Venezuela is dealing with extreme inflation causing the Venezuelans to have to carry around enormous amounts of cash when they want to buy something. This has prompted the government to issue new banknotes at the end on 2015 (after the elections on 6 December). The new notes will be of 500 and possibly 1,000 bolivars.
Some news from Gibraltar is a nice opportunity to display their nice flag for the first time. Banknotenews reports that the tiny rock at the entrance of the Mediterranean Sea will issue a new banknote in the first half of 2016 August 2016. From banknotenews:
"The [100-pound] note will be dated 21 August 2015, the centenary of the birth of Sir Joshua Hassan. Nicknamed "Salvador" (Saviour), Sir Joshua was chief minister for a total of 22 years and is credited as being the most important architect of Gibraltar’s move towards self-determination. The design of this, the first 100-pound note ever to be printed on polymer substrate, carries a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on one side and a portrait of Sir Joshua on the other."
Here's an image of the new note and it looks pretty purple or pink. Luckily they used a better picture of the man than the one on wikipedia.
Update 31-7-2016: the latetst news is that this note will be issued in September according to the Treasury Department of Gibraltar.
Rejoice, workers of the world! For the Mujand Trading Company has released a second set of banknotes from the Kuninganna Territory inspired by the glory of socialism. OK, I can hardly say these words without laughing a little because we've seen plenty of the socialistic wonders in the 20th century.
But the new set from Mujand is certainly no joke. We already had the first set which was reminiscent of the famous British notes of the past, but the story of the Kuninganna Territory continues and they have to face the 'joy' of a socialist leadership. The new set of banknotes reflect that perfectly with the same kind of images we have seen from nations like Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, North-Korea and Romania with happy well-fed people doing all different kinds of hard labour on the land with a smile on their face. The theme for this new set is the Harvest Maven who is pictured on the front of the notes. The back shows different people harvesting.
The mood from the notes is spot-on as far as I'm concerned because you can feel the show (or charade) which is being put on by the 'regime' and the impending and inevitable doom which always follows.
The Mujand Trading Company doesn't just print fantasy banknotes, they have designed several series belonging to different 'countries' on the planet Blissdane Naïve in the Mujand System. There is a whole mythology behind the notes, the different countries and even time periods. Sets are available exclusively via eBay at the store of Yuri111.
Pictures of the new set:
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has issued 6 new notes on 20 AUgust 2015 commemorating the 50th anniversary of Singapore. The set contains a $50 polymer note and five $10 polymer notes. From the press release: "The note designs drew inspiration from significant milestones and achievements in Singapore’s history, the multiracialism that defines us as a nation, and the values and aspirations that underpin Singapore’s progress. The front of both the $50 and $10 notes feature the portrait of Mr Yusof Ishak, Singapore’s first President, as in the current Portrait series notes.
The $50 note highlights Singapore’s history, transformation and future. It shows the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s first Prime Minister, shouting "Merdeka!" – the rallying cry of our independence struggle. The note makes distinctive use of the colour gold, reflecting Singapore’s Golden Jubilee.
The five $10 notes have a common front design and varying back designs depicting the theme ‘Vibrant Nation, Endearing Home’. Each note reflects a value or aspiration that defines this theme:
Both the $50 and $10 notes have security features that are the first of their kind in the world to be used on a currency note. The security stripe on the $50 note has a unique see-through feature with “image movement effects” that create depth to the image of Mr Lee Kuan Yew. The SG50 logo has “colour-switching effects”, with the year flipping from ‘1965’ to ‘2015’. The $10 notes have a security stripe with a “switching effect” which features the Singapore Coat of Arms, SG50 logo and the years ‘1965’ and ‘2015’.
The SG50 commemorative notes were designed by four local artists and designers, namely Mr Chua Mia Tee, Mr Eng Siak Loy, Mr Weng Ziyan and Mr Fabian Lim.
The public can exchange the SG50 commemorative notes at face value at branches of nine major retail banks from 20 August 2015 onwards. (...) A total of 20 million pieces of the $50 notes and 75 million pieces of $10 notes - 15 million pieces of each design - are being printed.(....) From 1 October 2015 onwards, the SG50 notes will be made available to non-Singaporeans as well.
50 dollar:
10 dollar (with the different backs):
"Opportunities for All"
"Safe and Secure"
"Safe and Secure" 
"Caring Community, Active Citizenry"
One of my favourite countries in my collection is issuing a new banknote today. The Bank of Thailand has released this press release:
The design is to glorify His Majesty King Chulalongkorn for his incomparable contributions to the country. The new banknote has been enhanced with security features to facilitate authentication by machine as well as the general public, including the visually impaired. The color and size of this new 1000-Baht remains unchanged; which is brown in color and 72 x 162 mm in size. Highlights of the security features are:
The new 1000-Baht banknote can be exchanged at every commercial bank across the country. The existing and the previous series of 1000-Baht banknote remain legal tender.
I'm curious what the new note will look like in real life, because the color below isn't very appealing to be honest.
Switzerland has had its fair share of troubles and delays when it comes to its new banknote series. Which is really a shame because its new series is going to look spectacular (though maybe not as spectacular as the winning design).
But there seems to be glowing some light at the end of the tunnel under the Swiss alps. The Swiss National Bank has issued a press release stating that: "In April 2016, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) will begin issuing the new Swiss banknotes. The first denomination to be released will be the 50-franc note; the release of the 20-franc note is planned for the following year. The remaining banknotes will be issued subsequently at half-yearly or yearly intervals. The SNB will announce each new issue date well in advance. The issuing of the entire new series is scheduled to be completed by 2019."
After the recent news on the commemorative note commemorating the 1,050th anniversary of Poland, we get a new commemorative note next week! The Narodowy Bank Polski (National Bank of Poland) has announced that a commemorative banknote of 20 zlotych will be issued on 24 August 2015.
The new note commemorates the 600th anniversary of the birth of Jan D?ugosz (priest, chronicler, diplomat, soldier, and secretary to Bishop Zbigniew Ole?nicki of Kraków). A total of 30,000 numismatic pieces will be available to the public.
The new note features a QRC-symbol on the front which, when scanned with a mobile phone for instance, will take you you to an informative website about the note.
The People's Bank of China has announced on 10 August 2015 that a new 100-yuan note will be issued.
The new notes, which will be issued from 12 November 2015, will have several next-generation security features. The rest of the design of the new banknote will stay largely the same as the the 2005 series. The 100-yuan note is the largest denomination of the Chinese currency. The old version of the 100-yuan note will stay in circulation following the new edition, the PBOC added.
After a small vacation in sunny Turkey with no updates at all, I'm now back! :)
More local currency news after the announcement of the Exeter pounds. The city of Brixton has has its share of experience with its own local currency for the past five years. To celebrate this fact, artist Jeremy Deller has designed a special new 5-pound note. The result is... interesting...? 
From the Exeter Express & Echo:
The full set of Exeter Pound notes have been revealed as the countdown continues to the local currency’s launch in September.
Those behind the scheme are looking forward to taking delivery of the notes, which are being printed by specialist firm Orion in Derby.
Among them is a limited edition £E15 souvenir note commemorating the city’s hosting of Rugby World Cup games, featuring Exeter Chiefs and England star Jack Nowell, which will be available for just three months.
Each of the notes – chosen after a design competition involving people who live, work or study in Exeter – can be spent in a variety of independent businesses in the city which have signed up to the scheme.
They will also be accepted by the city council as payment for bills and charges.
And there is still time for traders to get involved before the local currency is launched on Cathedral Green at 11am on Tuesday, September 1.
Shoppers will be able to swap their sterling for Exeter Pound notes at four exchange points; the Tourist Information Centres in Dix’s Field and at the Custom House on the Quay, Sancho’s Dress in Fore Street, and the Exeter Phoenix.
The notes will come with a number of security features to guard against forgery.
They are printed on tear resistant security watermark paper with a distinct diamond pattern and invisible red and blue UV fibres incorporated into the paper.
Each note value is printed with a full colour design and special fluorescent colour which glows brightly under UV light.
And each denomination of note has a unique hologram shape: a giraffe on the £E1, a football on the £E5, a phoenix on the £E10, a rugby ball on the £E15 and a tree on the £E20.
The phoenix on the £E5 is on the front of Exeter Phoenix and the horse chestnut on £E20 is on Cathedral Green, while the giraffe represents Gerald, one of the most popular exhibits at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum.
Exeter Pound project worker Ian Martin said: "We are signing up several businesses a day at the moment and we’re confident that we’ll have 100 Exeter businesses on board by launch day."
"The paper notes, which will each have eight security markers including gold foil, feature Exeter people and places, past and present, real and imaginary, and were created using the talent of local artists. They will be in circulation for three years."
"People can have a look at the notes which will be going on display at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter from early August."
Mr Martin added: "There are several elements to the scheme. One is to keep more money within the Exeter economy. If people spend money in a local independent business, £1.73 comes back into the local economy. But for every £1 spent in a multiple shop, only 35p comes back."
"By spending Exeter Pounds, instead of profits leaving the city, more money will circulate in Exeter."
The Narodowy Bank Polski (National Bank of Poland) has announced that a commemorative banknote of 20 zlotych will be issued in April 2016. In total 30,000 pieces of the new note will be available to the public.
The new note will commemorate the fact that 1,050 years ago in 966 AD Mieszko I (who ruled a territory roughly that of present-day Poland) converted to Christianity. This is supposed to be the founding of the Polish state. Perhaps we will get an image of Mieszko I on this banknote?
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