Thailand: New Commemorative coins issued

The Treasury department of Thailand will issue coins commemorating the 84th (7th cycle) birthday of HRH Princess Bejaratana Rajasuda Sirisobhabannavadihad (pronounced as Petcharat) on 1st November 2010. She is the only child of King Rama VI, the 6th King of the ruling Chakri dynasty. She was only 1 day old when her father passed away in 1925. She actually will be turning 85 years old this coming 24th November.

Laos: 450th anniversary of Vientiane commemorative banknote

On 15 November 2010, the Bank Of the Lao PDR issued a 100,000 Kip banknote to commemorate the 450th anniversary of Vientiane as capital (15 November 1560 - 15 November 2010). Only 1,500,000 pieces have been printed.

Mongolia new 10- and 20-togrog notes

10 togrog (US0.01), 2009. Like P62, but new date, signature (L. Purevdorj), and script to left of signature. Intro: March 2011.

20 togrog (US0.01), 2009. Like P62, but new date, signature (L. Purevdorj), and script to left of signature. Intro: March 2011.

Can anyone please identify the language of the script to the left of the signatures, and translate the meaning of the script which appears on the 2007 versus 2009 dated 20-togrog notes below?

Belarus new 50- and 50,000-ruble notes

On 29 December 2010, the National Bank of Belarus introduced new 50- and 50,000-ruble banknotes to bring the inscriptions on the notes into compliance with the new rules of Belarusian spelling and punctuation. The images, colors, and sizes of the notes remain consistent with the preceding issues of the same denominations dated 2000 (P25 and P32, respectively) which circulate in parallel.

The modified 50-ruble notes have the following differences: no security thread and the spelling of the word ПЯЦДЗЯСЯТ instead of ПЯЦДЗЕСЯТ.
The modified 50,000-ruble notes have replaced the solid security thread for a 2-mm wide windowed security thread. In addition, it has the changed spelling of ПЯЦДЗЯСЯТ instead of ПЯЦДЗЕСЯТ.



Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below. Be sure to say you saw it mentioned on Banknotenews.com.

Algeria new 2,000-dinar note to be issued 28 April 2011

On 25 April 2011, the Bank of Algeria announced that it would issue a new 2,000-dinar (US$28) note on 28 April 2011. The note celebrates science, technology, and local development. The front of the note features a university professor teaching in an amphitheater and a group of researchers in a laboratory. The back depicts other key sectors of development in Algeria: agriculture, represented by a palm tree and an olive tree; urban, illustrated by a building; and water resources, by means of a body of water.

The greenish-blue note includes a watermark of Emir Abdelkader, the effigy of Jughurta, a security thread, and hologram plus new safety features, including an anti-copy background. Additionally, there are raised features to help the sight-impaired distinguish the denomination.

Swaziland new 100- and 200-emalangeni

B36 (PNL): 100 emalangeni (US$14.70)
Brown. Front: King Mswati III; coat of arms with lion, shield, and elephant; green-to-blue OVI shield and spears. Back: Elephant, rhinoceros, lion, flowers, and bird; bank seal. Green-to-pink windowed security thread with demetalized CENTRAL BANK OF SWAZILAND. Watermark: King Mswati III and electrotype 100. Printer: GIESECKE & DEVRIENT - GERMANY. 157 x 70 mm. 6.9.2010. Signature 10b. Intro: 01.11.2010.

B37 (PNL): 200 emalangeni (US$29.40)
Green. Front: King Mswati III; coat of arms with lion, shield, and elephant; green-to-blue OVI shield and spears. Back: Straw huts; two goats; warrior; rock formation; bank seal. Green-to-pink windowed security thread with demetalized CENTRAL BANK OF SWAZILAND. Watermark: King Mswati III and electrotype 200. Printer: GIESECKE & DEVRIENT - GERMANY. 160 x 70 mm.
6.9.2010. Signature 10b. Intro: 2011.

Central Bank of Swaziland Governor, Mr. Martin G. Dlamini has announced that the new series of banknotes with upgraded security features will be released to the public on the 1st November 2010.

The Governor stated that although all the banknotes have been upgraded (E10, E20, E50, E100 and E200), the denominations will be released at intervals of six months, starting with the E100 (One Hundred Emalangeni).

“It is important to clarify from the onset that the new banknotes will be used together with the old notes,” he said.

The Governor further explained that banknote security technology had advanced significantly since the issuing of the current series of notes in 1999. “In addition to ensuring that these banknotes are produced with the best technology in line with the highest international standards, we have also ensured that the new notes are a creative expression of our heritage as a nation,” he said. “We gave a lot of thought to making our new printed currency one that we can all identify with as a reflection of our own lives.”

The Governor appealed to the public to familiarize themselves with the new notes by paying close attention to the security features. “We encourage you to know and understand your money so that you can trust it,” he said.

Click here to download the bank’s official brochure describing these two new notes.

Courtesy of Ny Andry Ranaivosolo, Hermann Huber, and Leszek Porowski.

Colombia new 2,000-peso note with Braille

On 28 December 2010, the Banco de la República Colombia introduced a new 2,000-peso (US$1.10) note which is like P457, but with the number 2 expressed in Braille over the watermark on the front left, to facilitate the use of the notes by the sight impaired. The 50,000-peso note (P455) has had the number 50 embossed in Braille to the left of the serial number ever since it was first introduced in 2001. The bank intends to add Braille to all the other denominations over time.

Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below. Be sure to say you saw it mentioned on Banknotenews.com.

Samoa to replace 2-tala note with coin

According to a Radio New Zealand International posting on 5 April 2011, the Central Bank of Samoa plans to replace the polymer 2-tala (P31) note with a coin, and also plans to reduce the size of its coinange, all in an effort to save money in the face of rising commodities prices.

Cayman Islands new family of notes confirmed

CIMA B18 (PNL): 1 dollar (US$1.20)
Violet, sea blue, and orange. Front: Angel fish; map; coat of arms; Queen Elizabeth II. Back: Nautilus shell; The Bluff on Cayman Brac. 1.4-mm wide windowed security thread with demetalized CAYMAN ISLANDS. Watermark: Turtle, electrotype CIMA, and Cornerstones. Printer: DE LA RUE. 156 x 66 mm. 2010. Signature Cindy Scotland and McKeeva Bush. Intro: 04.04.2011.


CIMA B19 (PNL): 5 dollars (US$6.10)
Green. Front: Hawksbill turtles; map; coat of arms; Queen Elizabeth II. Back: Conch shell; Cayman parrots. 1.4-mm wide windowed security thread with demetalized CAYMAN ISLANDS. Watermark: Turtle, electrotype CIMA, and Cornerstones. Printer: DE LA RUE. 156 x 66 mm. 2010. Signature Cindy Scotland and McKeeva Bush. Intro: 04.04.2011.


CIMA B20 (PNL): 10 dollars (US$12.20)
Red, violet, and dark gray. Front: Landcrabs; map; coat of arms; Queen Elizabeth II. Back: Shell; wild banana orchid flower. 1.4-mm wide windowed security thread with demetalized CAYMAN ISLANDS. Watermark: Turtle, electrotype CIMA, and Cornerstones. Printer: DE LA RUE. 156 x 66 mm. 2010. Signature Cindy Scotland and McKeeva Bush. Intro: 04.04.2011.


CIMA B21 (PNL): 25 dollars (US$30.50)
Dark brown, light brown, and orange. Front: Scallop shells; map; coat of arms; Queen Elizabeth II. Back: Scallop shell; Hawksbill turtle, fish, and coral. Holographic stripe. 0.75-mm wide solid security thread. Watermark: Turtle, electrotype CIMA, and Cornerstones. Printer: DE LA RUE. 156 x 66 mm. 2010. Signature Cindy Scotland and McKeeva Bush. Intro: 04.04.2011.


CIMA B22 (PNL): 50 dollars (US$61)
Purple. Front: Stingrays; map; coat of arms; Queen Elizabeth II. Back: Shell; stingray. Holographic stripe. 0.75-mm wide solid security thread. Watermark: Turtle, electrotype CIMA, and Cornerstones. Printer: DE LA RUE. 156 x 66 mm. 2010. Signature Cindy Scotland and McKeeva Bush. Intro: 04.04.2011.


CIMA B23 (PNL): 100 dollars (US$122)
Orange, brown, and red. Front: Cayman Schooner boats; map; coat of arms; Queen Elizabeth II. Back: Conch shell; Financial Centre in George Town. Holographic stripe. 0.75-mm wide solid security thread. Watermark: Turtle, electrotype CIMA, and Cornerstones. Printer: DE LA RUE. 156 x 66 mm. 2010. Signature Cindy Scotland and McKeeva Bush. Intro: 04.04.2011.

According to a CayCompass.com article dated 23 March 2011, the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority introduced the above redesigned family of banknotes on 4 April 2011. Read about the notes in this brochure.

Courtesy of Simon Biddlestone, Thomas Krause, Leszek Porowski, and James Huang.

Congo Democratic Republic new 500-franc variety/error confirmed

500 francs (US$1.10), 04.01.2002. Like P96, but lacking the three diamonds to the left of the watermark area on the front (top image). Both notes bear the imprint of GIESECKE & DEVRIENT MUNICH (the imprint is very faint, printed at lower right on back).

I’m not sure if this is an error note or an intentional new variety. On the “normal” note (bottom image), the diamonds appear to be printed as part of the rest of the design, so it’s not as if the underprinting or an overprinting was omitted by mistake. It may be that the diamonds were removed to make the design of the note conform to the other denominations in this family, none of which have any similar elements in the same location. Does anyone else have examples of this note to report?

Kenya's constitution requires new notes without names

According to an article in The East African dated 4 April 2011, Kenya's new constitution requires that names of individuals be removed from the front of banknotes and coins. The country's current notes, originally issued in 2004, all feature a named portrait of Kenya's first president, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. This design is owned by De La Rue, which holds the exclusive contract for printing Kenya's banknotes. By changing the design to conform with the constitution, the Central Bank of Kenya would own the copyright on the new notes and could put their printing out to bid by other security printers. However, in a related article dated 4 April 2011, it's reported that DLR is on the verge of signing a new 10-year deal with the Central Bank of Kenya.

Czech Republic withdraws 50-koruna banknote

On 1 April 2011, the Czech National Bank officially replaces the 50-koruna note (Pick 17) note with a coin as a cost-saving measure. Notes remain redeemable for another five years.

European Year of Volunteering stamp from Luxembourg

The European Year of Volunteering aims to create favorable conditions for volunteering in the European Union and to increase the visibility of activities in a broad range of volunteering activities.

The European Year has the following objectives:

- To work to put in place a favorable framework for volunteering in the European Union
- To provide the means for voluntary organizations to act and improve the quality of volunteers
- To reward and recognize the activities of volunteers
- To increase public awareness of the value and importance of volunteering

The program of events taking place in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in support of the European Year of Volunteering found on benevolat.lu

Lesotho to issue new notes in March 2011

According to a Sunday Express article, on 26 November 2010, at a celebration marking its 30th anniversary, the Central Bank of Lesotho launched a new set of banknotes aimed at fighting the spread of counterfeits. According to a press release dated 5 January 2011, the new notes are expected to hit the streets in March 2011 and will eventually replace the existing notes. The new banknotes feature a portrait of the three royal family members: the current king, His Majesty Letsie III is in the middle, his father King Moshoeshoe II is on the left, with the founder of the Basotho nation, King Moshoeshoe I, on the right. The famous Basotho hat, the mokorotlo, is also visible on the new notes as well as the Lesotho coat of arms.

Lebanon three new notes

According to an article on El Nashra, the Bank of Lebanon issued new 1,000-, 50,000-, and 100,000-pound (US0.65, $33, and $66, respectively) notes on 24 February 2011. The notes are signed by the bank's governor, Riad Salameh, and the first deputy governor, Raed Sharaf al-Din.



1,000 livres
Green. Front: Cedar tree; alphabetic characters. Back: Cedar tree; alphabetic characters. 3-mm wide magenta-to-green windowed security thread with demetalized BDL 1000. Watermark: Coat of arms and electrotype ١٠٠٠. Printer: (Goznak). 115 x 60 mm. Dated ٢٠١١ (2011).

1000 LBP:

• Special Reinforced Banknote Paper
• Varnishing
• One Side Intaglio
• Tactile Features. High Relief print (denomination value, inscription: Banque Du Liban, One thousand pounds, signatures of the Governor and Sub Governor, date of issue)
• Colorless Tactile Element. Colorless Embossed inscription BDL with microtext “Banque Du Liban” located in letter D. Perfect Registration between horizontal tactile lines and embossed inscription BDL, can be felt by touch.
• Mark for Blind People.
• Watermark. Represent Coat of Arms of the Lebanese Republic and the note value when note is exposed to transmitted light – Electrotype Watermark of denomination
• Security Thread. 3mm color shift security thread – Magenta to Green when note is tilted.
• Special Large Color Shifting Element on Upper right hand corner - MVC: evenly printed unified green area – changes to yellow and green rainbow lines with latent image of the cedar when note is tilted/rotated.
• Special Large Arabic color shifting Denomination in Center of the Note: changes color when banknote is tiled/rotated (MVC Chameleon).
• Under IR. Part of the Intaglio image on the obverse and offset image on the reverse of the note becomes transparent when it is observed under special IR visualization device.
• Under Magnification. Microtext. Microlettering that becomes visible only under magnifying lens (10x).

50,000 livres
Violet, blue, and light green. Front: Cedar tree; stylized boat. Back: Cedar tree; diamond guilloche pattern on wavy lines. Windowed Motion security thread. Watermark: Coat of arms and electrotype ٥٠٠٠٠. Printer: (Goznak). 140 x 77 mm. Dated ٢٠١١ (2011).

50,000 LBP

• Special Reinforced Banknote Paper.
• Varnishing
• One Side Intaglio
• Tactile Features. High Relief print (denomination value, inscription: Banque Du Liban, fifty thousand pounds, signatures of the Governor and Sub Governor, date of issue)
• Colorless Tactile Element. Colorless Embossed inscription BDL with microtext “Banque Du Liban” located in letter D. Perfect Registration between horizontal tactile lines and embossed inscription BDL, can be felt by touch.
• Mark for Blind People.
• Watermark. Represent Coat of Arms of the Lebanese Republic and the note value when note is exposed to transmitted light - Electrotype Watermark of denomination
• Security Thread. Wide security micro-optic based security thread - Motion. Inscription LL in Arabic moves when note is tilted.
• Special Large Color Shifting Element on Upper right hand corner - MVC: evenly printed unified blue area – changes to yellow and blue rainbow lines with latent image of the cedar when note is tilted/rotated.
• Special Large Arabic color shifting Denomination in Center of the Note: changes color when banknote is tiled/rotated (MVC Chameleon).
• Under IR. Part of the Intaglio image on the obverse and offset image on the reverse of the note becomes transparent when it is observed under special IR visualization device.
• Under Magnification. Microtext. Microlettering that becomes visible only under magnifying lens (10x).

100,000 livres
Light green, light blue, and yellow. Front: Cedar tree. Back: Cedar tree; stylized grapes, wheat, and spool of thread. Windowed Motion security thread. Watermark: Coat of arms and electrotype ١٠٠٠٠٠. Printer: (Goznak). 147 x 82 mm. Dated ٢٠١١ (2011).

100,000 LBP

• Special Reinforced Banknote Paper.
• Varnishing
• One Side Intaglio
• Tactile Features. High Relief print (denomination value, inscription: Banque Du Liban, One Hundred thousand pounds, signatures of the Governor and Sub Governor, date of issue)
• Colorless Tactile Element. Colorless Embossed inscription BDL with microtext “Banque Du Liban” located in letter D. Perfect Registration between horizontal tactile lines and embossed inscription BDL, can be felt by touch.
• Mark for Blind People.
• Watermark. Represent Coat of Arms of the Lebanese Republic and the note value when note is exposed to transmitted light - Electrotype Watermark of denomination
• Security Thread. Wide security micro-optic based security thread - Motion. Inscription LL in Arabic moves when note is tilted.
• Demetallized Holographic Stripe with various visual effects
• Special Large Color Shifting Element on Upper right hand corner – MVC - evenly printed unified greenish area – changes to yellow and Green rainbow lines with latent image of the cedar when note is tilted/rotated.
• Special Large Arabic color shifting Denomination in Center of the Note: changes color when banknote is tiled/rotated (MVC Chameleon).
• Under IR. Part of the Intaglio image on the obverse and offset image on the reverse of the note becomes transparent when it is observed under special IR visualization device.
• Under Magnification. Microtext. Microlettering that becomes visible only under magnifying lens (10x).