Costa Rica with new banknotes

The new bill of ¢ 20 000 will begin to circulate in early August.
This was announced last night the manager of the Banco Central de Costa Rica, Roy Gonzalez in the National Biodiversity Institute (INBio), where there were six new denominations of banknotes to replace the existing. According to Gonzalez, the second ticket will be out of ¢ 2,000 in September or October, and hopes that before the end of the year and circle the other denominations, except the ¢ 50,000, as assessed by first accepting the ticket of ¢ 20 000 .
Each note refers to one of the six ecosystems that exist in the country and are printed on the front to worthy of the country. The presentation was made to relatives of the characters of the tickets. In addition, the artist Manuel Obregón piano work played in Symbiosis. ¢ 20 000 banknote will be printed 40 million of formulas at a cost of $ 0.0594 (about ¢ 30).
The company that makes these notes is Oberthur Technologies, whose facilities are located in Rennes, France. A family. Marvin Alvarado, director of the Central Bank Treasury, explained that the new notes are called "family" as all items are placed in the same position.
Tickets are the same height but different width, in order to help the blind or visually impaired. Dario Negueruela, emission and safety director of the Bank of Spain, who attended the activity, stressed that the security measures of the ticket of ¢ 20,000 are the same as has the new $ 100 U.S..

Royal Mint unveils modern new Britannia coin

Today, the Royal Mint launches its newly designed 2010 Britannia coin series, which depicts the famous icon of Britain and British coinage as an Amazonian-like warrior, with a protective and serene watch over modern Britain’s liberty and values. The new design has been launched to celebrate Britannia’s enduring presence as an important symbol of national identity in changing times.

Designer Suzie Zamit says: “Britannia is a really important British icon and I wanted to create a design that represents her as a symbol of British liberties and democracy. I felt it was important to portray Britannia as strong - almost Amazonian - and courageous, but not overly warlike, more peaceful and protective.”

The new 2010 Britannia coin series is launched in both gold and silver, available in an extended range of both individual coins and Proof sets. Suzie Zamit’s beautiful design is the first new Britannia design since 2008 and offers a fresh interpretation of the goddess, capturing the strong, courageous and watchful qualities of her spirit.

The new Britannia wears a Corinthian-style helmet, emphasising her warlike spirit and is accompanied by a lion to symbolise courage. However, Britannia’s serene gaze and the presence of an olive branch, also portrays the goddess as a protective defender of peace and modern British liberty and values. Her eastward looking gaze alludes to Britain’s role in the EU and its presence in Afghanistan.

Dave Knight, Director of Commemorative Coin at the Royal Mint, said: “Britannia is an enduring icon that has become an integral part of British coinage and heritage. She represents the strength of the British national identity and Suzie Zamit has captured this force in her new design. We are delighted to have created a coin that honours the history of British coins, whilst celebrating the future of modern Britain. Our 2010 Britannia Series is a great chance for us, along with the public, to celebrate this constant symbol of British success.”

realwire.com

BNR to issue commemorative gold collector coin

On Monday, April 12, the National Bank of Romania will put into circulation, for numismatic purposes, a gold coin commemorating the 160th anniversary of the birth of poet Mihai Eminescu (1850-1889), BNR reports in a press release.

The round-shaped gold coin, 35 mm in diameter, has a face value of RON 500, weighing 31.103 g. On the obverse, in the upper half, is Romania’s coat-of-arms partially overlapping the face value – leu 500; below, an open book on a laurel wreath. The left page of the book features Eminescu’s portrait from 1869 and the right page show some of the poet’s signatures. The coat-of-arms and the book together with the laurel wreath superpose a double circle partially surrounding the elements of design.

The inscription ‘ROMANIA’ is engraved in a half circle on the lower outer side. On the reverse, in the middle, is the poet’s memorial house in Ipotesti, where the poet spent his childhood, and his portrait from 1885 surrounded by a double circle similar to that on the obverse. The inscriptions ‘MIHAI EMINESCU’ and ‘160 ANI DE LA NASTEREA POETULUľ are engraved in a half circle on the upper side and on the lower side respectively, and the years ‘1850′ and ‘2010′ on the left side and right side respectively.

Each coin is housed in a transparent plastic capsule and is accompanied by a leaflet featuring an overview of the numismatic issue in Romanian, English and French. The leaflet comes with a certificate of authenticity bearing the signatures of both the Governor and the Head Cashier of the National Bank of Romania. The numismatic issue comprises 500 coins. The selling price is leu 4,980, VAT exclude.

www.financiarul.ro

PBOC to Issue New Commemorative Coins for Shanghai Expo

The People's Bank of China (PBOC), the country's central bank, will issue a set of gold and silver commemorative coins this month to celebrate the upcoming World Expo 2010 Shanghai (Series II).

In an announcement posted on its website, the central bank said the new Shanghai Expo commemorative series, consisting of two gold and two silver coins, are China's legal tenders and the issuance will start as of April 22.

The set of new coin series includes two gold coins diametered at 23 and 60 millimeters respectively, and two silver ones with a diameter of 40 millimeters each.

The smaller gold coin, with a face value of 150 yuan, contains one third of an ounce of gold and has a designated maximum circulation of 60,000. The bigger and more expensive 2,000-yuan gold coin contains five ounces of gold with a maximum circulation of 1,000.

Each silver coin contains an ounce of silver with a maximum circulation of 80,000 for both.

The central bank issued the Series I commemorative coins for Shanghai Expo in June last year and the new coin series will be distributed by the China Gold Coin Incorporation through its branches across the country.

The Shanghai Expo, believed to be one of China's greatest events this year, is due in China's economic hub of Shanghai from May 1 to Oct. 31 this year

english.cri.cn

Coin to celebrate Queen Margrethe II birthday

Denmark. The 20 Krone commemorative coin has been issued to mark the 70th birthday of Queen Margrethe II on 16 April 2010. This is in keeping with the Danish tradition of issuing commemorative coins to mark special events in the royal family.
The motif of the obverse of the coin is a new portrait of the Queen. The new portrait is also to be used on the ordinary 10 and 20 Krone coins from 2011 onwards. The reverse was designed by Ronny Andersen, Royal Armorist, and shows the royal coat of arms.

In addition to the ordinary circulation coins, a very limited number of collector's coins, have been minted in the very fine PROOF quality. Furthermore, this Commemorative coin has also been issued as a 500 Kroner coin in fine silver (0.999 Ag, 1 Oz) and as a 1000 Kroner Gold coin.

The 20-krone coin is of aluminium bronze. The coin has a diameter of 27.0 mm, weighs 9.3 g, a thickness of 2,35 mm and has a rim with interrupted milling.

Sri Lanka to issue coin to replace note

Sri Lanka will issue a new ten rupee coin from April 05, to replace a note of a similar denomination now in circulation, the Central Bank said Monday.
The nickel plated coin has a diameter of 26.4 millimetres.
The obverse has the armorial ensign of Sri Lanka with a petal design on periphery. The reverse has a number 10, ten rupees and Sri Lanka in English, Sinhalese and Tamil languages.
The new coin would be handed over to Sri Lanka's president Mahinda Rajapaksa by central bank governor Nivard Cabraal Monday, the bank said in an advertisement.
A bi-metallic 10 rupee coins is already circulating in Sri Lanka
The ten rupee note is the smallest note that is regularly printed in Sri Lanka. A few older five and two rupee notes are also in circulation.

lankabusinessonline.com

Philippinas will change their money

The Bangko Sentral ng Philippinas (BSP) said that it will distribute the initial batch of "new money", or redesigned local banknotes, in December and the new coins starting 2012 as part of efforts to guard against counterfeiters.

Also, the BSP said it will launch a nationwide information campaign would be undertaken by monetary authorities to educate Filipinos on how to tell genuine banknotes from counterfeits.

In a primer on the launch of the new banknotes and coins, BSP said that they decided to upgrade the security features of all banknotes to make it easier for the public to detect fake money.

"As a matter of practice, central banks regularly change the designs of their money - whether coins or banknotes - to guard against counterfeiters. By making it very difficult and costly for counterfeiters to produce exact copies of our money, we protect the integrity of our currency against criminals," the BSP said.

The central bank said all six banknote denominations including P20, P50, P100, P200, P500, and P1,000 would have new designs while coins denominations such as one centavo, five centavos, 10 centavos, 25 centavos. P1, P5, and P10 would also have new designs.

But BSP has yet to divulge the new design. But the Numismatic Committee composed of central bank officials led by BSP deputy governor Diwa Guinigundo said that they decided to include natural wonders in the new banknotes and coins.

The new banknotes would pay tribute to Filipinos who played significant roles at various moments of our nation’s history and would also feature world heritage sites and iconic natural wonders of the Philippines.

Also. BSP earlier said that the new P500 bill would also include a portrait of the late President Corazon Aquino beside former Sen. Aquino.

The BSP added that the new coins would also feature national symbols.

There are currently six banknotes that are in wide circulation.

These include the blue-colored P1,000 bill which features World War II heroes Jose Abad Santos, Josefa Llanes Escoda and Gen. Vicente Lim introduced in 1991; the yellow P500 bill with the late Sen. Benigno Aquino introduced in 1987; and the green P200 with the late President Diosdado Macapagal and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued in 2002.

There is also the purple P100 with President Roxas issued in 1987; the red P50 with President Osmena introduced in 1987; and the orange P20 with former President Quezon issued in 1986.

The brown P10 with Apolinario Mabini first issued in 1985; and the P5 bill with Emilio Aguinaldo are no longer being produced but are still legal tenders.

Last year, the BSP announced that it was contemplating a massive face lift for banknotes and coins that were circulated three decades ago to further enhance security features and improve durability.

Earlier, Guinigundo said the present banknotes would remain in circulation and would continue to be accepted as legal tender for at least three more years.

He explained that the BSP’s previous currency retirement or demonetization program would give enough time for the public to make a full transition to the new generation currency.

www.malaya.com.ph

Coins in honor to Max Havelaar

The Netherlands will issue coins of 10 and 5 euros in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Holland's most important book, Max Havelaar.
This book about colonial oppression in Indonesia was published in 1860
The 10 Euro coin minted in gold, with 6.72 g, 22.5 mm in diameter and as Proof.
Each coin will cost EUR 272, only 5500 coins issued
The currency of 5 Euros, will be silver with a weight 15.5g, diameter, 33mm, this coin will cost 33 euros and 15,000 pieces of coinage.