November 2005

BANK OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA

On 18 November 2005 the Bank of Papua New Guinea launched the new 100 Kina polymer banknote (K100) and the new redesigned one Kina coin (K1). The launch coincided with the 30th Independence anniversary celebrations.

Governor K. Wilson Kamit of Bank of Papua New Guinea in his speech said that the Bank had ensured that “our currency designs symbolize our national identity, nation building and national unity”. The front of the 100 Kina features the National Crest and the National Parliament building to symbolize nationhood and unity. The main feature on the back of the note depicts the transition from the traditional primary economy towards the modern economy with designs that trace developments over 30 years in agriculture, fishing, forestry, oil and gas, mining, tourism, transportation and communication and other technological developments.

October 2005

AUSTRALIAN FIRST SENTRII®; SECURITY CARD SUBSTRATE ISSUED IN SA

In July 2005, Transport South Australia issued a new and more secure driver's licence protected by the Sentrii®; polymer substrate technology. The licence is the first secure ID card to utilise the polymer technology.

The new Sentrii®; Window which features a WinDOE™ (Diffractive Optical Element) reduces the risk of false identities. The WinDOE™ is a holographic structure applied to the surface of the clear window. To view this feature, hold the card up to a single point source such as a light bulb, distant street lamps, car headlights and an image will appear. The appearance of the image will depend on the light source used and works best in poor lighting conditions or complete darkness, for example during the night.

Safety Warning: The WinDOE™ is visible in a range of lighting conditions, but dangerous sources of light such as the sun and laser lights should NEVER be used to view the WinDOE™. The WinDOE™ feature does not provide any protection against the harmful effects of these light sources.

July 2005

ROMANIA

THE NEW LEI POLYMER BANKNOTE SERIES

On 1 July 2005 the National Bank of Romania, as part of its redenomination program, issued a new series of Guardian®; polymer banknotes. The five previous banknote denominations – from 10,000 to 1,000,000 lei - have four zeroes removed and a new high denomination, the 500 lei, has been introduced. There are also four new coins - the 1 ban and the 5, 10 and 50 bani. The colour and appearance of the new notes are similar to the previous series, and the portraits are unchanged.

The new notes and coins will co-circulate with the previous series up until the end of 2006, with the latter gradually withdrawn from circulation. The old currency will cease to be legal tender (although it will be exchangeable for an unlimited period thereafter at branches of the National Bank of Romania). Dual pricing in both old and new lei will last until the end of June 2006.

For more information, visit,
http://www.denominare.ro/common/htmls/en.htm

February 2005

ZAMBIA

The Bank of Zambia issued an upgraded series of polymer notes commencing February 2005. According to a press statement issued by the Bank (9 February 2005), the upgraded banknotes look and feel similar to the current “2003” series of polymer banknotes. A key distinguishing feature on the banknotes is the year of printing, which is shown on the Coat of Arms as “2004” compared to the current series of polymer notes that show the year of print as “2003”. Other visual features of the polymer notes substantially remain unchanged.

The Bank of Zambia, in line with its policy of promoting clean banknotes in circulation, has continued to replace all unfit notes from circulation primarily through the banking system.

January 2005

MEXICO

Banco de México announced it will introduce 50 pesos polymer banknotes to commence circulation in 2006. Jaime Pacreu, General Director of Issue of Banco de México, after evaluating the 20 pesos polymer banknotes, announced that the next issue will be the 50 pesos with some additional security features.

January 2005

VIETNAM

ALL NOTES TO POLYMER
The State Bank of Vietnam’s Deputy Governor Phung Khac Ke announced that Vietnam would replace all paper banknotes with a new polymer series this year. Converting to polymer is part of the government’s attempt to better protect against counterfeiting.

By the end of 2005, polymer banknotes in circulation will account for up to 95 per cent of all circulating banknotes and the paper notes will gradually be phased out.

Polymer designs of the 10,000, 20,000, 100,000 and 200,000 VND will complete the banknote series.

January 2005

ROMANIA

Romania Announces Polymer Redenomination
The National Bank of Romania (NBR) has announced that as of 1 July 2005, Romania's currency will be subject to a redenomination. From that date Romania’s currency (leu) will be dropping 4 zeroes. The reason for the redenomination is to signify the end of a long period post 1989 typified by relatively high inflation, to price stability. The big advantage for the public will be the simplification in handling and calculating monetary amounts. Double pricing of goods will start from 1 March, enabling the public to become familiar prior to the official introduction.

Romania started issuing Guardian®; polymer banknotes in 1999 and has since replaced all its circulating banknotes with polymer. Currently 5 denominations are in circulation. Guardian®; has again been chosen for the new banknote series, confirming the excellent experience of NBR with polymer, and their commitment to its continuing future benefits. The Bank states on its website the advantages of polymer as “improved security, increased resistance in circulation, better processing in all types of equipment, cleanliness (fewer bacteria) and recyclability”. Further details on the new banknotes will be made public in the next months.