Awards recognise outstanding new banknote technical advancements
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Outstanding technical excellence in the design and security of new banknotes has been recognised by a series of awards.
The awards formed part of the industry’s High Security Printing Asia Conference, which was organised by Reconnaissance International and held recently in Yokohama, Japan. These recognise the highest levels of achievement in three categories: Best New Series, Best New BanknoteA banknote (or ‘bill’ as it is often referred to in the US) is a type of negotiable promissory note, issued by a bank or other licensed authority, payable to the bearer on demand. More, and Best New Commemorative BanknoteA legal tender banknote issued by a central bank to mark the occasion of a special event, or in remembrance of a person. These banknotes tend to have special features of design, structure and composition. Their production may be limited in number of prints. Not all countries issue commemorative banknotes. More.
The Bank of Papua New Guinea’s new kina series won the accolade for the Best New Series, reflecting the country’s commitment to improve the quality of its currencyThe money used in a particular country at a particular time, like dollar, yen, euro, etc., consisting of banknotes and coins, that does not require endorsement as a medium of exchange. More in the face of one of the toughest environments in the world for circulating notes.
The newly updated polymerA substrate used in the printing of banknotes, made of biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) polymer. Polymer banknotes were first introduced in Australia and are widely used around the world. More base is in denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 kina and all feature the National Parliament building in Port Moresby on the frontFacade, face. See Obverse. More, with different cultural themes and artefacts emblematic of the life and history of Papua New Guinea and its myriad traditional cultures on the reverseThe back of the banknote or coin. See Obverse. More.
On the new 100 kina, the images on the reverse denote transport and communications, and includes the SPARK® Live TRUSPIN feature – the first time in a polymer note – integrated into the window and viewable on both sides of the window in reflection and transmission, each providing different visual effects. All the notes are produced on Guardian® polymer substrateThe physical media or support on which the image is printed, such as paper, polymer or hybrid, etc. More with a window with the colour changing G-switch™ feature, IRIswitch™ and OVI® among other security features.
The 15,000 riel note issued by the National Bank of Cambodia to mark the anniversary of the King of Cambodia, HM Norodom Sihamoni secured the Best New Banknote at HSP Asia. The note symbolises the importance of the King, as the focal point of the whole Royal Household, for the newly reborn unity of the Cambodian people following decades of civil war and unrest.
Based on an original in-house design, the banknote also signifies a major technological milestone for the young Cambodian banknote industry, containing several unique features developed by the in-house design team in Phnom Penh.
The note was printed by the Printing Works of the National Bank of Cambodia on Landqart’s Durasafe composite substrate – the first time this has been used in Southeast Asia – and features include a see-through window and two half-windows.
The ornamentally shaped full window, with distinctly varying contours on the two sides of the note, contains an intaglio-embossed inkless feature (a floral pattern encompassing diversely directed lines) – while the two ornamental half-windows at the back are used to expose the 4mm-wide demetalised security threadPlastic, metal or other material, incorporated into the paper sheet during its manufacturing process, fully or intermittently. A window thread appears on the paper’s surface at defined points, and is partially visible, however, in transmitted light appears across the entire length of the note. The thread may be able to contain any of the following: visible or machine-readable codes, microprinted or mini-printed text in positive or negative, or display of fluorescent, iridescent, holographic or... More with Cleartext, supplied by Hueck Folien.
Designed with social responsibility in mind, the note also has several highly tactile elements to facilitate recognition and authenticationThe process of proving that a banknote or security document is genuine. More by the visually-impaired. Other features include a unique see-through image in perfect registerSee See-through register. More, printed with three different UVAbbreviation for ultraviolet. More fluorescent inks, a gradual colour transition in intaglio, and two-colour serial numbering combining two different numbering inks.
The Best New Commemorative Banknote accolade went to the Monetary AuthoritySee Central Bank More of Macau for its commemorative 20 patacas banknote, which was issued to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Macau’s return to China. Another version of the note has been issued by Banco Nacional Ultramarino. The reverse of both is the same, while the front features the HQs of the respective banks. The notes were produced by China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation. The main security features include a watermarkA security feature used on most banknotes. It consists of variations in density and thickness created during the paper production, resulting in variations in their opacity. The combination of these variations forms an image embedded in the paper, which is visible with backlight. Due to its variations in thickness, the watermark also has a raised relief effect. More (of the lotus flower), machine-readable colour shifting thread, SPARK® Live in the denominationEach individual value in a series of banknotes or coins. More numeral, IR and micro-perforation.
The awards were presented by the chairman of Reconnaissance International, Martyn White, on 27 November 2019.
Issued on behalf of Reconnaissance International and the High Security Asia Conference https://www.reconnaissance.net/hsp-asia/about/
For further details contact Andy Bruce (andy@mhwpr.co.uk) or Ian Watson (ian@mhwpr.co.uk) on +44 (0) 191 233 1300.
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