Brown, orange, and red. Front: English text; flowers; bank logo in SPARK Orbital; exerpt from Somerville’s “The Connection of the Physical Sciences;” beach of Somerville’s hometown, Burntisland; mathematician and astronomer Mary Somerville. Back: English text; botanicals used in dyeing; two otters; excerpt from Norman MacCaig’s poem, “Moorings.” No security thread. Watermark: None.

Printer: (Thomas De La Rue). Polymer (Safeguard).

Serving the petrochemical industry in surplus sales and investment recovery. Contact: BAMKO-SURPLUS PROCESS EQUIPMENT LLC.

A.26th December 2016. Prefix AA - AC.

Courtesy of Dennis Zammit. According to a, Brunei and Singapore have both issued new 50-dollar polymer notes to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Currency Interchangeability Agreement. Brunei introduced one million notes, and Singapore introduced two million notes, all at face value.

Banks in both countries offered sets of notes in complimentary folders. The commemorative notes were jointly designed by Abdul Ajihis Haji Terawih, Eng Siak Loy, and Weng Ziyan. A total of 50,000 sets of Brunei and Singapore notes bearing matching serial numbers and CIA prefixes were sold for S$300 (US$220) each beginning 12 July 2017. Uncut sheets of 3, 8, and 40 notes were also packaged for sale as numismatic products.

Courtesy of KK Lim (Tags:. According to a, the Bank of England acknowledged the concerns of some regarding trace amounts of animal-derived tallow in the production of the polymer substrate used in the 5-pound note introduced on 13 September 2016, as well as the 10-pound note scheduled for September 2017 introduction. However, the bank has decided not to withdraw the notes nor stop their introduction because to do so would incur substantial costs, but changes may be made for the new 20-pound note due for introduction in 2020. Courtesy of Mark Irwin. According to a, the Russian security printer Goznak has prepared six different designs for a 100-ruble banknote to commemorate the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, to be held in various locations (Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Samara, Saransk, Sochi, Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, Kaliningrad, Kazan, Yekaterinburg) from 14 June to 15 July. The commemorative note is expected to be printed on either polymer or a composite substrate to help distinguish it from regular issue banknotes.

Printing is expected to begin in mid-2017 with the note introduced in 2018. According to an, the Clydesdale Bank has begun withdrawing paper 5-pound notes and is now issuing a polymer 5-pound banknote, like the commemorative previously issued, but with new date (13th February 2016) and new signature of CEO David Duffy. The text on the back has also changed rom 'UNESCO World Heritage Site Nomination' to 'Scottish World Heritage Site Inscribed 2015,' and a similar change to the front, from 'UNESCO World Heritage Site Nomination' to 'Scottish World Heritage Site.' Courtesy of Zbyszek Warszawski and.

On 13 September 2016, the Bank of England introduced the first of 440 million polymer 5-pound notes printed by De La Rue. A new 10-pound polymer note featuring Jane Austen is scheduled to be introduced in mid-2017.

A new 20-pound polymer note featuring J.M.W. Turner is expected in 2020. The bank has not yet decided if or when it will introduce a new 50-pound note, nor if it will be paper or polymer.

5 pounds Blue. Front: Bank seal; Elizabeth Tower (aka Big Ben); coronation crown; Queen Elizabeth II.

Back: Winston Churchill; maze at Blenheim Palace in green foil. Kurz’s Kinegram Colors holographic stripe. No security thread. Watermark (shadow image): None. Printer: (TDLR).

Polymer (Innovia’s Guardian). Signature Victoria Cleland. Courtesy of Antje Bird. According to a Royal Bank of Scotland, Scottish poet and novelist Nan Shepherd will appear on a new batch of polymer £5 notes. The writer joins scientist Mary Somerville, who was chosen for the new £10 note in a public poll, meaning women will feature on RBS main issue notes for the first time. Shepherd was an English lecturer at Aberdeen College of Education but also wrote novels, poetry and non-fiction, with the Scottish landscape and weather a major influence on her work. The back of the new notes have a nature theme with two mackerel displayed on the £5 note and two otters on the £10.

The new 5-pound note will be introduced later in 2016, and the 10-pound note will be introduced in 2017. Courtesy of Alex Zlotin. According to a, the Bank of England has announced that J.M.W. Turner will appear on the next 20-pound polymer banknote due to be issued by 2020. Commenting on the decision, Bank of England Governor, Mark Carney said: “I am delighted to announce that J.M.W. Turner has been chosen to appear on the next £20 note. Turner is perhaps the single most influential British artist of all time.

His work was transformative, bridging the classical and modern worlds. His influence spanned his lifetime and is still apparent today.

Turner bequeathed this painting to the nation, an example of his important contribution to British society.' As shown in the concept image, the design on the reverse of the note will include: • J.M.W. Turner’s self-portrait, painted c. 1799 and currently on display in the Tate Britain. • One of Turner’s most eminent paintings The Fighting Temeraire; a tribute to the ship HMS Temeraire which played a distinguished role in Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. • The quote - “Light is therefore colour” from an 1818 lecture by Turner referring to his innovative use of light, shade, colour and tone in his pictures. • Turner’s signature from his Will, the document with which he bequeathed many of his paintings to the nation.

The full design of the note and its security features will be unveiled closer to it entering circulation. Courtesy of Antje Bird, James Cadman, and Mark Irwin. According to a, the Reserve Bank of Australia has released images of the new 5-dollar banknote that will be introduced on 1 September 2016. 'The images show the basic design artwork of each side of the banknote. As previously announced, key aspects of the existing design – color, size and people portrayed – are retained for ease of recognition and to minimize the disruption to businesses.

There is a new ‘tactile’ feature to help the vision-impaired community distinguish between different denominations of banknotes.' Governor Glenn Stevens said, 'Innovative new security features have been incorporated to help keep Australia’s banknotes secure from counterfeiting into the future. As can be seen in the images, these include a distinctive top-to-bottom window. Each banknote in the new series will depict a different species of Australian wattle and a native bird within a number of the elements.

On the $5 banknote, these are the Prickly Moses wattle and the Eastern Spinebill.' According to a, the Swiss National Bank has unveiled the design of the new 50-franc note, the first denomination in a new series of notes inspired by the theme 'The many facets of Switzerland.' The new family consists of the same denominations as the existing family, but the notes are reduced in size for easier handling.

The 50-franc note measuring 70 x 137 mm was introduced on 12 April 2016. 'Each denomination depicts a typically Swiss characteristic, which is then illustrated graphically using a range of elements. The 50-franc note focuses on the wealth of experiences Switzerland has to offer – expressed by the wind, the note’s key motif. Core design elements in the new series are the hand and the globe, which appear on every denomination.'

'The new notes were designed by Manuela Pfrunder and printed by Orell Füssli Security Printing Ltd using an innovative, three-layer banknote substrate. The combination of complex security features and sophisticated design provides state-of-the-art anti-counterfeiting protection. The new series equips Switzerland with banknotes that are both more modern and more secure than the previous generation. The next denomination, the 20-franc note, will be issued in spring 2017. The remaining notes in the series will be issued subsequently at half-yearly or yearly intervals. The SNB will announce each new issue date well in advance. Issuance of the entire series is scheduled to be completed by 2019.'

Courtesy of Claudio Marana, Manfred Wolfensberger, Christof Zellweger, Antje Bird, Marco Pache, and Hartmut Fraunhoffer (). This note is like the preceding issue (B234), but without novel serial numbering or the commemorative text at upper center front, and with the addition of a circle of embossed dots at lower right front, and a red banner across the tail of the bird on front. Reports are that the bank intends to add embossed symbols to all the other denominations to assist the sight impaired. No word yet on when the new notes will be introduced, nor if they will be all new designs. B235 (PNL): 50 dollars (US$7.85) Gold, brown, purple, red, and green. Front: Coat of arms; red hibiscus flower; SPARK Orbital hibiscus; red-capped cardinal bird in flight.

Back: Red-capped cardinal in flight; Eric Williams Financial Complex in Port of Spain; female masquerader in Carnival costume. No security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: (TDLR). The chapter of is now, and as a free download to subscribers. This 35-page catalog covers notes issued by the Commonwealth of Australia from 1913 to 1954 and the Reserve Bank of Australia from 1960 to present.

Revised 18 December 2015. Each chapter of The Banknote Book includes detailed descriptions and background information, full-color images, and accurate valuations.

According to a, the Bank of Scotland has unveiled the limited edition commemorative 5-pound banknote to be auctioned in aid of BBC Children in Need in November. The notes feature a picture of the charity’s Pudsey bear in a design produced by 13-year old Kayla Robson who won the Bank of Scotland’s competition to design a banknote. Just 50 of these notes have been produced by De La Rue and the use of the Safeguard substrate has allowed novel use of secure windows in the image of the Bank’s headquarters The Mound in Edinburgh.

The serial numbers on the note will also be unique with the first 40 notes using the serial code PUDSEY01 – PUDSEY40. The remaining 10 banknotes will be available for personalized serial numbers such as initials and date of birth.

After the one-off charity auction, most of the rest of the notes will be auctioned by Spinks auction house in December 2015. Courtesy of Stane Straus, Aidan Work, and Pam West (). According to a, the Bank of Canada reportedly introduced a 20-dollar polymer banknote (B376) to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II on becoming the longest-reigning sovereign in Canada’s modern era. The commemorative bank note is a variation of the existing $20 polymer bank note (B373) that already features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

The new note is identical to the current $20 note, with one distinct difference: its large window contains a range of special design elements, including a portrait of Her Majesty wearing a crown (tiara) for the first time on a Canadian bank note. The portrait is based on a 1951 image by renowned Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh – the same photograph that inspired the portrait engraving of the Queen, without the crown, for the 1954 Canadian Landscape series of bank notes and the 1967 commemorative note celebrating Confederation. Since her accession to the throne in 1952, an image of Her Majesty has appeared on every series of Canadian bank notes. The Bank of Canada’s Chief of Currency, Richard Wall, unveiled the commemorative note, together with the Governor General of Canada, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston. “This is a unique milestone in the history of the monarchy in our country, and the Bank of Canada is honoured to mark the occasion in this special way.

Over Her Majesty’s reign, the technology behind our bank notes has continually evolved – to the state-of-the-art polymer notes we have today. It is therefore fitting that we are commemorating this historic occasion by using one of the most advanced security features of our current notes – the large holographic window,” said Mr.

The Bank of Canada will issue 40 million commemorative notes, the first of which will start to be available at financial institutions across Canada tomorrow. They will circulate alongside the existing $20 note, which will continue to be issued and will comprise the vast majority of $20 notes in circulation. Courtesy of Alex Zlotin. According to a, security printer De La Rue announced that the Royal Bank of Scotland's new design 5- and 10-pound banknotes will be issued on DLR's Safeguard polymer substrate. The new notes will be smaller than the existing ones (P352 and P353) and be completely re-designed with new themes and portrait subjects.

The designs will be partly revealed in the coming months and, in line with other UK issuing authorities, it is planned that the new 5-pound note will be issued in the second half of 2016 with the 10-pound note to follow in 2017. Commented David Wheldon, chief marketing officer at the Royal Bank of Scotland, “The move to polymer notes will bring significant benefits to all those who use them. They will be smaller, cleaner and more secure.

We are grateful for De La Rue’s assistance with this important project.” Courtesy of Claudio Marana. According to a, the Bank of England announced that the next 20-pound banknote will be printed on polymer, a substrate that is more secure, durable, and cleaner than traditional security paper.

In December 2013, the bank announced that the next 5- and 10-pound banknotes would be printed on polymer following a 10-week public consultation that found 87% of respondent were in favor of the change. The polymer 5-pound note featuring Winston Churchill will be issued in autumn 2016, the 10-pound polymer note featuring Jane Austen entering circulation a year later. The bank made the decision to move to polymer for the 20-pound note following extensive research into the developments in security features for notes printed on cotton-based paper and polymer since the 2013 decision was made. A competitive tender process for the supply of the polymer for the 20-pound note is expected to start in late 2015. The note, which will feature a visual artist nominated during the public nominations period held earlier this year, will enter circulation in 3-5 years’ time. A bank committee is considering which character will appear on the new 20-pound note.

It received 29,701 nominations from the public after it announced it wanted to celebrate an artist on the note. Some 592 eligible visual artists are being considered for the honor. The final decision will be made by the bank’s governor, Mark Carney. Favorites include the sculptor and artist Barbara Hepworth, the author Beatrix Potter, and fashion designer Alexander McQueen. According to a, a new 100-pound banknote will be put into circulation in the first half of 2016. The 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. According to a, the Monetary Authority of Singapore unveiled a set of six commemorative banknotes celebrating SG50, Singapore’s 50 years of nation-building.

The notes comprise a $50 polymer note and five $10 polymer notes. The note designs drew inspiration from significant milestones and achievements in Singapore’s history, the multiracialism that defines the 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 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: B212 (PNL): 10 dollars (US$7.70) Red. Front: Coat of arms; lion head as registration device; gold lion head; brown 10; orchid flower; Yusof bin Ishak.

Back: regardless of race, language or religion; orchid flower pattern underprint; eight boys and girls wearing tee shirts and shorts; lion head. Security thread shaped like Singapore island. Watermark (shadow image): Outline map of Singapore. Printer: Unknown. One diamond below regardless on back. B213 (PNL): 10 dollars (US$7.70) Red.

Front: Coat of arms; lion head as registration device; gold lion head; brown 10; orchid flower; Yusof bin Ishak. Back: Opportunities for All; orchid flower pattern underprint; soccer (football) coach and three players; construction worker with blueprint; dancer; scientist with beakers and test tubes; chef wearing toque stirring wok, boy in wheelchair and two seated girls; financial trader with keyboard and stock charts on monitors; teacher pointing to Singapore on globe; lion head.

Security thread shaped like Singapore island. Watermark (shadow image): Outline map of Singapore. Printer: Unknown. One diamond below Opportunities on back. B214 (PNL): 10 dollars (US$7.70) Red. Front: Coat of arms; lion head as registration device; gold lion head; brown 10; orchid flower; Yusof bin Ishak. Back: Strong Families; orchid flower pattern underprint; man reading book to child sitting in lap; man, woman, and child riding tandom bicycle with building cityscape in background; extended family seated with 50th Anniversary cake; man and woman fixing epaulettes on soldier’s uniform; lion head.

Security thread shaped like Singapore island. Watermark (shadow image): Outline map of Singapore. Printer: Unknown. One diamond below Strong Families on back. B215 (PNL): 10 dollars (US$7.70) Red. Front: Coat of arms; lion head as registration device; gold lion head; brown 10; orchid flower; Yusof bin Ishak. Back: Safe and Secure; orchid flower pattern underprint; Citizens on Patrol consulting brochure with police officers; solider with binoculars; soldier with clenched hand over heart; woman carrying duffle bag; pilot in flight suit; firefighter with walkie talkie; five fighter jets; lion head.

Security thread shaped like Singapore island. Watermark (shadow image): Outline map of Singapore. Printer: Unknown. One diamond below Safe and Secure on back. B216 (PNL): 10 dollars (US$7.70) Red. Front: Coat of arms; lion head as registration device; gold lion head; brown 10; orchid flower; Yusof bin Ishak.

Back: Caring Community, Active Citizenry; orchid flower pattern underprint; two women and one man with shovel planting tree sapling; man and woman visiting elderly seated woman; two women with rollers and one man with brush painting walls and window trim; lion head. Security thread shaped like Singapore island. Watermark (shadow image): Outline map of Singapore. Buku Ilmu Politik Pdf. Printer: Unknown. One diamond below Caring Community on back. The $50 note highlights Singapore’s history, transformation and future.

It shows Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s first Prime Minister, shouting “Merdeka!” – the rallying cry of our independence struggle. The note makes distinctive use of the color gold, reflecting Singapore’s Golden Jubilee. B217 (PNL): 50 dollars (US$38) Gold, green, and red. Front: Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s first Prime Minister, shouting “Merdeka!” – the rallying cry of independence struggle; four children; coat of arms; Yusof bin Ishak. Back: Orchid flower pattern underprint; modern buildings, automobile bridge, and four kayaks in Punggol New Town; soldiers marching past reviewing stand and flag during First National Day Parade 1966. Watermark (shadow image): Unknown. Printer: Unknown.

One star below First National Day Parade 1966 on back. 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 “color-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. The public is advised not to rush to obtain the notes. There will be enough notes for Singaporeans.

“There will be enough SG50 notes available for exchange. 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. There is no need to rush.”, said Dr Andrew Khoo, Deputy Managing Director (Corporate Development). Singaporeans will be given priority to exchange the notes from 20 August 2015 to 30 September 2015. During this period, Singaporeans have to present their National Registration Identification Card (NRIC) at the bank in person as proof of citizenship.

From 1 October 2015 onwards, the SG50 notes will be made available to non-Singaporeans as well. To ensure that everyone has an opportunity to exchange the SG50 commemorative notes, there will be a quota of five sets of notes (each set comprising a $50 note and five $10 notes) per transaction per individual. The public can choose to exchange any number or combination of notes subject to a maximum of five notes per design.

Members of the public can also obtain specially-designed folders to keep the commemorative notes. They can obtain one complimentary folder when they exchange for any of the commemorative currency notes. There is no minimum amount they need to exchange to obtain the folder. An additional folder will be given if two full sets of notes (each set comprising a $50 note and five $10 notes) or more are exchanged. The public can only obtain up to a maximum of two folders per transaction.

The folders will be available at the banks on a first-come-first-served basis and while stocks last. The nine major retail banks have sponsored 2.8 million of these specially designed folders. An exclusive collection of seven limited edition SG50 numismatic currency sets are available for sale.

The numismatic sets are sold by Noel Gifts International Ltd (Noel Gifts). Details of the numismatic currency sets are at Annex 2.

For enquiries, details on prices and orders, the public can contact Noel Gifts on 6299 1155 or place their order online at Sets that are oversubscribed will be subjected to balloting. Pre-orders must reach Noel Gifts by 11 September 2015 and will be available for collection by the public on 18 September 2015. UPDATE: Apparently the name of president Yusof Ishak is misspelt 'Yusok Ishak' in the folders carrying the notes and in an enclosed booklet.

The notes themselves, however, feature the correct spelling. The Monetary Authority of Singapore says it will print stickers to cover the mistake with the correct spelling. Courtesy of Tan Wei Jie and Thomas Augustsson.

According to the Maldives Monetary Authority press release dated 26 July 2015, the MMA has introduced a 5,000-rufiyaa note (US$330) commemorating the 50th anniversary of independence. This is the first denomination in a new family of seven banknotes printed on DLR’s Safeguard polymer substrate.

The other circulating denominations—10, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000 rufiyaa—will follow from October 2015 onwards (the existing 5-rufiyaa note will be replaced by a coin). B222 (PNL): 5,000 rufiyaa (US$330) Light blue and gold.

Front: Combination of people, trees, buildings, and boats symbolizing growth and development of the northern seashore of the capital city of Male’ over 50 years. Back: Large central 50 inside of which is depicted the signing ceremony in which Maldives officially gained independence on 26 July 1965; interwoven background signifying the uniqueness, craftsmanship, heritage, and Islamic customs retained by Maldivians.

Printer: (TDLR). Polymer (Safeguard). These notes are like the preceding regular issue notes on paper substrate, but now printed on Hybrid substrate, and the serial number at right appears in a wave pattern with the last three digits set against a dark background using LOOK (Laser Originated Optical Key), G&D’s security feature that creates laser-induced effects in the substrate, print color, foil, and varnish. BOJ B50 (PNL): 100 dollars (US$0.90) Brown, green, purple, and orange.

Front: Sir Donald Sangster; jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) flowers; map of Jamaica; coat of arms; ackee fruit. Back: Ackee fruit; 11 children from Central Branch Primary School in Kingston. Two security threads; one solid, one windowed with demetalized BOJ 100. Watermark: Donald Sangster, electrotype 100 and flower, and Cornerstones. Printer: Giesecke & Devrient.

Polymer (Hybrid). Signature 12. Courtesy of Sejin Ahn. According to an, the Bank of Scotland plans to issue new 5- and 10-pound notes on polymer. In November 2015, fifty 5-pound notes bearing winning designs from a children's competition will be auctioned to benefit the BBC Children in Need charity. The new circulating 5-pound note won't be introduced until the second half of 2015 and its design will be a modified version of the existing note (P124), which was originally issued in 2007. The new note is printed by De La Rue is said to be 125 x 65 mm, slightly smaller than the current 135 x 70 mm.

A new polymer 10-pound note is to be introduced in 2017. Courtesy of Alex Alotin. According to a, the Bank of Papua New Guinea will issue new 10- and 20-kina commemorative banknotes, both resized as part of the reform process undertaken by the bank to standardize the size of Papua New Guinea banknotes. The 10-kina banknote incorporates a special overprint of the XV Pacific Games logo in yellow, red, green, black and blue in color located above the Parliament House, whereas the 20-kina note incorporates a special overprint of the 40th Anniversary of Papua New Guinea Independence and the National Bird of Paradise image above the Parliament House. A 50-toea coin will also be issued 21 May 2015 to commemorate the Pacific Games. Courtesy of Alex Zlotin and Thomas Krause ().

According to a, on 1 August (Army Day) the Banque du Liban will introduce a new 50,000-livre polymer note commemorating 70 years of the Lebanese army. B540 (PNL): 50,000 livres (US$33) Blue, green, brown, and red.

Front: Two soldiers in silhouette; coat of arms; soldier carrying Lebanese flag. Back (vertical): Monument to martyrs in Yarze (headquarters of the Lebanese Ministry of Defense); soldier saluting in silhouette; stalk of wheat. Simulated security thread with demetalized BDL. Watermark: None. Printer: (TDLR). Signature 12. Courtesy of Claude Akl ().

According to a, 'On 9 September 2015, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will become the longest-reigning sovereign in Canadian history, exceeding the reign of her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. To mark this historic reign, the Bank of Canada will issue a special commemorative bank note in 2015. The note will be a variation of the existing $20 polymer bank note (BOC B73) that already features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

The variation will incorporate a special mention of Her Majesty’s reign. This commemorative note will be publicly unveiled and issued this fall. It will have the same level of security as all other notes in the Polymer series. More information will be available at that time.'

Courtesy of Alex Zlotin. According to a, the will introduce a new family of seven banknotes printed on DLR’s Safeguard polymer substrate. The first denomination—a commemorative 5,000-rufiyaa note—will be launched at the end of July 2015. The other circulating denominations—10, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000 rufiyaa—will follow from October 2015 onwards (the existing 5-rufiyaa note will be replaced by a coin).

The Maldives Monetary Authority held a design competition and selected local artist Abdullah Nashaath to ensure that the new family, called Randhihafaheh, has an authentically Maldivian look. Courtesy of Alex Zlotin. The International Bank Note Society (IBNS) announces that its voting membership has for the first time ever selected the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago to receive it prestigious “Bank Note of the Year Award” for 2014. With over 130 new banknotes released worldwide in 2014, nearly 3 dozen were of sufficiently new design to be eligible for nomination. The 50 Dollar polymer Trinidad and Tobago note was followed in voting by the 5000 Franc note from the French Pacific Territories (Tahiti) and the 10 Dinar bill from Kuwait. Now in its 54th year, the IBNS has over 2000 members worldwide. As a nonprofit educational organization its objectives are to promote, stimulate and advance the study, collection and dissemination of information related to paper money.

From all significantly newly designed and widely circulated banknotes released in 2014, the IBNS membership nominated notes from 12 different countries to place on the ballot. Nominees represented three continents (Europe, Asia & Africa), the Middle East, and 4 island nations (2 in the Americas).

Past “Bank Note of the Year” winners include Kazakhstan (2013, 2012, 2011), Uganda (2010), Bermuda (2009), Samoa (2008), Scotland (2007), Comoros (2006), Faeroe Islands (2005) and Canada (2004). The 2014 winning banknote was produced collaboratively by the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago and De La Rue Currency of England. It is the first Central Bank in the Caribbean to issue polymer currency. While the 50 Dollar award-winning bill fittingly commemorates the Central Bank’s Golden Anniversary, “it is meant to be used for all your purchases, like you would any other money.” The note is virtually identical in size to United States bills with a face value of almost 8 U.S. Dollars, 7 Euros or 5 British Pounds at early May 2015 exchange rates. The stunning design, predominantly gold in color, interprets an artist’s rendering of a red hibiscus flower and truly striking image of a red capped cardinal bird in flight against the clear transparent polymer plastic window.

The back of the note features a young female masquerader in an award-winning Carnival costume along with the Central Bank building. Modern polymer banknotes have enjoyed increasing popularity since their introduction in 1988.

They offer durability as well as enhanced security features and have become a favorite of many collectors. This article was reprinted from with the permission of, maker of Guardian polymer substrate. What Does It Take to Design a Banknote? When it comes to designing a new banknote, aesthetics are just one aspect to be considered. The challenge goes well beyond the initial concept — —it is to innovate and compose all the visual elements in perfect harmony while incorporating a selection of complex security features. Banknote designer Carlos Almenar walks us through the process, which at times can be a maze and requires thinking at multiple levels.

Having worked across the banknote industry, Carlos Almenar knows what makes for a great design. What is the role of concept design in today’s banknote industry? A banknote designer is a person capable of interpreting the culture and identity of a nation, to then translate these semantic concepts into the specic techniques required to build a banknote. The banknote designer is also an architect who works with a team of specialists in the banknote industry.

Their thoughts and reflections must focus on the designs, substrates, security features and printing techniques. The banknote designer advises central banks regarding the architecture and manufacturing of a banknote – its aesthetics, colours, sizes, security features, substrates, etc. They guarantee that the banknote design will go beyond the aesthetic concept – as a true work of art, the design will be adapted to the complex techniques involved in banknote manufacturing.

In my opinion, today’s banknote designer must adapt and transform the design techniques and concepts to a new dimension of our presentand future. Should it be a concept or an actual illustration of the fiŸnal note? A banknote design or concept must be conceptualised with manufacturing in mind. The banknote designer sits between their central bank customer and the manufacturing industry. The design concepts that are created and presented to the central bank must correspond exactly to each step of the manufacturing process.

For this reason, there must be fluid and open lines of communication between the banknote designer and all the key groups responsible for the security features. How much detail should the concept contain? The banknote designer must consider many di‘erent details, especially since a design cannot just be “beautiful”. The design must go beyond the aesthetic so it can become a truly functional feature that adapts perfectly to the expectations of the central bank. And above all, the banknote design must be fully compatible with the substrate manufacturing and printing techniques.

How much freedom is there to change the concept as the project progresses? Freedom to introduce changes in a concept design will always be present, although the problem is not its freedom but the time it takes to complete these changes in the design. When a design project is at a late stage in its development and the need to change it arises, time plays a very important role.

If the proposed changes are based on subjective reasons, work can continue for hours on end and it may never reach any conclusions. However, if the reasons are objective and based on sound logic, apositive outcome can be reached in a short time. How do you cater for the different expectations of various stakeholders? For me it is important to listen to the div‘ergent views and opinions that participate in the design process towards the creation of a banknote, especially since banknotes are normally made using very complex systems and every note has its own identity and specific security codes. But the most important part is to listen and understand the needs of the central bank. Each country has its own economy and specic needs regarding cash management.

It is very important to understand that banknotes are diff‘erent in each nation or issuing authority of circulating currency. From abstract to concrete: Carlos Almenar’s interpretation of the invisible comes alive.

In your experience, are there many differences between designing a concept banknote in polymer versus designing for paper? The basics of banknote design are simple; however today there is a diversity of substrate technologies propelling the evolution of design into more complex eff‘ects. Paper substrates have existed for centuries and evolved, not in the raw materials, but in the development of watermarks, security threads and durability. Today there are other substrates such as polymer, and this specically has made banknote designs a lot more dynamic and complex due to its wide array of alternatives intransparency and opacity integrated in highly detailed security features and printing. Today polymer has evolved in an incredible manner and the creation of a design has evolved accordingly. The security features and composition of the many design layers that form a polymer substrate inspire the designer to focus their activity in the synchronisation of polymer and the associated security features.

But beyond this, all these elements must be adapted to the printing systems and therefore an integrated concept design can be achieved: substrate, design architecture, security features and printing. This enables the design to off‘er a variety of products adapted to new technologies that whilst highly-secure, pose greater challenges for would-be counterfeiters. How do you deal with these differences yourself? I have had the privilege of designing banknotes on both paper and polymer, which includes working at the Central Bank of Venezuela Print Works, Oberthur Fiduciaire, and now as Banknote Designer at Innovia Security.

These experiences have enabled me to understand and appreciate the di‘fferences between the processes used to create a banknote in paper or polymer. Currently, my work involves an increased use of technology and therefore I must integrate the concepts developed for the substrate and interact in more detail with the experts in polymer substrate design, as well as with the scientists behind the complex security features. Personally, I think this harmony enables me to create true works of art using leading-edge technology. This is my biggest challenge: to achieve distinct dimensions of eff‘ects, transparency and opacity that can be understood by the central bank and accepted by the public.

Users must be able to quickly authenticate the note, and banknote accepting machines must also be able to decode security features immediately. According to an, the Maldives Monetary Authority will replace the 5-rufiyaa note (MMA B10) with a coin in 2016, and will introduce a new denomination, the 1,000-rufiyaa note, in October 2015. According to, the winner of the competition for designing the new series of banknotes is Abdulla Nashath. Javaahirumaage, Baa Kendhoo. The new series of notes will be printed on polymer, not paper. The 10-, 50-, and 1,000-rufiyaa notes will be issued in October 2015, followed by the 100- and 500-rufiyaa in 2016.

Courtesy of Aidan Work. CBG B30 (PNL): 20 dalasis (US$0.60) Green. Front: Crocodile; carmine bee eater bird in flight and perched on tree branch; monkeys, trees, and boats in underprint; President Yahya Jammeh. Back: State House. No security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: (TDLR).

Polymer (Safeguard). A.22nd July 2014. Signature 16. This note commemorates the 20th anniversary of the revolution of 22 July. Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below. Courtesy of Hartmut Fraunhoffer (). According to an, on 25 February the launched a new 20-dalasi polymer note, part of a new family of notes, which now includes a 200-dalasi note, twice the size of the previously largest denomination.

Please note that the D20 note shown in the poster above is incorrectly shown as blue with a windowed security thread, whereas the actual note is green without a security thread. 'All of the redesigned banknotes bear the portrait of President Yahya Jammeh and are smaller in size than the existing paper-based banknotes. The D20 will replace the existing D25 banknote which will continue to be legal tender and will continue to circulate until it is fully withdrawn over time, the release stated.

The historic event held at State House formed part of activities marking the country`s Golden Jubilee. In his statement, President Jammeh urged Gambians to take ownership of the new banknotes and handle them with care.

He called on the Gambian populace to familiarize themselves with the new banknotes, and help in ensuring their protection from counterfeiters. He assured De La Rue, the firm that printed the country`s currency, of the government`s continued partnership.' Courtesy of Alex Zlotin. According to a, Glenn Stevens, governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, 'announced that the next generation of Australian banknotes will include a ‘tactile’ feature to assist people with a vision impairment.

As previously announced, existing features to help the vision impaired tell the difference between different denominations of Australian banknotes will be maintained on the new series. These include: bright colours; large and bold numbers; and different sizes for each denomination of banknote. The Bank will also continue to fund the production of the ‘cash test card’. The addition of a ‘tactile’ feature will further assist people with a vision impairment to tell the difference between denominations. This decision is the culmination of extensive research by the Bank into whether an effective and durable tactile marking could be included on Australian banknotes. This included consultation with the vision impaired community, other stakeholders and overseas central banks. The testing and trialling process for the next generation of banknotes is ongoing and designs have not yet been finalised.

Details about the new designs, the release dates and how they will be issued will be released in a timely way, so that the public can be confident they understand how to recognise and use the new banknotes.' Courtesy of Shane Rivett.

According to the, this redesigned 50-dollar note printed on polymer substrate reflects “the beauty of our people and the diversity off our flora.” It replaces the preceding 50-dollar paper note issued in 2012, which failed to gain public acceptance because it was similar in color to other denominations and the misperception that it was a commemorative note. Both notes will circulate in parallel, though the paper notes will be slowly withdrawn as they are returned to the central bank. If the polymer note is warmly received, the bank intends to issue other denominations on polymer substrate in the future. CBTT B34 (P50): 50 dollars (US$8) Gold, brown, purple, red, and green. Front: Coat of arms; red hibiscus flower; SPARK Orbital hibiscus; red-capped cardinal bird in flight.

Back: Red-capped cardinal in flight; Eric Williams Financial Complex in Port of Spain; female masquerader in Carnival costume. No security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: (TDLR). Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below. Courtesy of Shibu Paul (IBNS LM 208) and Ashley Alexander ().

On 19 November 2014, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand unveiled the designs for a new family of ' banknotes with upgraded security features. The new notes will be released progressively, by denomination. The target release date for the $5 and $10 is October 2015, with the $20, $50 and $100s likely released in April 2016. The new notes have the same themes, colors, and sizes as the existing notes, and will circulate in parallel. The images above are only artistic renditions of the new notes and the actual issued notes may be different.

The notes are to be printed by in Ottawa, Canada. According to a, the will introduce a 20-dalasi banknote before the end of 2014 to commemorate 20 years in office for President Yahya Jammeh.

This note was designed and printed by De La Rue on. This new note is based on the existing paper 25-dalasi note (CBG B24), but is green rather than blue, and features a portrait of the president. The clear window in the polymer note will have an image of a crocodile which currently appears in the watermark of the paper note. Ruth Euling, Sales Director for De La Rue Currency stated “We are proud to have worked with The Central Bank of The Gambia since its inception and are delighted that they have joined the growing number of banks who have chosen Safeguard for their banknotes. The Gambia is the second country in Africa to issue notes on the Safeguard substrate with a third African country due to issue later this year.” Tags. According to an, the Bank of Canada has acknowledged that its original description of the back of the new 10-dollar polymer note (BOC B72a) erroneously described it as depicting an image of majestic Mount Edith Cavell, a prominent peak in the Canadian Rockies south of Jasper, Alta.

Furthermore, the bank misidentified an image of Mount Zengel as the Palisade and Pyramid mountains. However, spokesman Alexandre Deslongchamps has acknowledged that the bank has changed the, claiming, 'The documentation error was the result of a misunderstanding about information provided to the Bank of Canada by Canadian Bank Note Co. The new description reads: 'The image of the Canadian Rocky Mountains is a composite based on photographs commissioned by the Bank of Canada. Three regions are depicted on the bank note to highlight the diverse and majestic nature of the Rockies.

On the left are the shoulder of Lectern Peak and Aquila Mountain; in the centre are Redan, Esplanade and Gargoyle mountains; and on the right is Mount Zengel, part of the Victoria Cross Ranges.' Polymer Bank Notes of the World Stane Straus, Donald Ludwig, Marian Meyer, and Tigerson, 144 pages, soft cover, 297 x 212 mm, color illustrations, English, ISBN 908, €20 (plus shipping), Reviewed by Owen W. Linzmayer Polymer Bank Notes of the World is the definitive guide to one of the hottest numismatic fields: non-paper notes, be they Tyvek, polymer, or hybrid (combinations of paper and polymer). The new 2014 edition uses larger format pages than the preceding 2012 edition, and has expanded from 122 pages to 144 pages, with coverage of an additional 285 entries of both issued and promotional/test notes (created by security printing firms to show off their prowess and new anti-counterfeiting features). Each note is illustrated in color, front and back. Below the illustrations are descriptions with some historical background about the vignettes on the notes, as well as detailed variety listings, each assigned their own unique Straus number (for example: Australia S1R3a), along with cross-references to Pick and The Banknote Book catalog numbers.

Pricing in euros is given for uncirculated notes, and lesser grades in the few cases where pristine notes aren't readily available. The lines devoted to describing the variations are somewhat dense and deciphering the frequent abbreviations requires a bit of mental gymnastics, but as a fellow cataloger with an interest in collecting these notes, I appreciate the authors' attention to details, accuracy, and specificity.

Also well received are all the footnotes below the variety listings which provide additional information about the notes, helping put them into context and enhancing their appeal. If you're one of the many people with a penchant for polymer, this catalog belongs in your reference library (it's a bargain at only 20 euros), and the accompanying web site () should be a frequent stop as you browse the web for the latest information. According to an, the plans to introduce its seventh series of notes in 2015. 'The new banknotes, which aim to improve design and security features, were originally intended to enter circulation' in 2014.

According to a, the new notes will be designed and printed by the Canadian Bank Note Company, which currently prints Canada's notes. New Zealand's new notes will remain printed on polymer substrate, and they will retain the same denomination structure and sizes of the current series, as well as the same themes, with the same people and other elements, although in revised designs. The 'near final' designs are expected to be unveiled publicly in November 2014, and the finished notes are expected to enter circulation in the fourth quarter of 2015. Courtesy of Cleo Phas and Aidan Work.

According to a, the Royal Bank of Scotland has unveiled the design of a new 5-pound note commemorating the Ryder Cup. The notes will be available to ticket-holders of the golf tournament which takes place at Gleneagles in Perthshire from 23 - 28 September 2014. The note is legal tender, though it is being for US$32. The note is printed by G&D on hybrid substrate with a see-through window in the shape of the Ryder Cup trophy, and is the first to bear the signature of new RBS chief executive Ross McEwan.

Blue, green, orange, red, and yellow. Front: SPARK Ryder Cup trophy; bank headquarters building and equestrian statue with Earl of Hopetoun in St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh; coat of arms; Lord Ilay (Archibald Campbell), first bank governor wearing powdered wig. Back: Ryder Cup 2014 logo; PGA Centenary Course; golf clubs; Ryder Cup trophy; Gleneagles Hotel.

Windowed security thread. Watermark: Lord Ilay and electrotype £5. Printer: Giesecke & Devrient. A.22nd SEPTEMBER 2014. Signature Ross McEwan.

Intro: July 2014. Courtesy of Cleo Phas and Max Keller. According to an, on 9 June the introduced three new notes produced by Oberthur Fiduciare (France) on polymer substrate from Innovia (Australia) to increase longevity and reduce counterfeiting. The notes denominated in 200, 1,000, and 2,000 vatu represent family, agriculture, and flora and fauna, respectively. Notes denominated in 500 and 5,000 vatu are planned for introduction within two to three years. RBV B9 (PNL): 200 vatu (US$2.10) Pink, brown, blue, and green.

Front: Conch shell; waterway; Melanesian chief standing holding a spear; map of Vanuatu islands. Back: Map of Vanuatu islands; family of five seated outside house with palm trees; conch shell. No security thread.

Watermark: None. Printer: OBERTHUR fiduciaire. RBV B11 (PNL): 1,000 vatu (US$10) Brown, purple, blue, and green. Front: Conch shell; waterway; Melanesian chief standing holding a spear; map of Vanuatu islands. Back: Map of Vanuatu islands; flower; four farmers with crops; rancher riding horse among cattle with palm trees; conch shell. No security thread.

Watermark: None. Printer: OBERTHUR fiduciaire. RBV B12 (PNL): 2,000 vatu (US$21) Green, blue, orange, and brown. Front: Conch shell; waterway; Melanesian chief standing holding a spear; map of Vanuatu islands. Back: Map of Vanuatu islands; flower; three birds, tree, and waterfall; conch shell. No security thread. Watermark: None.

Printer: OBERTHUR fiduciaire. Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below. Courtesy of Aidan Work, Stane Štraus (), and Hartmut Fraunhoffer (). BDL B39 (PNL): 50,000 livres (US$33) Blue, purple, orange, red, and green. Front: Banque du Liban headquarters building in Beirut; cedar tree in blue/green SPARK patch on clear window. Back: Cedar tree in blue/green SPARK patch on clear window; Banque du Liban building.

No security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: (TDLR). Signature 12. Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below.

Courtesy of Claude Akl ( ). According to a, De La Rue has printed a new 50,000-livre note to commemorate the 50th annivesary of the founding of the. 'With vibrant colours and imagery, the new note uses the latest technology as protection against counterfeiting. The clear ‘window’ area in the banknote shows an image of the Cedar of Lebanon in a bright, eye-catching blue/green ink which changes colour as the note is tilted and which can be seen from both sides of the note. The Banque is proud to be the first issuing authority in the region to use this colour changing ink in the clear window of the banknote.

De La Rue’s Sales Director Ruth Euling commented: ‘De La Rue is honoured that the Banque du Liban has selected our Safeguard polymer for their banknotes and included the SPARK ® Orbital TM feature which provides a dynamic, high impact public recognition feature. We congratulate the Banque on being the first issuer in the region to adopt the new technologies.' Courtesy of Thomas Krause. According to various, the has announced its intention to revert to paper from polymer for its banknote substrate. Nigeria has been issuing low-denomination (5 to 50 naira) notes on polymer since the introduction of the 20-naira note (CBN B32a) on 28 February 2007. In justifying the move, the bank cited the fading of the notes and the bribery scandal surrounding Securency, the substrate supplier. The switch back to paper is expected to begin in 2014 and take place gradually, with the new notes printed by the state-run Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company rather than abroad.

BPNG B50 (PNL): 2 kina (US$0.85) Green. Front: Coat of arms with bird of paradise perched on Kundu drum and ceremonial spear; National Parliament building in Port Moresby; 40th anniversary logo. Back: Mount Hagan axe; Kula arm band from Milne Bay Province; engraved dogs’ tooth necklace from Bougainville; Sepik clay pot; tapa cloth patterns. No security thread.

Watermark: Bank logo. Printer: (NPA). Signature 11. BPNG B51 (PNL): 100 kina (US$42) Green and gold. Front: Coat of arms with bird of paradise perched on Kundu drum and ceremonial spear; National Parliament building in Port Moresby; 40th anniversary logo. Back: Coffee beans; cardamom seeds; coconut palm tree; fish; timber; cargo ship; oil rig; bird; jumbo jet; dump truck; microwave tower. No security thread.

Watermark: Bank logo. Printer: (NPA). Signature 11. Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below. Courtesy of Hartmut Fraunhoffer ().

According to a, the has unveiled revisions to its which now include embossed Braille dots and high-relief vertical bars at top and bottom center, both intended to help the sight impaired identify the different denominations by feel. The new notes are all dated 1 DE MARZO DE 2012. Existing notes will continue to circulate in parallel.

Curiously, the 20-lempira note which had previously been issued on polymer (P95) in 2010 has reverted to paper substrate. Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the second link below. Courtesy of and Antonio Sansur (). This polymer note commemorating 70 years of independence for Lebanon was issued on 22 November 2013 (the anniversary of the end of French colonial rule in 1943), despite the fact that the French-language back spells “independence” as it is written in English, rather than the French “independance.” The Central Bank of Lebanon said it regretted the mistake, which it blamed on the printing company (De La Rue). 50,000 pieces will enter circulation.

BDL B38 (PNL): 50,000 livres (US$33) Blue, brown, red, and green. Front: Citadel of Independence in Rashaya; stylized flag of Lebanon. Back: Map of Lebanon; flag of Lebanon with cedar tree. No security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: (TDLR). Signature 12.

If you missed out on getting a free copy of the Lebanon chapter of The Banknote Book, don't despair. Dealer Claude Akl is also providing free copies of this chapter (a $9.99 value) to the first 30 eBay buyers of Lebanon's new 50,000-livre note.. Courtesy of Claude Akl.

According to a, the Bank of England has revealed that it has been studying a switch from paper to polymer substrates over the past three years and found that the latter is cleaner, more secure, more durable, and more environmentally friendly. However, before finalizing on the decision to switch to polymer for its banknotes, the bank is undergoinh a two-month-long public consultation program ending on 15 November 2013.

The bank’s final decision, in the light of feedback, will be announced in December 2013. If a decision is taken to proceed with printing on polymer, this will initially only be for the new-style £5 and £10 banknote. Polymer banknotes would be introduced one denomination at a time, with the Churchill £5 in 2016 at the earliest. The new polymer notes would also be smaller than existing paper notes. The chapter of is now available for individual sale at US$9.99, and as a free download to subscribers. This 25-page catalog covers notes issued by Banque du Canada (Bank of Canada) from 1935 to present. Revised 15 April 2016.

Each chapter of The Banknote Book includes detailed descriptions and background information, full-color images, and accurate valuations. $5 – 2013, Polymer series Design Features: Portrait: Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Prime Minister from 1896 to 1911 Signatures: Left – T. Macklem, Right – Stephen Poloz Size: 152.4 x 69.85 mm (6.0 x 2.75 inches) Issue Date: 7 November 2013 $10 – 2013, Polymer series Design Features: Portrait: Sir John A.

Macdonald, Prime Minister from 1867–1873 and 1878–1891 Signatures: Left – T. Macklem, Right – M.

Carney Size: 152.4 x 69.85 mm (6.0 x 2.75 inches) Issue Date: 7 November 2013 Courtesy of Gabriel Labrie and Nikolajs Cerps. According to an, Tunde Lemo, the deputy governor of operations for the Central Bank of Nigeria, defended the bank's plans to stop the printing of lower denominations of the naira in polymer and revert to paper currency because the former reportedly fades too much, making the notes unsuitable for circulation.

“By the middle of the year, we will start producing the lower denomination notes in paper not in polymer. My plea is that Nigerians should be patient with us.

It wasn’t the fault of the CBN; it is just because we have to go back to the drawing board. We will correct that in the course of the year. Polymer certainly will be phased out.

In fact, no new note is being printed in polymer now,” said Lemo. According to an, the minister of state for finance, Namo Narain Meena, has announced that the will issue one billion 10-rupee notes printed on polymer on field trial basis in five cities— Bhubhaneswar, Jaipur, Kochi, Mysore, and Shimla—with varied geographical locations and climactic conditions. The move is designed to extend the lifespan of this denomination, as well as reduce counterfeiting.

No word yet on when the new notes will be issued. The bank has made similar statements over the past four years and nothing has come of it yet.

According to a, Fortress Paper has announced the launch of the world's first banknote printed on its new Durasafe substrate, an innovative paper-polymer-paper composite substrate produced at its Landqart mill. The new Swiss 50-franc note had been expected to be the first in the world to use Durasafe, but its introduction has been delayed until 2015 at the earliest due to technical difficulties encountered in the note's production. With the issuance of the new Moroccan 25-dirham (US$3) note in December 2012,, Morocco's central bank, became the first in the world to issue a banknote printed on Durasafe.

The front of the banknote features an intaglio vignette and a watermark of King Mohammed VI, and a magenta/green color-shift security thread developed by Fortress Optical Features. The thread, like the watermark, is embedded inside the banknote yet visible behind a one-sided Viewsafe polymer window. It also has a fully transparent polymer window embossed with the King's royal crest. The back of the note carries a print vignette commemorating 25 years of banknote printing at the Moroccan State Printing Works, Dar As-Sikkah. The windows in Durasafe are formed by die cutting each side of the three layer composite substrate separately.

One-sided Viewsafe windows give a clear view inside the substrate where the thread and the watermark of King Mohammed VI are protected, but fully visible behind the polymer core. The transparent Thrusafe window is created by die-cutting both the outer paperlayers to reveal only the transparent polymer core. Chadwick Wasilenkoff, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fortress Paper, commented: 'After a decade in development, we are pleased to see the fruits of our labour in the launch of the Moroccan 25 Dirhams.

We have designed Durasafe to offer the ideal characteristics of polymer and traditional paper notes to create a new standard for high security banknote substrates. Fortress Paper would like to congratulate the Bank al Maghrib on the launch of their new 25 Dirham banknote and being the first in the world to produce and launch a Durasafe banknote.' Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below. Courtesy of Phil Martin and Hartmut Fraunhoffer (). According to a, De La Rue's contract to print the UK's banknotes could come to an end as the Bank of England (BoE) has issued a tender notice asking up to five operators to bid for the £1bn contract. It is only the second time that the contract has been outsourced since De La Rue took over banknote printing for BoE in 2003.

The contract, which could potentially run for up to 14 years, will see alternative suppliers bidding to print up to 12bn banknotes at BoE’s Debden, Essex facility. BoE expects that the 200 staff at the Debden plant will be transferred to the new supplier should the contract be awarded away from De La Rue. The new supplier would be responsible for the maintenance of Debden’s printing machinery, which is expected to be refurbished or replaced with the payment of capital costs coming from BoE.

The tender also states that the new supplier would need to accomodate changes in the features or substrates included in banknote production in line with security reviews by the governing body. Bidding operators must have at least three years of experience in commercial banknote printing and have printed at least 500m banknotes over a 12-month period at one site in the past three years as payment will depend on the volumes of accepted banknotes produced. The deadline for bids is 31 January 2013, and BoE expects that banknote production will commence from April 2015 following a six to twelve month transition period between suppliers.

The successful participant will have the option to extend the contract by a further 36 months. One provision in the tender that has gotten the attention of banknote collectors is the requirement that the printers be able to handle printing on polymer, not just the paper substrate traditionally used on Bank of England notes. To be clear, however, the bank hasn't committed to printing new notes on polymer; it's simply ensuring that polymer is an option regardless of who it chooses as its new printer. The chapter of is now available for individual sale at US$9.99, and as a free download to subscribers. This 23-page catalog covers notes issued by the Special Finance Committee in 1842, Currency Commissioners of Mauritius from 1848 to 1849, Government of Mauritius from 1860 to 1965, and Bank of Mauritius from 1967 to present. Revised 1 April 2016.

Each chapter of The Banknote Book includes detailed descriptions and background information, full-color images, and accurate valuations. According to, the has been working on a top-secret project, dubbed Next Generation Bank Note, for the past five years, the goal of which is to issue a new series of polymer banknotes, breathing new life into the currency, helping it capture 'characteristics of Australia' with 'youthful' and 'energetic design qualities' while giving the bank the opportunity to enhance security features. The following concept banknotes from Melbourne designer Garry Emery were approved for further development in 2010, and show that Queen Elizabeth II had been removed from the 5-dollar note in favor of the father of Federation, Henry Parkes, and Australia's first female political candidate, Catherine Helen Spence. The RBA ultimately decided to keep QEII on this denomination, although final designs have not been chosen, and it will be several years before any new notes are introduced to the public.

The Australian article made such a fuss about the amount of money spent on this project (said to be AU$9.3 million by News Limited), much of it paid to non-Australian designers, that the. The design brief for the Reserve Bank’s new generation $5 bank note did not initially include the Queen.

Instead Father of Federation Sir Henry Parkes was to be the star. Australia’s first female political candidate Catherine Helen Spence featured on a special commemorative $5 note back in 2001 and was set to return with a new portrait in Gerry Emery’s NGB design. RBA research shows most Australians cannot name the faces on our money. The lyrics to Waltzing Matilda help identify AB 'Banjo' Paterson instantly. Poets and writers feature heavily on Australian bank notes. The typewritten verse of poet and journalist Dame Mary Gilmore brings a haunting sense of authenticity to Garry Emery's NGB design for the tenner. Englishwoman Mary Reibey was transported to Australia as a convict but went on to become a successful businesswoman in Sydney.

The RBA removed biography captions early on in the NGB project to avoid lecturing the public. The NGB design brief called for the expression of 'Australian characteristics'.

The Reverend John Flynn, who founded what became the Royal Flying Doctor Service, is rendered before a dramatic outback scene. Allan 'Chirpy' Campbell the great-nephew of Aboriginal inventor and author David Unaipon has vowed to sue the Reserve Bank for $30 million over the 'unauthorised' use of Unaipon in the present $50 note. But he loves this new image. The new portrait of teacher Edith Cowan with outback kids captured a youthful spirit the design brief called for before the Reserve Bank returned to safer territory in later versions. Legendary diva Dame Nellie Melba was set for a spectacular return to her heyday in the new portrait commissioned but we're staying with the older stodgy image of today's $100 note.

Sir John Monash, Australia's greatest general, knocked polar explorer Douglas Mawson off the $100 when our biggest note changed from paper to plastic in 1996. Courtesy of Thomas Krause, Trevor Wilkin, Yves Courtemanche.

Neale Vickery, Allan Tilley, and Aidan Work. According to an, the government will conduct a field trial with one billion polymer 10-rupee banknotes to check the possibility of introducing polymer notes in India. The trials will be conducted in five cities—Mysore, Kochi, Shimla, Jaipur and Bhubaneshwar—selected on the basis of their varied geographical location and climatic conditions.

The tests are to be conducted to determine if polymer notes last longer, thereby reducing replacement and disposal costs. In another effort to increase the lifespan of banknotes, banks are asked to do away with the practices of stapling fresh note packets and writing on the watermark areas. World Paper & Polymer Uncut Banknote K.

Boon, 154 pages, soft cover, 297 x 210 mm, color illustrations, Chinese and English, ISBN 978-983-43313-4-4, US$15, K. Boon's recently published book, World Paper & Polymer Uncut Banknote, is the first catalog devoted entirely to collectors of uncut sheets of notes, and as such it fills an interesting gap in the numismatic field of knowledge. I had hoped to learn more about how and why uncut sheets are sold to collectors, mailing/storage/display options, deciphering plate and block nubmers, etc. Unfortunately, aside from a few pages of introductory text, there's not much prose in this book, the bulk of which is devoted to depictions of the banknote sheets along with brief descriptions and variety listings. The text is written primarily in English, with some material also in Chinese. For the most part, the English is serviceable, in spite of some typos and awkward phrases. The banknote listings are segregated by substrate, with paper-based notes appearing first, followed by polymer-based notes at the end of the catalog.

I would prefer to see all of the notes of a particular country listed together, but collectors who specialize in polymer issues may appreciate having these notes broken out into their own section. Within the paper and polymer sections, the listings are organized alphabetically by country, then grouped by denominations (smallest to largest), each in chronological order. Unique note types are assigned their own KNB numbers, with lowercase variety letters appended to distinguish between sheets with different attributes.

For example, KNB4a may refer to an uncut block of 4 notes, whereas KNB4b refers to a full uncut sheet of 45 notes. Alas, there are no cross-references to other catalog numbers of the underlying notes.

In most cases, blocks (mini-sheets) or full sheets of notes are illustrated, except when the author wasn't able to obtain such images. In those cases, an individual note is shown instead. I actually prefer this latter presentation because the note's design details can be seen, which is not the case when the sheets are reproduced greatly reduced in size.

I hope the second edition of this book will include larger illustrations of the front and back of individual notes to each listing for the best of both worlds. Another improvement would be expanded descriptions of the notes. Many notes lack any descriptions at all, and for those that are described, the text is terse and typically applies only to the front; usually the backs are ignored altogether. Each listing has columns for Date of Issue, Quantity Issued, Issued Price, and Market Price, with the last two values shown in Chinese yuan (RMB). Market prices are given for almost all listings, but in many cases the other columns are left blank. Hopefully further research will result in this information being added in future editions. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous sellers cut notes from sheets in an attempt to create 'errors' or rare prefix varieties which are then foisted upon unsuspecting buyers.

To the author's credit, some listings include warnings about this practice, and some listings also indicate the prefixes found on the sheets, but it's unclear if these prefixes are exclusive to sheets. More detailed prefix information might allow for the easy identification of such doctored notes.

World Paper & Polymer Uncut Banknote is an excellent first attempt to systematically document an area of collecting that has heretofore been largely ignored by other catalogs. Collectors of banknote sheets will most definitely appreciate having this handsome, professionally printed, full-color volume in their reference library.. The following is a letter that I recently wrote to the editor of the Journal. I do not know if it will be published in an upcoming issue, but I thought visitors to this site might find it interesting nonetheless.—OWL Dear Editor, I enjoyed reading Marc Riquier's article, 'The History of Plastic Banknotes: It All Started in Belgium!' 51:1 about the role Union Chimique Belge played in the development of the Guardian substrate popularized. However, I have practical and technical objections to the use of the term 'hybrid' to describe notes employing. As a practical matter, (with a capital H) is G&D's term for its patented substrate comprised of cotton fibers sandwiched between layers of plastic.

To use hybrid (with a lower-case H) in conjunction with different, competing products only invites confusion. From a technical standpoint, both varifeye and Optiks create see-through windows by applying thin transparent films over apertures in paper substrates (see my articles in Vol. 47:1 and 47:4, respectively).

While it's true that the films are polymers and appear on paper notes, the mere addition of a disparate material to the substrate doesn't change the classification of the substrate. If it did, any banknote with a security thread, foil patch, or holographic stripe would be a hybrid. Collectors should adopt the terminology used by the security printing industry, in which the term hybrid is applied only to banknotes with substrates that are a combination of paper and polymer. G&D's Hybrid substrate certainly qualifies and has already been used on notes such as.

Takes the opposite approach, placing paper on the outside and a polymer core at center. The Swiss National Bank is using Durasafe for its new series of notes expected to be issued in 2013. Linzmayer 7962 Tags.