Regional Banknote and ID Document of the Year Awards 

New Bahamian Banknote Series

In October 2021, the Central Bank of the Bahamas released its new $100 banknote, completing the roll-out of its CRISP (Counterfeit Resistant Integrated Security Product) Evolution series which it began back in 2016.

The new series is – as the name suggests – an evolution of the original CRISP series first introduced in 2005, and is remarkable both for incorporating a broad cross-section of substrates, printers (including Orell Füssli, Crane Currency, De La Rue, Giesecke+Devrient and Canadian Bank Note) and features, and for its introduction of multiple firsts for feature-substrate pairings.

In total, the family comprises eight notes – ranging from from $½ to $100 notes.

The $1 and $5 were printed on Louisenthal’s Hybrid composite substrate with a RolllingStar thread.

The paper $20 was produced by De La Rue and features its Active thread. This made its debut on the new $10, issued in 2016, albeit that this was subsequently replaced by a note from Crane Currency with a RAPID Detect 4mm micro-optic security thread.

The $50 was produced on Landqart’s Durasafe substrate, and includes a MOTION RAPID thread from Crane. Not only was this the first note in the world to integrate the micro-optics feature into the composite substrate, but the window itself (at 33mm) is the longest to appear in a circulating note.

The eighth and final banknote of the new series – the $100 – was printed by the Canadian Bank Note Company on Durasafe substrate. It features a MOTION Surface stripe from Crane, another first for the combination of the two technologies.

New ECCB Banknote Series

In March 2021, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) issued its new $5 polymer banknote, completing the transition of the Eastern Caribbean dollar to De La Rue’s SAFEGUARD polymer that began in 2019. According to the ECCB, the reasons for the transition were threefold – the environment, cost, and security.

The banknotes are denominated in 5, 10, 20 50 and 100 dollars, and key to the ECCB’s decision to switch to polymer was the environment, according to its Governor, Timothy Antoine. The Caribbean is one of the lowest emitters of carbon dioxide in the world, he said, but one of the regions most impacted by global warming. The islands have a target of being net zero by 2022 and are well on the way to achieving this goal. The longer lifespan and lower environmental impact of polymer is part of this focus, as well as demonstrating moral authority and taking action on global warming.

The switch will also save on costs and allowed for the incorporation of advanced new security features.

The notes have been changed to a vertical orientation but remain the same size and dimensions – all uniform regardless of denomination. The colour scheme of the previous series has also been retained to aid public recognition and acceptance of the new notes, as have many of the design features, albeit that they have a much fresher and more modern appearance, helped by the portrait orientation.

They also incorporate a unique tactile emboss feature to aid recognition by the blind and visually impaired.

Mexican 50 & 100 Pesos

The winner of the Best New Banknote was the Banco de México for not one but two notes – the new 50 and 100 pesos. The former – the sixth and final note in the new G series, was issued last November. It is produced on CCL Secure’s GUARDIAN polymer, along with the 100 pesos, issued the previous year, and the 20 pesos, also issued in 2021, which is a commemorative note celebrating the country’s bicentennial.

The design theme throughout the new series is events, buildings or people reflecting key stages in Mexican history on the front, and images reflecting the country’s eco-heritage and biodiversity on the reverse.

Both the 50 and the 100 are in a vertical orientation, front and back. Each incorporates a large complex transparent window that feature G-SWITCH and METALIX inks. The former changes colour from blue to gold when tilted. The latter is copper-coloured. They also incorporate an integrated magnetic thread and SPARK Live denoting the denomination numeral.

Honduras 200 lempira

One is the 200 lempira commemorative note issued last September by the Central Bank of Honduras (albeit that this is a new denomination, so it has become de facto a circulation note).

Honduras is known for its rich biodiversity and natural resources, which is reflected on the reverse of the note, showing two scarlet macaws (the national bird) flying over the UNESCO-listed Río Plátano Biosphere. The main image on the front of the note of children reading denotes the importance of education, which is seen one of the one of the fundamental pillars for the development of the nation

The 200 lempira note is the first in the world to feature a registered Galaxy thread with different and precisely positioned windows. When tilting the banknote, a change can be observed in the upper and lower windows from a bell, to 200, and vice versa. The middle window incorporates an image of a parchment and quill, and all three windows contain a dynamic circle that seems to move beneath the surface. Between the windows, the letters BCH can be viewed in transmission. The green-to-azure colour shift matches that of the SPARK feature.

The note was produced by Giesecke+Devrient and thread and paper by Louisenthal.

Guatemala 20 quetzales

Guatemala 20 quetzales, which is the first ever commemorative note to be issued by the Bank of Guatemala.

The note is vertically oriented on the front with themes relating to the country’s independence, and in a landscape format on the back, with a quetzal bird (after which the currency is named, and which appears on all the country’s notes).

The main overt security feature is a 5mm wide Galaxy thread with a double effect. When tilted horizontally, the thread displays an animation with a circle, embodying the number 20, moving up and down. But if the note is used in vertical format, ie. the same as the print orientation, it flips image from 20 to a quill. In both orientations it features colour shift from magenta-to-green.

This note was also produced by Giesecke+Devrient, and the thread and paper by Louisenthal.

New Costa Rican Banknote Series

Again, the Central Bank of Costa Rica, this time for the entire new series, featuring flora and fauna and a wealth of new features that, in the view of the judges, clearly states ‘this is us, this is our country’. Along with the 20,000 colones, the 2,000 and 5,000 notes were printed by Oberthur Fiduciaire. The 1,000 and 10,000 colones were printed by Orell Füssli.

New 20,000 Colones

The Central Bank of Costa Rica for the new 20,000 colones, a stand-out banknote in terms of design and security. It was printed by Oberthur Fiduciaire.

Mexican 20 Peso

Banco de Mexico for the Mexican 20 peso issued (as with the other award-winning banknotes) to commemorate the anniversary of independence, in this case 200 years. The note was printed by the Bank of Mexico Printing Works.

The First Family of Bills of the Plurinational State of Bolivia

Bolivia saw its new Bolivianos notes scoop the Best New Series Award with the judging panel recognising the five-denomination series as a perfect blend between design and the latest state-of-the-art security features, reflecting the personality of the country through the imagery and the features.

For the first time, the new notes include emblematic figures in Bolivia’s history – indigenous heroes or martyrs who gave their lives for the country; natural sites that enhance the richness and geographical and cultural diversity of the country; and species of fauna and flora, many of them in vulnerable or in danger of extinction. The security features of the notes are designed to bolster public confidence in the national currency and consolidate the remonetisation (or bolivianization) of the economy.

The Mexican 500 Peso

The Mexican 500 Peso, which received the Best Banknote Award, is the first denomination in a new family of banknotes that have improved security features and designs representing Mexico’s historical and natural heritage.

The theme of the new series is ‘Historical identity and natural heritage’, portraying historical scenes of Mexico on the front and national natural heritage sites recognised by UNESCO on the reverse.

The new 500 pesos banknote was manufactured by the Printing Works of Banco de México on Crane Currency’s durable ENDURANCE™ paper. It contains several state-of-the-art security features, such as SPARK Live and MOTION RAPID thread, which the judges regarded as setting set the standard in terms of security and design for the rest of the notes to follow.

Uruguay 50 Pesos

Uruguay’s commitment to improving the quality of its currency was also recognised with its banknote celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of the Central Bank of Uruguay (in 1967) winning the Best Commemorative Award.

The note has been produced on Guardian polymer – a first for the country – and has a modern style with an abstract design. It includes an innovative feature in the form of a large, eye-catching half window, which enhances both the aesthetic and functionality of the note. The beautiful design showcases creativity, technical skill, excellent integration with security features and distinct representations of the Central Bank of Uruguay’s 50th anniversary.

New Cordobas Series

New Argentine Banknote Series

New 100 Nuevos Soles

A new series of banknotes went into circulation in Peru in 2011. The second highest denomination of these is the 100 Nueovs Soles, which was issued at the end of last year.

The main feature of the note is the portrait of the Peruvian historian Jorge Basadre Grohmann. The note features a Motion optically variable therad and watermark The principle denomination numeral on the front was originally represetned with OVI, but in the new version, this has been replaced with SPARK with a rolling bar effect.

The upgrade demonstrates how the visual appeal and security of a note can be significantly enhanced without detracting from the existing features and the public’s familiarity with these.

The award was received by Alejandro Rozas Alosilla Velasco of the Reserve Central Bank of Peru.

100 Pesos Eva Perón note