The People's Bank of China has announced that from 30 August 2019 an upgraded version of the current series of banknotes will be issued to the public.
The upgrades include redrawn vignettes, the year 2019, enhanced anti-counterfeiting features including denomination as registration device and additional Omron rings on all denominations, windowed security threads, denomination in SPARK and vertical serial numbers at the right front of the notes except for the 1-yuan note.
In September 2018 the Board of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarusannounced the modification of the existing banknotes. With the latest press release from 30 April the date to issue the new 5- and 10-ruble notes has been set for 20 May 2019.
The new notes look like the current notes with some changes: the date is 2019, there are no signatures, there is an additional watermark and wider security threads.
The new note shows the familiar portrait of Mahatma Gandhi on the front. The note has the Ellora Caves on the reverse, depicting the country's cultural heritage. The base colour of the note is greenish yellow.
"The design features a yellowfin tuna and a traditional fishing hook on the front of the note to signal the importance of sustainability. On the reverse side, a traditional spearfishing scene that highlights the need to preserve and promote community activity as we move into the future is depicted. The theme for the new $5 dollar note focuses on creating a sustainable and responsible fishing industry to provide long-term economic security for the nation, as well as the importance of community and social cohesion."
Last year I wrote that the Centrale Bank van Aruba was planning to issue a new family of banknotes in 2020. It turns out that we will see that new series a lot sooner. According to this press release the new notes will be presented on 2 May 2019 and the introduction to the public has been planned for June 2019.
Nice work from my fellow countrymen (yes, that is true....sort of. Go watch this video)!
The Bank of Canadawins the award for Banknote of the Year 2018! The 10-dollar note featuring Viola Desmond (1914-1965) wins the trophy which was won by Switzerland in 2016 and 2017. No complaints here since this note was also my pick for the award (I actually nominated the note but IBNS International denied the entry because somebody beat me to it...).
A quick overview of the winning note: "The back of the $10 bank note features images and symbols that represent Canada’s ongoing pursuit of rights and freedoms. It features the Canadian Museum for Human Rights—the first museum in the world solely dedicated to the evolution, celebration and future of human rights. Also depicted on the note are an eagle feather—representing the ongoing journey toward recognizing rights and freedoms for Indigenous Peoples in Canada—and an excerpt from the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms."
In Macau the Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU) and the Bank of China will both introduce a commemorative banknote of 20-petaca celebrating the 20th anniversary of the return of Macau to China.
There will be 5 million banknotes available, starting from the second half of 2019.
Updte 26-10-2019: both banknotes have been issued at this moment.
According to an article in Japan Today, Japan will issue three new banknotes in the first half of 2024.
"The new ¥10,000 bill will feature Eiichi Shibusawa (1840-1931), a banker and business leader dubbed “the father of Japanese capitalism.” Shibusawa played a key role in modernizing the Japanese economy, Aso said. The back side of the bill will feature an illustration of the Marunouchi side of Tokyo Station.
The ¥5,000 bill will feature Umeko Tsuda (1864-1929), the founder of Tsuda University in Tokyo, who studied in the U.S. and became a pioneer in the education of Japanese women in early 20th century. The back side will feature an illustration of wisteria flowers.
The ¥1,000 bill will feature Shibasaburo Kitasato (1853-1931), a bacteriologist who helped build the foundation for modern medical science in Japan. The opposite side will feature “The Great Wave off Kanagawa,” the famous woodblock print by ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai.
A portrait on the new bills will be rendered as a 3D hologram, which the Finance Ministry said is a world first for currency.
Aso said the government will not redesign the ¥2,000 bill because the number of bills in circulation “is extremely small.”
The announcement follows Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga’s April 1 announcement that the new Imperial era, set to begin on May 1 when Crown Prince Naruhito ascends to the Chrysanthemum Throne, will be called Reiwa. Emperor Akihito is set to abdicate on April 30.
Some government officials welcomed the timing of the announcement to coincide with the change in era, but Aso told a news conference that the era change was not the main factor. Japan changes the designs of the three bills to prevent counterfeiting about every 20 years, Aso said.
“We didn’t pay much attention to the announcement of the era name,” Aso said.
The last time Japan introduced new bill designs was 2004, a change announced in 2002.
In the first part of fiscal 2021, the ministry will also introduce a new ¥500 coin with the same design but using new materials.
According to the Finance Ministry, about 9.97 billion ¥10,000 bank notes were in circulation in fiscal 2018, along with 660 million ¥5,000 bills, 100 million ¥2,000 bills and 4.2 billion ¥1,000 bills.
Older bills will remain valid, but the ministry expects that most will be replaced in the three to four years after 2024, officials said.
The current ¥10,000 bill features Yukichi Fukuzawa (1835-1901), an intellectual leader of the Meiji Era who founded Keio University in Tokyo. Fukuzawa was featured on the ¥10,000 bill introduced in 1984 and remained the face of the bill in the 2004 redesign, meaning the upcoming change will be the bill’s first in 40 years.
On the front side of the current ¥5,000 bill is writer and poet Ichiyo Higuchi (1872-1896), and the current ¥1,000 bill features medical scientist Hideyo Noguchi (1876-1928).
In 1984, the government decided not to feature any politicians or military leaders on bank notes to maintain political neutrality. Figures for the main portraits are chosen from among cultural figures of the Meiji Era or later."
The Bank of Ghana has announced that on 6 May 2019 updated notes will be issued to the public. From the press release:
"The upgraded banknotes will have enhanced security features in line with evolving changes in the technological landscape. The upgraded banknotes also come with improved durability and machine readability. The enhanced security features are:
Optically Variable Magnetic Image (SPARK LIVE): It is a shiny colour-changing image of the cowrie shell on the GH₵10, star on the GH₵20 and cocoa pod on the GH₵50. When the note is tilted, a shiny line across the cowrie shell, star, and cocoa pod moves up and down. The colour of the feature also changes from gold to green when tilted.
New Enhanced Security Thread (RAPID): It is a shiny broken line with movement that runs through the banknote from top to bottom. It is continuous when viewed against light. When the note is tilted, a star expands and contracts while the denomination value stays still.
More Prominent Watermark: It is the image of Tetteh Quarshie with a cocoa pod which has been made more noticeable in the plain star area of the banknote. It becomes visible on both sides when viewed against light. The denomination value can also be seen in the watermark area.
Enhanced Iridescent Band at the Back of the Banknote: It is a golden band with gold bars at the back of the banknote that runs from top to bottom. It can be seen more clearly when the note is tilted against light.
The following principal design elements remain unchanged in the upgraded banknotes:
The Big Six portrait
Denominational colours
Dimensions of the various denominations
Other principal and background images
The upgraded and the existing series of banknotes will co-circulate."
What will it look like? From the press release: "Predominantly, burgundy with shades of brown, red, lavender, and yellow, the banknote measures 156 mm long and 67 mm wide bearing on the front a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, the series, and the signature of the Governor of the Central Bank of The Bahamas, together with the words "Central Bank of The Bahamas. These notes are legal tender under the Central Bank of The Bahamas Act 2000 for payment of any amount Three Dollars". A watermark of Queen Elizabeth II and numeral $3, a replica map of the islands of The Bahamas, and the denominational value in words and figures appear on the left, with an image of a Passion flower in the center.
The back features images of sail boats at sea. The images are flanked above by the numeral $3 that appears in the upper left and lower right corners, while the words "Three Dollars" are in the upper right quadrant. Just below the images of sail boats is the Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas along with the words "Central Bank of The Bahamas"."
"The key design element of the renewed 10 manat banknote has been retained (a schematic view of the Icheri Sheher and the Maiden Tower, the Azerbaijani map and European integration, a number of carpet patterns).
As for security elements, in contrast to the existing 10 manat banknote, the new banknote on the obverse has the Coat of Arms of Azerbaijan as a watermark.
On the left side there is a new hologram reflecting the Maiden Tower, moving waves and a big denomination number in color changing shimmering lines in 3D effect (LEAD). Mini letters and figures are visible in different parts of the hologram. At the same time, the front of the banknote depicts the image of part of the Icherisheher, that delivers dynamic light effects and color changing properties from green to blue (SPARK LIVE®). The tactile printings can help sight impaired persons to recognize the value of the note.
On the reverse of the banknote there is a window type new security thread with '10' and 'AMB' texts on it and color changing properties from green to blue (Rolling Star®). Also iridescent ink stripes in violet and gold reflect the '10 AZN' letters."
"The firm F + W media, a major periodical and book publisher whose titles include Numismatic News, Bank Note Reporter, and the seminal references Standard Catalog of World Coins and Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to reconcile $105.2 million in outstanding debt.
In its March 10 filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware in Wilmington, F + W Media cites just $2.5 million in cash on hand. The company plans to remain in operation while it plans liquidation of its holdings.
Company officials cite industry decline, problematic investments and corporate mismanagement as contributing factors leading F + W into bankruptcy.
The court filing identifies an estimated 1,000 to 5,000 creditors that fill 543 pages of court documents."
Will this be the end of the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money?
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) has announced it will present it's new 100-francs banknote on 3 September 2019 and it will be issued to the public from 12 September 2019. This news was mentioned in the same press release where they announced the new 1,000-francs note.
The 100-francs note will conclude the release of the ninth banknote series.
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) has announced it will start to issue its new 1,000-francs banknote from 13 March 2019. From the press release:
"The inspiration behind the new banknote series is ‘The many facets of Switzerland’. Each denomination depicts a typically Swiss characteristic, which is then illustrated graphically using a range of elements. The 1000-franc note focuses on Switzerland’s communicative flair, as expressed by language, the note’s key motif. Core design elements are the hand and the globe, which appear on every denomination in the new series.
As with the banknotes currently in circulation, the ninth series consists of six denominations; the colour scheme, too, remains the same. Accordingly, the main colour of the new 1000- franc note is purple. However, the format has been modified – the new notes are smaller and thus easier to handle. The innovative combination of complex security features and sophisticated design provides state-of-the-art anti-counterfeiting protection."
Shall we just send the Banknote of the Year Award 2019 already?
The Central Bank of Mongolia has issued a new 5,000-tögrög banknote. The new note uses "the latest technology elements. This new element is virtually impossible or too costly to imitate.
With the introduction of the 3-dimensional technology and the Spark Inkjet element, the Soyombo on the real currency will have a distinctive feature, which changes color with the movement, from the counterfeit currency."
The old 5,000-tögrög notes will remain valid. New notes of 10,000- and 20,000-tögrög will be issued later this year.
Hello, I'm Steven Bron and welcome to my blog on banknotes! Here you can find: breaking news, background articles and of course my personal collection (world notes or at least one from each country, commemorative notes and polymer notes).
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