Coins
Australia will not put king’s image on banknote
RBA says new design will honour indigenous people
Jordan introduces new banknote series
Central bank last updated currency issue in early 2000s
Currency round-up: Yellen’s signature added to US money
Singapore ends practice of printing new year notes; new coins in Canada and Ghana; and more
Banknotes: October to December 2022
A round-up of news and salient issues that have affected central bankers in the past three months
Currency round-up: BEAC to launch new banknote series
Afghanistan permitted to import new notes; Canada shortlists banknote figures; and more
Central banks have fewer cash distribution centres on average
However, some have added processing facilities in last five years
Charles III coins will circulate by end of year, says UK mint
New king will appear on 50 pence coin and commemorative issue
King Charles to appear on Bank of England notes from 2024
Other Commonwealth central banks have made little comment on changeover
Irish central bank will still exchange old banknotes and coins
Authorities take opportunity to remind public that UK paper £20s and £50s are expiring
Bolivian ex-governor calls opposition audit request ‘nonsense’
Most central bank gold reserves are held outside country, Morales says
Banknotes round-up: Egypt debuts polymer note
Peru continues rollout of new series; Mexico to withdraw 20 peso note; and more
(Un)stablecoins and central banks
Time to tackle stablecoin structures and support mechanisms
HKMA advances e-HKD exploration
Authority notes risks around cyber security and removing intermediary banks
Currency initiative: Central Bank of the Philippines’ Cash Service Alliance
Homegrown IT system allows Philippine central bank to direct cashflows between banks during Covid-19
Currency manager: Central Bank of Costa Rica
New banknotes and coins combine environmental protection, aesthetics and security
Currency services: De La Rue
Printing doyen expanded capacity, functionality and market share amid corporate turnaround
Governor of the year: Mario Marcel
Chile’s governor has expertly navigated a third currency crisis in two years, amid wider EM stress and political volatility, while bolstering the central bank’s capabilities
Argentina suspends minting of coins
Global commodities inflation makes production too costly
Majority of central banks lack legal authority to issue CBDC
Technical CBDC design has legal implications
Payments efficiency is driving force behind many CBDCs
Inclusion, financial stability and monetary policy are also leading factors
Inside the Bank of Israel’s emergency cash supply exercises
Amir Safranovich and Meir Bitton describe how the central bank ensures the financial system is always ready in case of an emergency
Cash: important for a fairer economy
One interesting economic story over the past year has been the growth in grassroots support for cash payments. Against the backdrop of the Covid‑19 pandemic and now debunked rumours that coins and banknotes could be significant transmission vectors for…
Book notes: Empire of silver, by Jin Xu
A useful introduction to China’s monetary history, focusing on the last 1,000 years, but not the easiest of reads throughout