Mauritania has issued a revised 500 ouguiya note

The Banque Central de Mauritanie has issued a new 500 ouguiya banknote. It resembles the old 500 ouguiya note very much (see old note front and back). The new note is different in size however (making it smaller than the old version at 138 x 65 mm) and lacks the holographic patch on the front.

Several new security features have been added though: electrotype 500 added to the watermark, a windowed security thread, iridescent PEAK (Printed Embossed Anticopy Key) and LOOK (Laser Originated Optical Key) on three digits of the serial number.


Steven Zondag 29 Juni 2014 at 3:11 pm | | news | Geen reacties
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Argentina presents new 10 peso note

The president of Argentina, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, has unveiled a new 10 peso note on 21 June. The new note shows images of General Manuel Belgrano in military uniform and of Juana Azurduy. The new note will be issued by the Central Bank of Argentina in the next six months, possibly along with the new 50 peso note which was unveiled some time ago.


Steven Dinsdag 24 Juni 2014 at 07:45 am | | news | Geen reacties
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RBS to issue commemorative hybrid note in Scotland

Just after the news that Scotland will issue the first British polymer banknote next year, the Scots have another novelty with the introduction of the first hybrid banknote in Europe. This time the Royal Bank of Scotland has the honour with a commemorative 5 pound note celebrating the Ryder Cup.

The prestigious golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States will take place at Gleneagles in Perthshire from 23-28 September. The memento will be is on sale online as part of official Ryder Cup commemorative packages, which cost £20. The notes will not be in general circulation, however they will be legal currency.

The bank note will be printed on hybrid paper, a mix of traditional cotton paper and polyester plastic materials, which should make it more durable and resistant to staining. On the front of the note, the design includes a see-through window in the shape of The Ryder Cup. The banknote will be the first to contain the signature of new RBS chief executive Ross McEwan. The banknote is printed by Giesecke and Devrient.


Steven Dinsdag 17 Juni 2014 at 08:34 am | | news | Geen reacties

Somalia still in doubt over new banknotes

Last January I wrote an article on the new Somali banknotes and why they were postponed. Today I read some news on these new notes on Raxanreeb.com. It seems the new notes could still be issued. Right now the Somali government (or what's left of it) is in talks with the IMF on the introduction of new notes or a whole new currency. It is however still unclear when the final decision will be taken.

Steven Zondag 15 Juni 2014 at 6:08 pm | | news | Geen reacties
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Croatia issues commemorative note

While Croatia is licking its wounds after being screwed by the Japanese referee defeated by Brazil last night at the World Cup 2014, the National Bank of Croatia has issued a new commemorative note on 30 May 2014. The 20 kuna note commemorates the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the Croatian currency kuna and lipa.

On the commemorative motif: "on the left side of the banknote, at the position of the watermark with the portrait of Josip Jelacic, the microtext "DVADESETA OBLJETNICA HRVATSKOGA NOVCA KUNE I LIPE 2014." runs in thirty-four continuous vertical lines, creating a rectangle with some letters and numbers bolded to form number "20" and the inscription "OBLJETNICA" printed in iridescent colour in three lines over the rectangular base; the dominant colour of the background is reddish violet."

Via

Update: the National Bank also has a commemorative set for sale with the 10 and 20 kuna banknotes!

Steven Vrijdag 13 Juni 2014 at 09:32 am | | news | Geen reacties
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New additions week 24 - 2014

Recently I wrote an article about the Mujand Trading Company which designs and produces fantasy banknotes. These are not just banknotes with a nice design but they are part of a whole story and mythology centering around the planet Blissdane where several 'countries' exist. Three sets have been issues so far and four more will be issued in the future.

I was so lucky to receive a package this week with the complete set of Series C in it from the Kuninganna Territory. It really showed why I like these particular sets of fantasy banknotes. This set of notes is completely different from the Series B I recently received in terms of design, paper and overall feel and look. The notes reminded me of the white notes the Bank of England issued in the first half of the 20th century. Considering the 'country' which issued these fantasy banknotes has a monarchal history, this may not be a coincidence: the notes honour the myhical queen Anya Qesh whose story you can read here.

If you're interested in buying this set or other sets, please visit the Mujand Trading Company website.


Steven Vrijdag 13 Juni 2014 at 08:55 am | | new additions | Geen reacties
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Vanuatu introduces new polymer series

The Central Bank of the island state of Vanuatu has introduced three new banknotes for a new polymer series according to this article in the local Daily Post. The switch to polymer has been made mainly due to the humid climate and to prevent counterfeiting. The first three notes which have been issued are the 200 vatu (themed family), 1,000 vatu (themed agriculture) and 2,000 vatu (themed flora and fauna). The notes of 500 and 5,000 vatu are planned to be issued in the next two to three years. The new series is produced by the french company Oberthur on a polymer substrate from Innovia from Australia.

I haven't been able to find pictures of the new notes yet but they will follow soon I hope.

Steven Woensdag 11 Juni 2014 at 08:58 am | | news | Geen reacties
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Lithuania might adopt the euro in 2015

On the 1st of January this year Latvia became the 18th country to adopt the euro. Its neigbor Lithuania is poised to be the 19th euro nation, maybe even as soon as 2015.

The European Commission has issued a press release following an investigation into the readiness of eight countries to join the euro. Out of those eight (Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Sweden and Lithuania) only Lithuania meets the criteria for joining.

The Commission is therefore proposing that the EU Council of Ministers decide that Lithuania can adopt the euro on 1 January 2015. The Council will take the final decision on the matter in the second half of July, after EU Heads of State and Government have discussed the subject at the 26-27 June European Council, and after the European Parliament has given its opinion.

Steven Dinsdag 10 Juni 2014 at 08:16 am | | news | Geen reacties
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UAE to add Braille to its banknotes

The Khaleej Times reports that the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates has announced they will issue banknotes with Braille numerical edges as an aid to blind people. "The move is in response to a tweet posted last month by the UAE Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in which he urged the central bank to use Braille in the UAE’s banknotes." All denominations of banknotes shall soon be printed with special Braille edges.A date of issue hasn't been named yet: first the best design of this new feature will be chosen.

Steven Dinsdag 03 Juni 2014 at 09:35 am | | news | Geen reacties
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