Canada completes its polymer series (UPDATE!)

With the issuing of the new 5 and 10 dollars notes today the Bank of Canada has completed its beautiful new polymer series. The new notes were announced earlier this year on 30 april with a presentation from the International Space Station where commander Chris Hadfield showed the new 5 dollar note with its space theme. The 10 dollar note shows the image of a train and symbolizes the joining of the east and west of Canada by rail.

An interesting detail is that despite rumours the signature on both notes is still of the former Governor of the Bank of Canada M.J. Carney and not the current Governor S. Poloz. 

Update: Well, it goes to show that you never really can tell what a banknote will look like before you actually have one in your hand. Banknotenews.com has one and what does it tell us? There actually IS a signature of Stephen Poloz on the 5 dollar note (as predicted)! The Bank of Canada however continues to show a note with the signature of Mark Carney on its site. Does that perhaps mean there are two signature varieties on the market? Picture below is from Banknotenews.com:

© banknotenews.com

5 dollar

© Bank of Canada
© Bank of Canada

Portrait: Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Prime Minister from 1896 to 1911
Signatures: T. Macklem, S Poloz
Size: 152.4 x 69.85 mm

10 dollar

© Bank of Canada
© Bank of Canada

Portrait: Sir John A. Macdonald, Prime Minister from 1867–1873 and 1878–1891
Signatures: T. Macklem, M. J. Carney
Size: 152.4 x 69.85 mm

The complete new polymer series

© Bank of Canada

Steven Donderdag 07 November 2013 at 08:15 am | | news | Geen reacties
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South Africa issues update with new security feature

The South African Reserve Bank has issued an update of its current series of banknotes which was introduced last year. To mark the first anniversary of the release of the new series with the image of Nelson Mandela there has been an update in the design. A new security feature has been added on the front and the back of all the notes in the form of "tiny dots".

These dots are actually called an EURion constellation and were invented by the Japanese Omron Corporation. It consists of a pattern of five small circles, which is repeated across areas of the banknote at different orientations. Photocopiers can recognize these patterns and will give a warning or even refuse to copy the banknote. The security feature is widely used on banknotes like the euro, the US dollar and many others.

"Enhancing features on banknotes is an on-going process to maintain the highest level of quality and security. This is in line with international best practice," explained SARB Governor Gill Marcus.

The updated notes will be released from today, 6 November. The old design notes will remain legal tender and continue to circulate.

Old note:

New note with detail of the new feature:

Steven Woensdag 06 November 2013 at 08:22 am | | news | Geen reacties
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Canada lacks women on their banknotes

After the turmoil in the United Kingdom with the presumed absence of women on their banknotes (which was corrected when the Bank of England announced Jane Austen would be on the next 10 pound note), it seems Canada is the new target of angry women. With the introduction of the new 5 and 10 dollar next Thursday, the new polymer series is complete but has no recognizable women on the notes (except for the Queen of course).

The Governor of the Bank of Canada Stephen Poloz has said that he thinks the argument is valid and should be looked into in the future when the current series will be replaced. However, that could take a decade or longer. He did receive 22,000 signatures urging him to reconsider.

Another interesting fact from the news article is that the signature of Poloz will be on the new 5 dollar note. The 10 dollar note probably still has the signature of his predecessor Mark Carney.

Steven Dinsdag 05 November 2013 at 11:24 am | | news | Geen reacties
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Angry Spanish messages found on banknotes

So apparently the Spanish have found a new way to show their disaproval of politics and the banks. More and more banknotes are circulating with angry messages written on them. An innovative way to spread your message but bad news for us collectors, I guess.

Update: Tunisians also use this form of protest it seems.

Steven Dinsdag 05 November 2013 at 11:15 am | | fun | Geen reacties
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Kickstarter project: the 2 dollar bill documentary

At Kickstarter a new project is trying to gather funds: a documentary about the US 2 dollar banknote. As a European I never realize this but apparently this banknote is quite fascinating. Some ignorant shop owners have even turned customers away believing the note to be fake! Well, John Bennardo is also fascinated by them and wants to make a documentary about the note.

Still 5 days to get to the goal of $18,200!

Steven Maandag 04 November 2013 at 09:22 am | | fun | Geen reacties
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Papua New Guinea issues new commemorative notes

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Bank of Papua New Guinea, it was announced that today two new commemorative notes of 2 and 100 kina will be issued.

The design of the new notes will be te same as the regular 2 and 100 kina but a seal will be added to the front of the note commemorating the occassion. Below is a video of the presentation of the two new notes.

The regular 2 and 100 kina:


Steven Maandag 04 November 2013 at 09:08 am | | news | Geen reacties
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Russian snowboarder appears to be from a stockphoto

Yesterday the Russian Central Bank officially presented the commemorative banknote of 100 rubles commemorating the Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014. The front of the note shows the image of a snowboarder jumping in the air. The designer of the note, design student Paul Bushuev, said the image represented something new, youthful and modern.

Some bloggers however may have discovered the origin of the image. It wasn't designed by Bushuev himself but was taken from a free stockphoto site. The same image has also been used in an (oh sweet irony) online photoshop course and an advertisement for backpacks.

Paul Bushuev won the competition for designing the new note and was awarded 30,000 rubles (about 690 euro).

© volkskrant.nl

Steven Vrijdag 01 November 2013 at 12:50 pm | | news | Geen reacties
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Pakistan to phase out old 50 and 1000 rupees notes

The State Bank of Pakistan has announced (PDF) it will phase out the old design 50 and 1000 rupees notes. The 50 rupees note was first issued in 1977 and the 1000 rupees in 1987.

The notes will remain legal tender after 1 November but the bank will stop issuing them from 1 November 2013.

50 rupees (1977)

© banknoteworld.com
© banknoteworld.com

1000 rupees (1987)

© banknoteworld.com
© banknoteworld.com

Steven Donderdag 31 Oktober 2013 at 08:16 am | | news | Geen reacties
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Russia presents its Olympic commemorative banknote

With just 100 days to go until the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia has started the celebrations with events throughout the country. Russia's Central Bank has officially presented the new commemorative banknote as part of the celebrations. The design for the new note was already unveiled in March of this year.

Twenty-million of the blue 100 ruble notes will be produced, with a vertical design depicting a snowboarder and several of the venues in the Sochi Olympic Park.

Update: new image of the note taken from the official site. Note appears to be much more blue than in previous published photos.

Steven Woensdag 30 Oktober 2013 at 4:42 pm | | news | Geen reacties
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Libya denies rumours of hidden symbols

The Central Bank of Libya (CBL) has denied rumours that hidden symbols, like the Jewish Star of David, can be found on the new 10 dinar note. The allegations were made by Congressman Tuati Al-Aidha on a local tv channel.

After the revolution, the CBL decided to make some changes to the 10 dinar banknote. Without altering specifications or security features, the  term "Jamahiriya" was removed and the star and the crescent of independence were  added.

picture from ebanknoteshop.com

Steven Woensdag 30 Oktober 2013 at 10:21 am | | news | Geen reacties
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Was the new $100 note designed in Word?

LOL, discover how President Obama designed the new 100 dollar banknote... in Word! (after the click)

Read More

Steven Woensdag 30 Oktober 2013 at 08:45 am | | fun | Geen reacties
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Dominican Republic issues new 200 pesos dominicanos

MRI Bankers' guide reports that the first notes of 200 pesos dominicanos have been released by the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic. This move follows the decision made in 2010 that all banknotes dated 2011 will be denominated pesos dominicanos instead of the old name pesos oro.

The old pesos oro notes will remain valid and in circulation until all the old notes are replaced with the new ones. In the last series of banknotes the denominations of 100, 500, 1000 and 2000 pesos dominicanos have already been issued. With the issuing of the new 200 pesos dominicanos note only the 10, 20 and 50 pesos oro remain to be replaced.

Update: here is an image of the new note.

A video showing the new note: 

Steven Woensdag 30 Oktober 2013 at 08:26 am | | news | Geen reacties
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New additions week 43 - 2013

Two new notes this week which I found in the Big Pile of Rubbish-box at the local coin dealer. Though most of the items in this box are nothing more than toilet paper, I always manage to find something I still want.

  • German Empire, 50 Mark - P41
  • Germany Weimar Republic, 10 Mark - P67a1

Steven Vrijdag 25 Oktober 2013 at 09:02 am | | new additions | Geen reacties

Video: how many countries are there?

Every collector of banknotes who tries to get one note from every country has asked himself this question: just how many countries are there? Or in the case of us collectors: how many countries have there ever been who have issued paper money? The answer to the last question could be 361 according to some lists. Here's my list.

This however depends on your definition of what a country is. The Youtube channel CGPGrey (recommanded for a subscription!) has researched this question and made an entertaining video about it. 

Steven Vrijdag 25 Oktober 2013 at 08:44 am | | links | Geen reacties
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Maldives issues new 100 rufiyaa banknote

The Maldives Monetary Authority has announced the introduction of a new 100 rufiyaa banknote. The new note has updated security features compared to the last print of 100 rufiyaa banknotes in 2004. The old 100 rufiyaa notes will remain legal tender.

The new security features include:

  • a corner watermark with aslant lines on each corner of the note
  • a watermark highlight with the value 100 appearing in an additional bright watermark
  • a 3mm wide security thread with a "100 MMA" decorative pattern running continuously which changes colour from red to green according to the viewing angle
  • a new date and signature dated 20 Safar 1434, 2 January 2013 signed by Governor Dr Fazeel Najeeb.

The official presentation video after the click.

Read More

Steven Woensdag 23 Oktober 2013 at 09:43 am | | news | Geen reacties
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