, and the existing 5,000…

Underground sign

Transport for London goes contactless today

Cashless Payments, News

Commuters in London will be able to use their contactless payment cards to pay for their travel fares on Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and National Rail services from today. The new technology will work the same way as the existing pre-payment Oyster travel card service, by ‘tapping’ the contactless enabled payment card against the…

Bank of Israel to issue new NIS 50 banknote

Banknotes, News

A press release issued yesterday by the Bank of Israel details the new NIS 50 banknote, due to be released into circulation on Tuesday the 16th September 2014. The NIS 50 banknote is the first denomination to be released from the new banknote series. Previous NIS 50 banknotes issued in 1999 will continue alongside the…