Banknotes in News

On 26 June 2008 Eesti Pank released into circulation new 25-kroon and 500-kroon banknotes with a signature of the Governor, Andres Lipstok and the new year of issue.

China's Central bank will drop Chinese former leader Mao Zedong's face from six million new 10 yuan (74 pence) notes to mark the XXIX Olympic Games.

The China Mint released a unique gold commemorative coin marking the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The coin has a denomination of 100 000 Yuans, weights 22 pounds (approximately 10 kg), and only 29 pcs were minted.

On 8 July 2008 the National Bank of Kazakhstan issued a new commemorative banknote of 5000 Tenge devoted to the 15th anniversary of Kazakhstan currency. This date will be celebrated on 15 November 2008.

The Awards committee of the International Bank Note Society (IBNS) announced the winner of the IBNS Bank Note of the Year Award. The winning note was the Bank of Scotland's 50-pound note issued in 2007.

During working visit to Bulgaria, EUROPOL Director Max-Peter Ratzel expressed his gratitude to Republican police for its contribution to fighting against Euro banknote counterfeiting, crimes and abuses in the area of plastic cards, drug trafficing and illegal migration.

Italian government introduced limitations on the use of cash in making payments and writing off salaries. This way, the government believes, it can effectively fight tax avoidance and illegal cash which is said to constitute 17% of the country's GDP.

Federal Court of Appeals ruled that the US Treasury is violating the law by printing dollar notes of identical size and without any special markings that would help visually impaired people differentiate on denomination from another.

This decision of the Bank of Albania was caused by the low wear resistance of these banknotes. The replacement is planned for the end of 2008. After the withdrawal of the banknotes from circulation, they will be exchangeable at the face value until December 31, 2010 at country's banks.