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:
Watermark: HM King’s portrait watermark and the translucent watermark can be clearly observed by viewing the note against the light.
Color-shifting Ink with Latent Image: The color of Thai Ornament at the bottom left corner of the note will change from gold to green upon tilting, and the latent image of hidden numerals “1000” becomes visible.
Iridescent Ink: Arabic numerals “1000” and Thai patterns are printed vertically with reddish iridescent ink.
Hologram Foil Stripe: Reflective holographic foil on the right hand side of the note contains the Royal Emblem with Arabic numeral “1000” in center, switching to Thai numeral when tilting the note.
Windowed Color-shifting Security Thread with Moving-Box Animation: The special security thread on the reverse side illustrates moving-box effect and changes from magenta to green upon tilting.
Tactile Marks: seven horizon lines leading to the four tactile marks in the shape of flowers, representing the braille’s alphabet “T”, symbolizing Thousand (1000), can be identified by touch.
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 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.
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...?
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?
The Central Bank of Lebanon has announced on 22 July 2015 it will start circulating the new 50,000-livre polymer note commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Lebanese army on 1 August 2015.
The note is predominantly blue and shows all kinds of military themes. The front of the note depicts the motto of the army "Honor, Sacrifice, Loyalty". We also see a soldier carrying the Lebanese flag and a silhouette of two soldiers where the special ink gives the effect of a camouflage uniform.
The back of the note shows a monument to the martyrs of the Lebanese army, the silhouette of a soldier who makes a salute and the date 1945-2015.
At the beginning of this year the Maldives Monetary Authorityannounced it was designing a commemorative note celebrating 50 years of independence. I guessed it would be presented around 26 July 2015 and behold: I guessed right!
Yesterday the MMA introduced the commemorative polymer 5,000-rufiyaa banknote to the world. The front of the note symbolises the growth and development of the country over 50 years, from 1965 to 2015. Two images of the northern seashore of the capital city of Male’, taken approximately 50 years apart, are used to portray the transition and progress.
The back of the note illustrates the ceremony in which Maldives officially gained independence, on 26 July 1965. It signifies the peaceful approach taken by the country in obtaining independence. The design around the illustration signifies the uniqueness, craftsmanship, heritage, and Islamic customs retained by Maldivians over the centuries.
The commemorative note was designed by Mr. Abdulla Nashaath. The Dhivehi typography used in the commemorative note was developed by Mr. Mohamed Fayaz, Mr. Ibrahim Arafath, Ms. Khadheeja Shaneez Bushry and Mr. Hussain Fazeel.
Honestly, I don't know what to think of this note. It doesn't look bad... but... the front also looks a bit like an early sketch instead of the finished product. The back looks more finished but also a bit outdated. Haven't we seen this kind of design decades ago?
I wonder what it will look like in real life. At 293 euro in nominal value, I doubt I will have one for real so maybe I can see it in Maastricht in September.
Bolivia is exploring the possibility of introducing new notes with a higher denomination than the current highest 200-boliviano note, according to an article on La Razon.
MRI Bankers' Guide reports that a 500-, 700- and 1,000-boliviano note are currently being explored though I haven't been able to verify this. The 700-boliviano seems like an odd number though. We'll have to wait and see where the exploration leads to.
Besides the 5,000-franc note which will be issued later this month, the Central Bank of Guinea has also introduced a new 20,000-franc note in May 2015. The new note will be the biggest denomination in the country being twice the amount of the previous largest 10,000-franc denomination.
The note shows Guinea is modern and open to the world symbolized by two pigeons taking flight. The front also shows a Guinean woman honouring their role in the national economy. The back shows a hydroelectric dam in Kaleta. The note is coated with a protective varnish to extend its lifespan and has markings for the sight impaired.
The Central Bank of Guinea has announced that a new 5,000-franc banknote will be issued at the end of July 2015. It has the same design as the existing 5,000-franc note but will be reduced in size and has, of course, updated security features.
Well, Greece, Greece, anything interesting to report on Greece? Our fellow EU and euro member state is the continuing headline in every newspaper and report on tv these days. Will they get extra money, will their debt be relieved or will we have a Grexit where Greece leaves the Eurozone? More and more it seems the latter will be the scenario: Greece forced to leave the eurozone and having to introduce a new (or old) currency. Nobody knows for sure what will happen (although everybody on tv and in the papers thinks they do).
From a collectors viewpoint this could also be interesting. Will we get a reintroduction of the old drachma? Or will they join the ranks of Montenegro and Kosovo by using the euro without being in the eurozone?Or could they perhaps introduce a whole new currency?
To read more on the choices Greece could face in the coming weeks, read this excellent article in the Daily Telegraph on how to introduce a new currency.
Good news for the blind and visually impaired people from Zambia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Both countries have announced that they will issue banknotes with so-called tactile marks (which is something else than the more famous braille, see for instance these examples of the euro).
Today the UAE introduces new notes of 5- and 500-dirham which have the same aid-system as the recently introduced 50- and 100-dirham notes.
Zambia will introduce its new notes at the end of 2015. No specific date has been given yet.
The National Reserve Bank of Tonga is launching an upgraded family of six banknotes that have been printed by De La Rue. The notes bear the portrait of the new King and are issued to mark the coronation of His Majesty King Tupou VI.
Monday 29 June 2015: the National Reserve Bank of Tonga is today launching an upgraded family of banknotes into circulation. The 6 denominations are similar to the existing notes in circulation but bear the portrait of His Majesty King Tupou VI which replaces that of his late Brother King Tupou V.
The 6 denominations – 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 pa’anga – have similar security features to the existing notes, with De La Rue’s award winning Optiks™ security thread on the 2 top value 50 and 100 pa’anga and colour changing StarChrome® on the lower denominations. The new and old notes will co-circulate for a period of time until the older notes are withdrawn from circulation at the end of the year.
Commenting on the announcement, Governor of the National Reserve Bank Dr Sione Ngongo Kioa said "We are proud that the upgraded banknotes bear a portrait of our new King Tupou VI and wish to thank De La Rue for their assistance in bringing these new banknotes to launch".
Ruth Euling, De La Rue’s Global Sales Account Director said "Our relationship with Tonga dates back to 1921 and we are therefore honoured to have continued to work with this valued customer on this upgraded family of banknotes".
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).
One of my favourite countries in my collection is issuing a new banknote today. The Bank of Thailand has released this press release:
Switzerland has had its fair share of troubles and 
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Bolivia is exploring the possibility of introducing new notes with a higher denomination than the current highest 200-boliviano note, according to an article on 
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Well, Greece, Greece, anything interesting to report on Greece? Our fellow EU and euro member state is the continuing headline in every newspaper and report on tv these days. Will they get extra money, will their debt be relieved or will we have a Grexit where Greece leaves the Eurozone? More and more it seems the latter will be the scenario: Greece forced to leave the eurozone and having to introduce a new (or old) currency. Nobody knows for sure what will happen (although everybody on tv and in the papers thinks they do).
Good news for the blind and visually impaired people from Zambia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Both countries have announced that they will issue banknotes with so-called tactile marks (which is something else than the more famous braille, see for instance 
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