New Canada 100 bill on Monday

Bank of Canada today announce that they will begin circulating the new $100 bill (Canada’s first polymer bank note) on Monday, 14 November 2011. They had been circulating information regarding the new banknotes security features since middle of this year. New Canada $100 polymers, which celebrates Canada’s contributions to innovation in the field of medicine, will be featured at an official event taking place in Toronto, Ontario, at the MaRS Centre, a hub for public-private sector innovation and collaboration between the business and scientific communities. Speaking at the event will be Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of Canada, and Dr. Ilse Treurnicht, Chief Executive Officer of MaRS Discovery District.

The New Canada $100 polymers, features images that focus on Canadian innovations in the field of medicine: from pioneering the discovery of insulin to treat diabetes, to the invention of the pacemaker and to the role Canadian researchers have played in mapping the human genetic code. Sir Robert Borden, Prime Minister of Canada between 1911 and 1920, in an updated portrait, remains on the front of the note. You can read more about it via this link; Canada new 100 dollars.

The Canada $100 notes contain a number of unique features that expand the frontiers of bank note security and will make them difficult to counterfeit but easy to check. Most prominent are two transparent areas: the larger area extends from the top to the bottom of the note and contains complex holographic features; the other is in the shape of a maple leaf. You can check the notes using Feel, Look and Flip method. You can read some explanation on the innovative security features and design of the new $100 polymer note, with their official video via this link; Canada 100 dollars security features.

Source: Bank of Canada.

2011 IACA currency awards winners

International Association of Currency Affairs (IACA) has announced 2011 IACA currency awards winners at the IACA conference in Singapore recently. IACA is an international organization of central banks, currency-issuing authorities, currency producers and suppliers. Bank Negara Malaysia is one of the members of IACA and I hope Malaysia New Banknote next year will have a chance to be nominated in IACA currency awards. The Currency Awards program was designed to promote and recognize the excellence in the industry. Sponsored by Currency News and run by IACA, the awards are open to any organization or individual supplying products, systems or services and anyone can make a nomination for a category.

IACA currency awards winners for 2011:

Lifetime Achievement Award

Winners:

Alex Jarvis, Director, Global Currency for Authentix and former General Manager of the Bank of England Printing Works.

Jaime Pacreu, Ph.d Director General Mexico for Securency and former Director General, Currency Issue for the Banco de Mexico.

Best New Banknote or Banknote Series

Winner: The Bank of Uganda

Finalist: Central Bank of Sri Lanka and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Best New Coin or Coin Series

Best New Currency Feature

Winner: Hologram Industries DID® Patch

details: use on the new BSP 500 and 1000 banknotes. Two distinctive colors appear at the direct reflection angle. The Unique DID® features consist in the permutation of the colors when the device is rotated 90°.

Finalist:

Arjowiggins Security Bioguard: a substrate specifically developed for its anti-bacterial properties.

Oberthur Technologies Securicoat: a first level security feature consisting of two UV printed varnishes, matt and glossy, with intaglio embossing.

Best New Currency Innovation, Process or Product Award

Winner: The Hong Kong Monetary Authority's

Details: Three different banknote designers were working independently without access to each other's work, under the close guidance and coordination from HKMA. All 3 new issues have completely different designs but have common security features through all denominations.

Finalist: Giesecke & Devrient, OeBS & Jura.

Best Currency Public Education Program

Winner: The Bank of Canada

Details: they used a very effective video to introduce the upcoming polymer note series. The video showcasing the $100 has helped prepare Canadians for a very different sort of banknote and one that promises to be easy to verify and hard to counterfeit.

Finalist: Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.

Best Currency Website

Winner: The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic

Details: www.bancentral.gov.do/english/coins_and_banknotes.asp

Finalist:

National Bank of Romania, www.bnro.ro/Coins-and-notes-in-circulation-1331.asp.

Bank of Botswana,www.bankofbotswana.bw/content/2010031616039-current-notes-and-coin.

Source: http://www.currencyaffairs.org

Bank of Uganda also won IBNS-Banknote of 2010 with their Uganda 50000 shilling.

Malaysia new banknote printer reveal

If any of you read news today, you might already know that Malaysia new banknote printer reveal at Dewan Rakyat today. To every Malaysian who still don't know, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) will announce a new fourth series of the ringgit banknotes in the near future and already announce Malaysia 3rd series coins on 25 July 2011. BNM decided to issue the the new third series of the Malaysian coins and the fourth series of the ringgit banknotes with improved security features to overcome counterfeiting.

Here are the news reported by Bernama:

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai told the Dewan Rakyat the move would help Bank Negara Malaysia to reduce the cost of producing the new coins by 49% a year through the use of base metals and other technical specifications.

"The appointment of suppliers for the new series of Malaysian coins and banknotes is made through an open tender," he said in response to a question by Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut) who wanted to know the government's rationale in producing the new series of the Malaysian coins and banknotes.

He said all the contracts for the supply of the new series of Malaysian coins and banknotes had been tendered to international companies of high reputation and credibility.

"The supplier which has been selected to supply the coins is Poogsan Corporation, South Korea, and the coins are minted at the Bank Negara Malaysia mint in Shah Alam.

"The suppliers for the new series Malaysian banknotes are Crane AB, Sweden; Giesecke & Devrient GmbH, Germany; Oberthur Technologies, France, and Orell Fussli, Switzerland," Donald added.

Malaysia new banknote printer will be Crane AB, Sweden; Giesecke & Devrient GmbH, Germany; Oberthur Technologies, France, and Orell Fussli, Switzerland. I think that will stop the rumours about Malaysia new banknote turn plastic next year. We hope to hear a good news by early November.

No new RM50 for 2011

If you're looking for information about Malaysia new banknote, no new RM50 for 2011. I don't know where people get that information but I had seen they're over a dozen readers coming into my blog daily with the keywords "RM50 2011" and "New RM50". When I check around, they're announcement about this by BNM in Facebook. Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) via its official Facebook page has announced that there is no new RM50 banknotes for the upcoming new Malaysia notes. The current RM50 banknote released in July 2009 will still be our RM50 notes for next year.

Picture: RM50 gold line on sale by Dickson Niew

About the new Malaysia banknote series, BNM still had not announce anything. In their last press statement about the new Malaysia coins, they will announce the new fourth series banknote design in the third quarter of 2011. We are in October, fourth quarter of 2011 but they're still no new news about it. BNM had reply in their Facebook pages that it will be released in October but still no official release date. Many banknote collector are waiting eagerly for the new notes announcement especially for the last prefix banknote collector. I know most of you check BNM website almost daily for the news.

BNM also don't reply if they will release any special commemorative banknotes for the new fourth series banknote. I think almost all collectors agree that BNM should announce everything early if they're new commemorative coin and banknote released since most collector want to get their collection at BNM themself. Buying from a third party will make the price go slightly higher then the release price. Hopefully BNM will consider this in their future announcement of Malaysia comemorative.

Again, sorry to share with everyone, they will not be a new RM50 for 2012.

UK new £50 banknote

Bank of England announce UK new £50 banknote will be in circulation starting on 2 November 2011. The new-style £50 note will feature the renowned 18th century business partnership of entrepreneur Matthew Boulton and engineer James Watt. The banknote will be the second in the Series F ‘family’ which began with the introduction of the Adam Smith £20 note in 2007. It will be the first time two portraits have appeared together on the reverse of a Bank of England banknote.

A range of new and enhanced security features have been incorporated into the design of the Boulton and Watt £50 banknote. Full details of these will be revealed when the new banknote is introduced into circulation. This banknote will be the first in circulation to be signed by Chris Salmon, who was appointed as the Bank’s Executive Director – Banking Services and Chief Cashier in April 2011.

Boulton was a leading entrepreneur of the Industrial Revolution. On leaving school he worked in his father's buckle-making factory in Birmingham, which he later inherited. He was particularly enthused by the development of steam engines and the minting of coins. Watt was involved in several civil engineering projects during his life, including a survey and estimate in 1773 for a canal between Fort William and Inverness. The Caledonian Canal was constructed in the early 19th century.

In 1775 Boulton went into partnership with Watt, whose improvements to steam engine design had led to greater efficiency and cheaper running costs. The pair pioneered the use of the steam engine in the cotton spinning industry. Boulton established the Soho Mint, which produced high-quality coinage using steam-driven machinery.

£1million notes sold for £69000

Do you remember the extremely rare £1million note on auction by British private collector news I share with you recently? The banknote sold today in a specialist sale in London for only £69,000, a little bit from its expected price of £50,000. The notes is one of only nine one million pound notes ever been issued. The notes were given to the UK by the U.S. in President Harry Truman's Marshall Aid plan after World War Two. Only two of them have survived (numbers 000007 and 000008). The latter went for £78,300 ($125,000) at auction three years ago.

The banknote issued by British Treasury on 30 August 1948 for economic reconstruction but cancelled on 6 October 1948. This Treasury note entitles the Bank of England to payment of one million pounds on demand out of the consolidated fund of the United Kingdom. The notes were only in use for six weeks and were never meant for public circulation. They were only intended for internal use between financial institutions to track money, reported the Daily Telegraph.

The Marshall Plan, officially called the European Recovery Programme, was a scheme in which America gave money to Europe to help rebuild economies devastated by the war. The plan, named after U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall, started in 1948 and went on for four years.

Source: Daily Mail.

Extremely rare £1million note on auction

Extremely rare £1million note on auction by British private collector and is expected to sell for only £50,000 ($80,000). Its sound like an easy way to make it to the millionaire club but the banknote is no longer legal tender. The banknote issued by British Treasury on 30 August 1948 for economic reconstruction but cancelled on 6 October 1948. This Treasury note entitles the Bank of England to payment of one million pounds on demand out of the consolidated fund of the United Kingdom. The notes were only in use for six weeks and were never meant for public circulation. They were only intended for internal use between financial institutions to track money, reported the Daily Telegraph.

'How it found its way from the bank in the first place is anybody's guess,’ auctioneer Chris Webb told the Daily Mirror.

The notes was one of only nine given to the UK by the U.S. in President Harry Truman's Marshall Aid plan after World War Two. Only two of them have survived (numbers 000007 and 000008). The latter went for £78,300 ($125,000) at auction three years ago. Number 000007 was sold in a private sale for £8,000 ($13,000) in 1977 and listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the highest denomination privately owned at the time. The U.S. loaned the money at the time because it thought a strong Western Europe would help be a buffer to contain the rise of Russian communism.

Source: Daily Mail

HK$1,000 Gold Leaf banknote

Today, I read via Brunei Buletin about a unique HK$1,000 Gold Leaf banknote presented by HSBC Brunei as a pesambah to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam. The unique banknote is presented during the Hari Raya exhibition organised by Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. On hand to present the pesambah was the Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Brunei, Mr Vincent Ho. It is exactly a replica of HK$1,000 in 24K gold, from the look of it.

What exactly a Gold Banknotes?

Normally you can see these kind of banknote sold in internet (eBay). Its exactly a replica of the real banknotes produced with a 24K gold foil. The weight of the notes normally is just around 5-7 gram and it need to be in a frame to make sure the notes does not wrinkled or damaged.

What notes has been produced?

You can find many country notes has been produced into gold banknote, just Google "Gold Foil Banknote"; US Dollars, Britain Pound, Japanese Yen, Australia Dollars etc. But I never seen any Malaysia Ringgit in Gold Foil before.

Is it worth it to buy Gold Foil notes?

In my private opinion, its not worth it because the notes always sold at a higher price then the notes value of gold. Don't forget you also need to include the shipping cost. 

What is Pesambah?

Pesambah mean token of appreciation or gift.

I cannot find any other information about the HK$1,000 Gold Leaf banknote presented to His Majesty the Sultan. Most of the information come from the same source and don't tell much about the banknote itself. If someone want to give a gift to me, this gold foil banknote will be nice.

Taiwan new commemorative banknote mayhem

I suppose to write a post about something else just now but the Taiwan new commemorative banknote mayhem news in Taiwan China Post get my intention. Yesterday, Central Bank of China (CBC) release the “Collector's Version of the Republic of China Founding Centenary NT$100 Banknotes” with 500,00 sets up for grab among collectors. Almost all the set gone few hours after the sale immediately resold for as much as NT$2,000 each, far more than the face value of NT$300 and retail price of NT$500. Each set has three NT$100 bills in it. Pictures of people line up waiting to buy the new Taiwan commemorative banknote get my attention. I had seen people lining up for new coins, notes or stamps in Malaysia but its really a mayhem in Taiwan. Look like people are rallying to get a piece of the notes.

Its all because of  local collectors and investors vied with those from Hong Kong and China for the memorabilia expected to rise in value soon. The rich investors and collectors hired  College students, housewives, and old folks with time to kill. Some speculators, armed with NT$10 million cash each, even stood in the streets outside the CBC building in downtown Taipei offering cash in broad daylight to smiling people for the prizes in their hands. The more enterprising among them, allegedly from Hong Kong, even brought mobile toilets and provided lunchboxes and cold drinks for their hired hands, who were paid around NT$180 an hour.

According to analysts, the unprecedented rush on CBC was caused by the insatiable demand for currency sets in mainland China, where such items are easily resold for a profit, especially after the Jan. 6, 2011, first CBC sale of these banknote sets. On the other hand, contract-bound local coin and banknotes dealers were so anxious to avoid being penalized for failure to deliver the sets they simply bid up the prices. The first 300,000 sets, all sold out at the beginning of the years, could then fetch a price up to NT$8,000 in a resale, more than 20 times higher than their face value and retail price. 

Source: Taiwan China Post

Nowadays, its even hard to find China Silver coins in Malaysia markets. Many of the coins had been bought by Chinese from mainland China who bought them at a very high price. What happen if this kind of frenzy@crazy thing start happening in Malaysia? Or is it already happening? You tell me. I am here just to share some interesting story that I found.

Ringgit sign Aishah

A lot of my friends who are not a collector asking about "ringgit sign aishah" (Malaysia Ringgit banknote signed by Aishah). Many of them believe or just heard rumours that a ringgit notes signed by this Aishah can get them a high return if they sell it to collector. Some heard rumours saying that notes signed by Malaysia former Permaisuri Agong Puan Seri Aisyah. Many of them also knew that there is no Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) governor name Aishah. The only women who ever been appointed as a BNM governor is Y.M. Tan Sri Dato' Ungku Dr. Zeti Akhtar binti Ungku Abdul Aziz.

Who exactly BNM Aishah?

The signed is exactly owned by Tan Sri Dato' Seri Ali Abul Hassan bin Sulaiman, BNM Governor from September 1998 until April 2000. His signature look like "Aishah".

Why Malaysian looking for Aishah banknote?

They heard rumours saying that the notes signed by Aishah can get them high value. Some also heard that you can get 10 times the value if you change them at BNM. Many people don't know that you can only get face value if you change any old ringgit in BNM. You can read my post about that in Tukar duit lama di BNM?

What is the truth about duit Aishah?

What many collector are looking for is a RM1 notes signed by Tan Sri Dato' Seri Ali Abul Hassan bin Sulaiman with CR prefix. The notes can go up to RM2000 for a Uncirculated notes. The notes get into circulation by mistake and only few of that banknotes exist in this world and only few UNC notes exist. Its a very rare notes for Malaysia Numismatic. They're also people who are looking for RM50 notes and RM100 notes signed by Tan Sri Dato' Seri Ali Abul.

Nilai duit sign Aishah@Ali Abul

RM50 BG-UNC Price=RM850.

RM50 BH-UNC Price=RM400.

RM50 BJ-UNC Price=RM450.

RM50 ZA (replacement notes)-UNC Price=RM1,800.

RM100-UNC Price=RM320.

RM100 ZA (replacement notes)-UNC Price=RM460.

Other than that, here is the price of other Aishah banknote:
RM2 side sign-UNC Price=RM50.
RM2 ZD (replacement notes) side sign-UNC Price=RM90.
RM10 side sign-UNC Price=RM120.
RM10 ZA (replacement notes) side sign-UNC Price=RM250.
RM2 center sign-UNC Price=RM15.
RM5 center sign-UNC Price=RM25.
RM10 ZA (replacement notes) center sign-UNC Price=RM100.

Please remember

You don't get the high price from changing them in Bank Negara! You also cannot get the high price from selling it to any banknote dealers. The best way to get a high price for that kind of banknotes by selling them online yourself. You can read my post on How to sell coins as a guide.

PS: To all blogger who copycat my post, please give a link back to my blog original post! I already report hundreds of blogs for DMCA copyright complaints. Almost all blogs I reported had already been deleted.

South Sudan New Currency

New nation, Republic of South Sudan announced its new currency, South Sudanese Pound last week. According to information in Wikipedia the new banknote is subdivided into 100 piastres. It was approved by the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly prior to secession on 9 July 2011 from Sudan. The banknotes feature the image of John Garang, the deceased leader of South Sudan's independence movement. Six different denominations (1, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 pounds) in the form of banknotes have been confirmed, and four denominations (1, 5, 25 and 50 piastres) will be issued in the form of coins.

"Today, President Salva Kiir said in the council of ministers that it is the last day of exchanging the Sudanese pound into the South Sudan pound," Information Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin told reporters in Juba.

"From tomorrow (Friday), the Sudanese Guinea (pound) is illegal tender. It will no longer be used to buy anything in the Republic of South Sudan," he added.

Separately, Khartoum announced that, from 1500 GMT on Thursday, the introduction of the new Sudanese pound note in the north was partly complete.

"As of this date, the old 10, 20 and 50 pound notes... will be unfit for circulation, while trading in the 1, 2, and 5 pound notes of the old category will continue... until further notice from the bank," the Central Bank of Sudan said in a statement.

After independence, southern officials were concerned that their country would be flooded with old Sudanese pounds, of which there were an estimated 2.1 billion already in circulation. Benjamin said 1.6 billion Sudanese pounds had been collected in South Sudan. The Sudanese pound, which is equal in value to the South Sudan pound, has seen its purchasing power plunge this year, mainly because of the surge in food prices and weak state finances. One US dollar can now buy up to 3.5 Sudanese pounds on the black market, compared with the official exchange rate of about 2.7 Sudanese pounds.

Source: Wikipedia, AFP.

A new country emerge and a new banknote come into circulation for us collector to collect.

Plastic fiver pound

I had been reading about Bank of England plastic fiver pound since 2005 but until today, only a Northern Ireland plastic fiver has been produced. Today, I read a news about England  £5 Polymer again in Independent UK. The Bank of England is considering a plastic fiver and a £50 with transparent slots to improve durability and protect against counterfeiting in the next generation of bank notes. De La Rue has a contract to produce the UK's notes until 2015. However, it is understood that the contract could allow new suppliers to produce some of these updated notes ahead of that date.

Picture by BBC: Northern Ireland £5 note

Bank officials are believed to be concerned that the £5 note, which as a low denomination changes hands quickly, is not tough enough. Sterling notes are currently made mainly from cotton, but Australia paved the way with a polymer currency that better withstands everyday use. 

A source close to the Bank said: "This is at the evaluation stage. A decision won't be made for the next year or two and production a little while after that, but a plastic £5 note is a possibility even though it won't provide as much security as other options." 

A polymer note is considered easier to replicate than those with clear, plastic windows within a traditional cotton fabric. The Bank is considering the latter option for its other notes, favouring a trial with the £50. 

A far less used note, the £50 does not require the durability features of a fiver, but is more costly to the economy if counterfeited on a large scale. "The Bank is looking at ways of putting a see-through, transparent window on notes as a primary security feature," said the source.

An industry source added: "There are ongoing conversations about the future features of banknotes, particularly in order to combat counterfeiting, between the Bank and industry suppliers."

Source: Independent

With the introduction of the new £5 polymer note will the £5 paper note become the collectibles item? Only time will tell but find a UNC £5 note are certainly a hassle in Malaysia. I personally don't think  Bank of England will give it a try for Polymer Fiver Pound. They're still looking for other option that far much better then Polymer notes. But it is certainly a good news for collector like us, we can start keep the good condition £5 paper note. Their price will be going up one day.

New Iraq Currency

A new Iraq currency has been planned by Central Bank of Iraq (CBI). CBI Governor, Sinan al-Shabibi in his interview with Al-Sabaah claims that the new currency’s attributes will make it ‘difficult’ to falsify. The Central Bank and the Finance Committee in the House of Representatives agreed to hold further meetings to finalize discussions on the project. The central bank is determined to raise three zeroes from the of the new Iraqi currency and presented its project to the government and the House of Representatives. Deleting three zeros from the Iraqi currency will raise its value, and increase the purchasing power of citizens. Iraq has 30 trillion dinars in circulation and the project would bring liquidity to 30 billion.

Haven't you heard that Iraqi Dinar revalue soon? It has been all over news and everyone is buying Iraq Dinar stock. Iraqi Budget already approved by Parliament, does this clear the way for the Iraq Dinar to RV drastically & quickly? Its a little bit hard to find Iraq Dinar now since the news come out.

Source: http://goo.gl/B3WwJ

Iraq is recovering after years of war and sanctions and oil still dominates the economy, accounting for 95 per cent of government revenues. Investors complain Iraq's still heavily centralized economy is mired in red tape and bureaucracy, and transactions are still often carried out in cash. Planning and the preparation for reform was complete and the proposal would be handed to the government in the next month. It would also need parliamentary approval.

Source: http://goo.gl/S506o

Iraq stock exchange is ready and they're in a process to start a global stock exchange. If their currency are accepted by Global market, we can most probably see a RV (revaluations). RV will happen sooner or later.

Source: http://goo.gl/TLnj1

100 pesos Ateneo Law School

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has released a 100 pesos Ateneo Law School commemorative banknote. The design is the same as the current Philippine 100 pesos but with a 75th diamond jubilee logo of Ateneo Law School. The Ateneo de Manila Law School is a Catholic and Jesuit institution situated within the larger Ateneo de Manila University. It was established in June 1936 to help form and develop good and committed lawyers. This is not the first time 100 pesos has been used as a commemorative banknote.

Philippine 100 Pesos commemorative 

• Centennial celebration of Philippine Independence-with an overprint of the Centennial logo in 1997.


• UP Centennial commemorative-overprint of the iconic UP Oblation to commemorate the centennial of the University of the Philippines (UP) in 2008.


• 60 years of Central Banking commemorative-overprint commemorating 60 years of central banking on 9 July 2009. The overprint appears on the watermark area on all six circulating denominations.


• Celebrating 100 years of Excellence in Law 1911-2011.-100 Years of University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law


• 75th years Ateneo of Law School-75th diamond jubilee logo on obverse.

President Aquino receives commemorative 100 peso bills

Photo credit: Malacañang Photo Bureau

On 6 June 2011, Philippine President, S. Aquino III  received a commemorative book from Dean Cesar Villanueva, as well as commemorative 100 peso bills with the 75th diamond jubilee logo from Banko Central Governor Amando M. Tetangco. He was the guest speaker in the 75th Anniversary of Ateneo Law School in Rockwell Makati campus. The president in his speech, addressed to the alumni of the school, stresses the importance of providing legal assistance to the poor and the marginalized sector of our society to attain equal justice for all. After his speech he

I heard that our friends in Philippines get some of the commemorative banknotes from their bank ATM? Is that mean they get it at a face value? 

Philippines Peso notes authentication levels

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) last year has released a New Generation Currency (NGC), P20, P50, P100, P200, P500, and P1,000; all have new designs and security features. Philippines NGC printed with Bioguard technology by Arjowiggins. Bioguard produces banknotes that are treated to prevent bacteria from multiplying. The anti-bacterial property has been tested to resist washing and will last throughout the lifetime of the banknote. Do you know that BSP has incorporated security features that allow for four levels of authentication?

Philippines Peso notes authentication levels:

(1) Level I: Security features which can be easily recognized by the public without the use of special instrument. These are the “look, feel, tilt” elements in the notes such as watermark, security thread, and security fibers.

(2) Level II: Security features recognizable by professional cash handlers or bank tellers with the use of magnifying lens or ultraviolet light. Examples are fluoro-phosphorescent features, security fibers, and microprinting.

(3) Level III: The hidden or covert security features reserved for the use of Bangko Sentral.

(4) Level IV: Forensic security features for the use of law enforcers in testifying whether a banknote is genuine or counterfeit. These are detectable at specialized laboratories.

The central bank presented these authentication methods as it launched the new currency generation of P20, P50, P100, P200, P500 and P1, 000 banknotes around Western Visayas recently. An example of these security features are the embossed prints of the words “Republika ng Pilipinas” and “Sanlibong Piso” on the P1,000 bill that can be detected by the “feel” method. BSP said the public will benefit from the security features of the new currency as they will be protected from receiving fake money.

Source: Pia.gov.ph

702million new peso banknote

Central Bank of the Philippines yesterday announced that 702million new peso banknote has been in circulation. The announcement made by Currency Analysis and Redemption Division, Cash Department Manager Maja Gratia Malic, during the recent public information campaign on the NGC here at the CB office. The new generation currency (NGC) banknotes released on 17 december 2010 with many new security features. She said the upgraded security features like new design, threads, texture, groves, silhouettes and others were especially created to prevent the spread of counterfeits.

Maja Gratia Malic said he cannot give the amount per area but was sure it was spread evenly in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao for initial use as a legal tender. The six banknote denominations include 20 peso, 50 peso, 100 peso, 200 peso, 500 peso and 1000 peso bills. Coin denomination redesigning is now also on the process. The old currency can still be legally used for three years to give enough time for the public to make a full transition to the new NGC, she said.

Currency Management Sub-sector Managing Director Iluminada Sicat said attempts were already made to make counterfeits but fell short of copying the original and were thwarted.

Source: Philippine Information Agency.

How many Malaysia banknotes in circulation? Anybody know?

IBNS-Banknote of 2010-Uganda 50000 shilling

Members of the International Bank Note Society’s (IBNS) had choose Uganda’s 50,000-shilling banknote as a "Banknote of 2010". Thirteen banknote has been nominate on the IBNS web site (www.theIBNS.org) since mid February. On 9th April 2011, Bank of Uganda 50000 Shilling was announced as the winner. Printed by British security printers De La Rue, the note was designed in co-operation with the Bank of Uganda. The banknote is the highest denomination in a series of six notes introduced in May 2010.

Some of the winning elements of the notes include the watermark of the head of a crested crane, an outline of a map of Uganda (highlighting the equator), the profile of man wearing Karimojong head dress, patterns based on indigenous basket work and, at the far right on the back, the Independence Monument. Erected to celebrate Ugandan independence in October 1962, the statue is of a woman wrapped in bonds lifting a child above her head, celebrating the birth of the nation.

On the front of the award-winning note the ‘Stride Monument’ is at the left, the Bwindi tropical rain forest is illustrated at the centre left, a foil strip with the denomination and images of shields at centre right and an area for the watermark at the far right. The Stride Monument was erected to celebrate the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in Kampala in 2007. Depicting a husband, wife and son stepping forward, the monument symbolizes the countries of the Commonwealth progressing as a family. The reverse of the note is dominated by illustrations of silver back mountain gorillas.

Source: IBNS.org

Hong Kong 100 dollars notes error

Last week, Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the three note-issuing banks (Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited and Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited) released The design of the remaining three denominations, HK$100, HK$50 and HK$20, from the issue of the 2010 new series Hong Kong banknotes. But the new Hong Kong 100 dollars notes come with an error. The notes reverse which depicting the city emblem (petals of the Bauhinia flower), pointing in the wrong direction.

HSBC Hong Kong on Monday apologised for the printing error. a spokeswoman at HSBC Hong Kong told AFP, they sincerely apologises for the embarrassment caused to all parties concerned" but emphasised none of the bank notes have been circulated. The bank would fix the problem as soon as possible but did not say how many flawed notes had been printed or the cost involved in redesigning and reprinting the notes.

The bank and the city's government had failed to detect the flaw before unveiling the new designs last Friday, but the mistake was highlighted in local media over the weekend. In a statement issued late Sunday, the government also apologised for the error and said HSBC had started redesigning and reprinting new HK$100 banknotes, with a plan of putting them into circulation early next year. HSBC will pay to fix the problem, the government said.

Check on HKMA official website today, the reverse design picture has been deleted from the website with a note "design will be revised". That will be an error for the bank but a collector dreams. The Hong Kong 100 dollars notes error will be coming out soon in eBay, just wait and see.

Source: HKMA, AFP.

Hong Kong 100, 50, 20 dollars notes

Hong Kong 100, 50, 20 dollars notes has been unveiled by Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the three note-issuing banks (Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited and Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited). The $100, $50 and $20 notes incorporate the same state-of-the-art security features as the new $1,000 and $500 notes which are already in circulation, and help the visually impaired differentiate between the denominations.

Monetary Authority Chief Executive Norman Chan said the new notes will be phased in from November, after which the entire Hong Kong 2010 series will be in circulation.

“The new $1,000 and $500 banknotes, which have been in circulation since December and February, have received a very positive response from the public. I am confident the new $100, $50 and $20 banknotes will be equally well received.”

They were designed by the respective note-issuing banks (Standard Chartered Bank, Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation, and Bank of China) and approved by the Financial Secretary. They are printed by Hong Kong Note Printing. All existing banknotes continue to be legal tender. They will circulate along with the new banknotes and be gradually withdrawn from circulation when they become physically unfit for circulation.

New Hong Kong dollars security features:

1. Dynamic Colour-changing Pattern

When the note is tilted, two visual effects appear: the colour of the pattern shifts between green and gold, while at the same time a shimmering horizontal bar is seen to be rolling up and down.

2. Colour-changing Windowed Metallic Thread

When the note is tilted, the thread shifts in colour between magenta and green. When examining it closely, microtext to build the large alphabets 「H」 and 「K」 can be seen.

3. Concealed Denomination

Visible when the note is tilted.

4. Iridescent Pattern

Shimmering when the note is tilted under a bright light.

5. Enhanced Watermark

The watermarks of the three note-issuing banks are standardized. Multi-tonal watermark of a bauhinia flower, highlight watermark of the denomination numeral and dot pattern can be seen when the note is held up to the light.

6. Fluorescent See-through Pattern

The patterns on the front and back fit perfectly when the note is held up to the light. When the note is put under ultraviolet light, two fluorescent colours appear.

7. Serial Numbers

Two sets of serial numbers with progressively larger digits in adjacent positions. One set horizontally at the bottom-left corner, and another set vertically on the right side of the note, which is fluorescent red under ultraviolet light.

8. Embossed Feel

Raised printing giving the note a strong embossed feel by touch.

Source: HKMA, news.gov.hk

Iran Banknote Survey

Associated Press reported that Iran’s central bank is asking citizens their opinions on new names for the country’s currency in Iran Banknote Survey. The report also said that visitor to the bank’s website can choose from several names, including rial (the current name), toman, parsi and derik. But when I browse Iran central bank website today, I cannot find any of the said survey.

June last year, The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) release Iranian biggest denomination banknote 100,000 rials. The value of the notes currently is only equivalent to around 9 dollars.

In the online survey, the bank also asks respondents how many zeros should be removed from the currency. The government has proposed lopping off four zeros. The poll results will be taken into consideration when the government draws up a draft on changes to the currency. The proposal will be submitted to parliament. Iran’s government has approved removing zeros from the currency, apparently as a result of inflation, which is officially about 14 percent.

Source: Associated Press.

You can view Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran website and look if you can find a survey. Maybe the survey already ended or Iran never make that survey?