Ukraine issues commemorative souvenir note

The National Bank of Ukraine has issued a new numismatic product commemorating the first kosmonaut of independent Ukraine Leonid Kadenyuk (1951-2018). The banknote is a souvenir note and can't be used as payment. 

From the press release: The main image of the obverse of the souvenir banknote is a portrait of Leonid Kadenyuk, above which is the inscription - THE FIRST COSMONAUT OF UKRAINE; logo of the State Space Agency of Ukraine (right); under the portrait there are inscriptions: LEONID KADENIUK / 1951 LEONID 2018 / KADENIUK; to the left of the inscriptions - the element SPARK in the form of a globe that has a kinetic effect; bottom left on the background of the molecular structure - a stylized image of the plant; small State Emblem of Ukraine, over which the inscription UKRAINE and the flag of Ukraine (under the inscription KADENYUK); under the coat of arms - the number 1 (ie the first) and the image of the spacecraft; below the inscriptions: NATIONAL BANK OF UKRAINE; in the lower right corner of the banknote - an element made of optically variable paint (when changing the angle of the banknote, the color of the image changes from gold to green). Along the lower edge of the inscription LEONID KADENYUK,

The main image of the reverse side - the spacecraft "Colombia" against the background of the planets of the solar system; above it the inscriptions THE FIRST ASTRONAUT OF UKRAINE; on the right - number 1 and the image of the spaceship; inscriptions: 1997 (under the rocket), 2020 (below); bottom right vertically: the serial number of the banknote and the inscription - IS NOT A PAYMENT. Along the lower edge of the inscription LEONID KADENYUK, repeated six times.

The size of the note is 80×170 mm and 50,000 pieces have been issued (including 40,000 in a souvenir package). 

Mexico issues new 1000-pesos banknote

The Banco de México has also issued a new 1,000-pesos banknote according to this press release. The new note measures 153x65 mm and shows the historical process of the Mexican Revolution. This is represented with the figures of President Francisco I. Madero, Hermila Galindo and Carmen Serdán, driving forces of the revolutionary ideals of democracy, equality and justice. These figures are accompanied by an image of a locomotive, the revolutionaries’ main means of transportation.

The back of the note shows the rainforest ecosystem represented with the jaguar and the ceiba and zapote trees, in the Ancient Mayan City and protected tropical forests of Calakmul, in the state of Campeche. Calakmul has been recognized as a natural and cultural world heritage site by UNESCO.

Mexico issues new 100-pesos banknote

The Banco de México announced a new family of banknotes back in 2018. On 13 November 2020 the new 100-pesos note has been issued. The note symbolizes the Colonial Era. It features Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, a Monarch butterfly and Pine and holm trees. This beautiful new note is printed on polymer substrate.

Costa Rica announces last two polymer notes for 2021

The Banco Central de Costa Rica announced new 2,000-, 5,000-, and 20,000-colon notes earlier this year.

Now new 1,000- and 10,000-colon notes have also been announced. They will be issued at some moment in 2021. 

Ethiopia issues new banknotes

The National Bank of Ethiopia has issued new 10-, 50-, 100- and 200-birr banknotes. The 5-birr note will be replaced by a coin. "The currency change is aimed at gathering currency circulating informally and outside of financial institutions; curb corruption and contraband and support financial institutions confront currency shortage."

ANother interesting piece from the press release: "While Ethiopia has never had a symbol to represent its currency, a new symbol has been designed and will be soon unveiled to symbolize the Birr."

Czech Republic shows new commemorative note

Back in 2019 I wrote that the Czech National Bank announced it would issue a new commemoratove banknote in 2022. The note will feature a portrait of Karel Engliš (1880 - 1961), the most important financier of the First Republic. 

Engliš was the first rector of Masaryk University in Brno and from 1947 to 1948 rector of Charles University in Prague. Together with Alois Rašín (who featured the first commemorative Czech banknote), he was instrumental in the Czechoslovak currency reform after the First World War as Minister of Finance. From 1934 to 1938 he was governor of the Czechoslovak National Bank.

Now in November 2020 the design of this new note has been chosen. A total of 20,000 notes will be sold at a premium in folders.

Saudi Arabia issues commemorative 20-riyals note

The Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority has issued a commemorative 20-riyal banknote commemorating the G20-summit which will be held from 21-22 November. 

Controversy has broken out regarding the back of the note. Both India and Pakistan claim the world map doesn't represent the true territory of their country. You guessed it: this is about Kashmir. The fact that world leaders chose a country like Saudi Arabia to discuss important financial topics might be a more interesting topic, but that's just my opinion.