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Lithuania Launches Minting of Euro Coins
Lithuania has minted samples of the euro coins to be issued by the Bank of Lithuania by 2015. "The euro in Lithuania is taking an actual physical form - the Lithuanian coins with the 2015 date now exist not only on paper, but have been minted from metal as well. The circulation euro coin samples are high quality examples of coins – they will be the basis for the coins jingling in the purses of the Lithuanian population," says Vitas Vasiliauskas, Chairman of the Board of... Read more
Hryvnia Facing Pre-Withdrawal in Crimea
On April 11, Rustam Temirgaliev, 1st Deputy Chairman of the Crimean Cabinet Council, said that due to the hryvnia downfall and likelier Ukraine's default, the bi-currency scheme period on the peninsula might be reconsidered. What's under discussion now is substantial short-term hryvnia withdrawal on condition of its unlimited exchange for rubles and compensation of Crimeans' deposits in Ukrainian banks by the Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA). DIA is already deploying its office network throughout... Read more
Euro Coin Counterfeits Fall in 2013
The number of counterfeit euro coins removed from circulation in 2013 decreased by 4% compared to the year before, according to the European Commission. In 2013, national authorities in all eurozone countries withdrew a total of 175,900 fake € coins. According to the Commission, with 16.8b genuine € coins currently in circulation, the counterfeit ratio is just over 10 ppm. However, the vast majority of coins, unlike banknotes, do not get returned from circulation and some... Read more
Visually Impaired Marks on Australian Banknotes?
Alexandra Lanchaster in Australia has organized signatures collection in support of the initiative to embed blind and visually impaired marks in the new series banknotes the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is planning to issue in the years to come. Mrs. Lanchaster is mother to a blind son. In her view, nowadays visually impaired Australians can hardly tell the denom of the note they have on hand and take as a change, while in independent settlements they have to entirely rely on people around.... Read more
How to Detect Fake British Coins?
According to data by the UK Royal Mint (RM) for November 2013, the share of counterfeit £1 coins in circulation has amounted to 3.04%. Due to the high counterfeiting level, RM is preparing to issue a £1 coin with redesign and security features in 2017. The 12-faceted shape will be its main visual feature. It'll be also different from the old version in 2 parts: the inner part will be made of white alloy, the outer part of yellow alloy. RM is planning to use there its new... Read more
Crimea Adopting Russian Currency
On March 24, 2014, the Russian ruble became legal tender in the Republic of Crimea and Sevastople city after their joining the Russian Federation. Since then, all settlements in any payments with one party as a Russian resident have transferred to the RF currency. The Ukrainian hryvnia may still be used till January 1, 2016, after which the ruble is to become Crimea's only currency. UAH will be in exchange at a set rate (3.8 rubles per hryvnia) without any... Read more
Bank of England's Mobile App
The Bank of England has launched a free application for iOS and Android mobile devices to help the general public, retail staff, and police officers authenticate British pound banknotes in circulation. The app describes the design and security features of all note denoms, note images against light and in UV. Besides, users will be advized on how to handle a suspicious... Read more
Commemorative Coin for 200th Anniversary of Norwegian Constitution
16 Feb. 2014, the Bank of Norway issued a commemorative circulatory coin worth 20 kroner on the 200th anniversary of the Constitution celebrated in Norway on 17 May this year. The coin obverse features Harald V, the ruling king of Norway. His portrait has engraved text "HARALD V NORGES KONGE" around and the designer initials "IAR" (Ingrid Austlid Rise) to the left. The lower part features the issue year "2014" and the mint sign between digits "0" and "1". The reverse... Read more
5,000-Ruble Note Becomes Most Counterfeited
By 2013 CBR stats, Russia seized 71,433 counterfeit Russian notes/coins - down 19% year-on-year (against 88,029 fakes in 2012). Their biggest share was the highest, 5,000 denom with 35,565 fakes (against 32,882 year-on-year). The previous years leader - the 1,000 note – became less forged: 27,693 seized imitations against 52,969 yer-on-year. Law enforcers are concerned that most 1,000- and 5,000-ruble fakes were categorized as insecure. CBR includes there counterfeit notes with over 3... Read more
New Vatican Euro Coin Series
Vatican City State is planning to issue a new circulatory euro coin series this year, featuring Pope Francis on the obverse. There're currently already 3 coin series in circulation: in 2002-2005 Vatican had 1st series coins minted with a potrait of Pope John Paul II, in 2005 2nd series coins featured the emblem of the Camerlengo, a temporary Vatican State head, on the Apostolic Camera emblem, then the 3rd series coin has been issued since 2006 with a portrait of His Holiness Pope Benedict... Read more
Bank of England Eliminating 50 Pound Notes of E Series
The Bank of England has announced that as of 30 Apr. 2014 £50 notes of 1994 (E Series) with a portrait of J. Houblon, the first Bank head (1694-1697) on its back will cease being legal tender and be eliminated. For a few months after that date, most UK credit institutions will be accepting these notes to credit their denom funds to citizens' deposit accounts. Specifically, the old notes will be accepted at Barclays, NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank, and Post Office till 30 Oct. 2014. The... Read more
ECB Stats for Counterfeits Detected in H2 2013
The ECB has released data on counterfeit euros detected in H2 2013. Its report published on 13 Jan. indicates that among all banonotes in circulation the counterfeit share was still small. During that period, EU law enforcers detected 353,000 fake notes against about 15b genuine notes in circulation. The most counterfeited notes were still €20 and €50 with 43 and 35% among all fakes respectively. The €100 accounted for 12.9%, the €10 – 6,3%, and the other €5,... Read more
ECB Presents Design of New Europa Series Note
13 Jan. 2014, Yves Mersch of the ECB Executive Board released in Frankfurt the design of a new €10 note of the Europa series due for circulation on 23 Sep. Like the 1st note of the 2nd euro series, the new one will have upgraded security features including a watermark and stripe kinegram with goddess Europa, relief stripes along the note edges, denom digits in OVI, and special coating to prolong service life in... Read more
Another Banknote for Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee
The Guernsey Government celebrated the 60th jubilee of the accession of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with a commemorative banknote worth 20 Guernsey pounds. The note features the prefix "QE60", a laurel wreath image and a corresponding inscription. It's planned to print about 150,000 commemorative notes for parallel circulation with regular notes. Collectors are offered to purchase the commemorative notes via the Guernsey Philatelic Bureau. The note was designed and produced by De La Rue... Read more
New Canadian $50 in "Currency Circulation Changes" Section
26 March 2012, a new polymer Canadian $50 note was issued. You can see the description of its security features in the corresponding eCatalog... Read more