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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.

Canada issues $5 and $10 polymer banknotes

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 18/11/2013

The Bank of Canada has now completed the issue of its first polymer banknote series. The release of the new $5 and $10 polymer banknotes follow the gradual release of the previous $100, $50 and $20 denominations. Like the previous versions, the Bank of Canada state that the main motivation for the change to polymer…

New US $100 dollar bill issued

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 10/10/2013

On the 8th October 2013, the US Federal Reserve issued the latest version of the $100 dollar banknote. The note contains several new security features, including Motion™ thread and a colour changing/ optically variable ink. Other features include: Watermark of Benjamin Franklin Embedded security thread which glows pink under Ultraviolet (UV) light Colour shifting “100”…

Bank of Mauritius Launches Polymer Banknotes

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 28/08/2013

On the 22nd August 2013 the Bank of Mauritius (BOM) launched three new polymer banknotes. The RS25, RS50 and RS500 all feature similar designs to their previous paper versions, but include a variety of new polymer specific security features: Transparent window, showing an image of a dodo Shadow image (the polymer note equivalent of a…

Fiji Issues First Polymer Banknote

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 03/04/2013

The Reserve Bank of Fiji has announced the issue of the new $5 banknote into circulation from the 2nd April 2013. It is the first banknote of the new “Flora and Fauna” design series which is to be released. As the old $2 banknote is now coined, it is also the lowest denomination banknote. Most…

Bank of Thailand introduces new 20-Baht banknote

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 02/04/2013

On the 1st April 2013 the Bank of Thailand released the new Series 16 20-Baht banknote into circulation. It replaces its previous version which has been in circulation since 2003. In a press release issued by the Bank of Thailand, Mrs. Tongurai Limpiti (Deputy Governor) stated that the new design incorporates “new advanced counterfeit deterrent…

RBA sells its stake in Securency to Innovia Films

Banknotes, Currency, NewsBy SMI 12/02/2013

It has today been announced that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has signed an agreement with UK based company Innovia Films to sell its 50% share in Securency International Pty Ltd. Innovia, who supplies Securency International with a key film from which they make Guardian® polymer banknote substrate, joined the RBA in a 50/50…

Durasafe® by Fortress Paper launched in Moroccan banknote

Banknotes, News, TechnologyBy SMI 07/01/2013

Fortress Paper Ltd, a pulp and security paper product specialist, has released a statement confirming the first use of their Durasafe® substrate in the new Moroccan 25 dirham banknote. Durasafe® is a high security composite produced at the Landqart Mill in Switzerland. Collaboration between Fortress and the Swiss National bank led to DuraSafe’s development and…

G&D launches MAGnite: Banknote authentication with mobile phones

Banknotes, News, TechnologyBy SMI 12/12/2012

Yesterday Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) presented their latest technology to fight against banknote counterfeiters at the Banknote 2012 conference in Washington D.C. A press release was also issued by the company detailing their new product: MAGnite. This banknote security feature uses “high performance pigments that allow reversible changes between two colour states” when in range…

Canada continues to release polymer banknote series

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 03/12/2012

Following the release of the $100 and $50 polymer banknotes, the Bank of Canada has recently issued the new $20 polymer banknote. This is the latest in the entire series due to be changed, with the new polymer $10 and $5 banknotes expected to be released by late 2013. Like the previous versions, the Bank…

Reserve Bank India (RBI) to replace Rs10 banknotes with coins

Banknotes, Coin, Currency, NewsBy SMI 26/11/2012

It has been advised that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) plans to gradually replace all Rs10 banknotes with coins. The Rs10 coin was released into circulation in March 2009, alongside the RS10 banknote. It is reported that the current lifespan of an Rs10 banknote is only 9-10 months, which can be a challenge for…