Final two Vanuatu notes expected mid 2017

The island state of Vanuatu is in the process of switching to a new family of banknotes. The first new notes of 200-, 1,000- and 2,000-vatu have already been issued. The 500- and 5,000-vatu notes would follow in the future. 

MRI Bankers' Guide now reports that the tender process is about to be completed and the new notes are expected to be issued mid 2017. The new series is produced by the french company Oberthur on a polymer substrate from Innovia from Australia.

Steven Zondag 28 Augustus 2016 at 10:37 am | | news | Geen reacties
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Gibraltar reveals new 100-pound commemorative note

As previously announced Gibraltar will issue a commemorative 100-pound banknote honouring Sir Joshua Hassan in September. The final design has now been revealed to the world and I must say, it looks pretty nice.

From Your Gibraltar TV: "The new polymer banknotes have been produced by De La Rue and printed on Safeguard® substrate. The design will be similar to the existing paper banknote but with a large clear window showing a hologram which can be seen from both the front and back of the note and which will be highly reflective, showing images of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the letter G for Gibraltar.

Using Advanced Image Plane holography, the hologram on the note will offer high levels of security against counterfeiting whilst simultaneously showcasing all the clarity, colour, movement and true depth achievable on a polymer substrate."

The new note will be issued in September 2016. 

Steven Zondag 28 Augustus 2016 at 10:20 am | | news | Geen reacties
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Ukraine presents new commemorative banknote

The National Bank of Ukraine has announced a new commemorative note of 20 hryvnia to be issued from 1 September 2016. The new note commemorates the 160th birthday of Ukrainian poet and writer Ivan Franko. It has a portrait of him on the front and the Lviv opera house on the back.

A total of 1 million notes will be issued with 20,000 pieces sold in a special folder as a numismatic product. The new notes have Ukrainian flax added for cost reduction and to strengthen the notes. Flax is also used to make linen for instance and linseed oil.

After the click you can find a video (in Ukrainian) from the presentation of the new note.

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Steven Zondag 28 Augustus 2016 at 09:54 am | | news | Geen reacties
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Cold-war banknotes in the event 'they' had won

What would have happened if the Cold War had turned into a Hot War and the armed forces of the Warsaw Pact would have steamrolled into Western Europe? More precisely and on-topic: what kind of banknotes would I have used living in the Netherlands?

I love to ponder these 'what if'-questions, to explore the road not taken. Luckily sometimes we get a glimpse of that alternative universe. The Narodowy Bank Polski (National Bank of Poland) has for the first time made public what banknotes would've been in our pockets if countries like Denmark, the Netherlands and West-Germany would have been captured by the Warsaw Pact. Surprisingly they would have been Polish!

"Codenamed E-17, the crisp notes were issued in the 1970s and kept locked in chests deep in the bowels of Poland’s central bank. They were classified as top secret until 2015. (...) Emblazoned with the skylines of several Polish cities, the notes range in value from one to 2,000 zloty and will be on public display at the national mint in Warsaw as of next year."

I am very glad these events haven't come to pass... But then again, from a historical and numismatical perspective, how cool are these notes?!

Steven Woensdag 24 Augustus 2016 at 1:09 pm | | links | Geen reacties
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Colombia to issue new 50,000-pesos note

The Banco de la República in Colombia has announced that from 19 August 2016 the new banknote of 50,000-pesos will be issued. The new note has the image of Colombia writer Gabriel García Márquez on it. Two images in fact: one close-up and one standing with butterflies. The back shows two standing native people, Ciudad Perdida (an ancient city in Colombia's Sierra Nevada) and a nautilus shell. 

This is a note I was really looking forward to. The final design however is somewhat disappointing to be honest. It feels a bit empty. With all the themes in Márquez' books I think the banknote could've been much more interesting. It feels a little unfinished now. 


Steven Zaterdag 13 Augustus 2016 at 5:30 pm | | news | Geen reacties
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Thailand to issue commemorative 500-baht note

The Bank of Thailand has issued a press release announcing a new commemorative banknote. Thailand has A LOT of commemorative notes already but I'm not complaining as I am quite a fan of their banknote design. And this is another beauty.

This 500-baht banknote commemorates the 7th cycle birthday anniversary of Queen Sirikit of Thailand (12 August 1932). From the press release:

"The color, size, and the image on the front side of this 500-Baht commemorative banknote are identical to the 16th series of 500-Baht banknote.

The main element on the reverse side depicts the portrait of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit in Thai Boromphiman costume. Other elements include the Royal family image, Her Majesty with the Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Center products, the Royal Emblem, Khon performance, Lygodium products, and the flowers named after Her Majesty, which are Queen Sirikit Cattleya and Queen Sirikit Rose.

The special feature for this 500-Baht commemorative banknote is located on the reverse side. The radial pattern behind the portrait of Her Majesty and Queen Sirikit Rose will illuminate yellow when viewing [sic] under ultraviolet light."

Exactly 20 million pieces of the new note will be issued on 11 August 2016.

Steven Woensdag 03 Augustus 2016 at 12:59 pm | | news | Geen reacties
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