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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.

Ukraine replaces low value banknotes with coins

Banknotes, Coin, NewsBy SMI 15/03/2018

The National Bank of Ukraine has unveiled new circulating coins which are to replace respective low value banknotes that are currently in circulation. The new coins consist of denominations UAH 1, 2, 5 and 10, the latter valued at around US $0.40. The National Bank will issue the coins in stages, with the UAH 1…

Venezuela upgrades highest denomination banknote

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 14/03/2018

The Central Bank of Venezuela has begun circulating an upgraded version of its highest value banknote denomination, the 100,000 bolivar note. According to the Central Bank of Venezuela press release, the new banknote has an upgraded watermark with “the face of the Liberator” (Simón Bolívar) and the Central Bank’s initials “BCV” shown in electrotype. The upgraded note…

Canada unveils vertical $10 banknote featuring Viola Desmond

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 08/03/2018

The Bank of Canada has unveiled the new $10 banknote featuring the iconic Canadian woman Viola Desmond on International Women’s Day. The launch of the new $10 banknote, expected to begin circulating in late 2018, marks the first time that an iconic Canadian woman has been included in a circulating Bank of Canada banknote. An…

Thailand unveils new banknote designs

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 08/03/2018

The Bank of Thailand has unveiled the new banknote designs featuring portraits of the new King Maha Vajiralongkor, expected to begin circulating in April. The new Thailand banknote Series 17 from the Bank of Thailand consists of five denominations, namely the 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000-baht, as per the previous banknote series. The front of…

Moldova circulates new lei coins

Coin, NewsBy SMI 02/03/2018

The National Bank of Moldova has issued new coins of 1, 2, 5 and 10-lei that will circulate alongside existing banknotes of the same value, shifting the country’s coin-note boundary. The National Bank of Moldova (NBM) performed a broad economic study on cash use within the country, conducting public consultations with independent experts, local and central authorities, representatives of the business…

Upgraded Hungary 1,000 forint banknote enters circulation

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 01/03/2018

As part of its program to upgrade its family of banknotes, the Central Bank of Hungary has begun circulating a new upgraded 1,000 forint banknote. The Magyar Nemzeti Bank (MNB) issued a statement in August last year confirming the issue of the new note which contains new design elements and security features. Whilst the new note became legal tender on the…

Armenia and Kyrgyzstan win Best Regional Banknote Awards

News, TechnologyBy SMI 22/02/2018

The Best Regional Banknote Awards have been presented this week at the High Security Printing EMEA conference, with Armenia and Kyrgyzstan announced as the winners. Reconnaissance International revealed the winners of the Best Regional Banknote Awards at its HSP EMEA conference held in Warsaw, Poland. According to Reconnaissance, the Best Regional Banknote award recognises “…outstanding achievement in the design,…

Oberthur selected as Denmark’s banknote supplier

Banknotes, Currency, NewsBy SMI 22/02/2018

Oberthur Fiduciaire has been selected by Denmark’s Central Bank as its new banknote supplier, following the central bank’s decision to stop using its own state printer in 2014. Denmark’s Central Bank, the Danmarks NationalBank, has published a press release confirming that French company Oberthur Fiduciaire SAS has been selected as its supplier of Danish banknotes.…

Australia reveals Next Generation $50 banknote design

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 15/02/2018

The Reserve Bank of Australia has today revealed the design the new $50 banknote, the next denomination to be issued from the Next Generation Banknote family. The design of the polymer banknote continues to feature portraits of Aboriginal writer and inventor David Unaipon as well as the first female member of the Australian parliament, Edith Cowan. The…

South Africa celebrates Mandela’s birth centenary

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 12/02/2018

South Africa will soon be celebrating Nelson Mandela’s birth centenary with the launch of a commemorative set of banknotes and a new five rand circulation coin. According to the South African Reserve (SARB), the country’s Central Bank, the commemorative banknotes will be launched this year in denominations of R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200. Though they…