The Bermuda chapter of The Banknote Book is now available for individual sale at US$9.99, and as a free download to subscribers.

At the time of initial publication, this 22-page catalog covers every note (162 types and varieties, including 20 notes unlisted in the SCWPM) issued by the Bermuda Government from 1914 to 1970, and the Bermuda Monetary Authority from 1974 until present day.

Each chapter of The Banknote Book includes detailed descriptions and background information, full-color images, and accurate valuations. The Banknote Book also features:

• Sharp color images of note’s front and back without overlap
• Face value or date of demonetization if no longer legal tender
• Specific identification of all vignette elements
• Security features described in full
• Printer imprint reproduced exactly as on note
• Each date/signature variety assigned an individual letter
• Variety checkboxes for tracking your collection and want list
• Red stars highlight the many notes missing from the SCWPM
• Date reproduced exactly as on note
• Precise date of introduction noted when known
• Replacement note information
• Signature tables, often with names and terms of service
• Background information for historical and cultural context
• Details magnified to distinguish between note varieties
• Bibliographic sources listed for further research

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Tags: Bermuda

According to a press release dated 2 May 2012, the Bank of Canada unveiled its new 20-dollar (US$20) note which it expects to issue in November 2012. The new note is printed on polymer (specifically, Guardian, a biaxialoriented polypropylene substrate manufactured by Securency International of Australia). "As with the previously issued $50 and $100 polymer bank notes, the main reason for issuing a new $20 is to stay ahead of counterfeiting threats. The new polymer notes are also more economical and have a smaller environmental footprint."


Green. Front: Maple leaf; Queen Elizabeth II. Back: Flowers; Canadian National Vimy Memorial in Vimy, France; flowers. Holographic stripe with Queen Elizabeth II and tower. No security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: Unknown. 152 x 70 mm. Polymer.



Courtesy of Aidan Work, Thomas Krause, Will Mitchell, Claudio Marana, and Marcus Jansson.

Tags: Canada, Polymer

10 pesos convertible, 2001. Like PFX49, but new date and new signature. Notice that the new signature is printed atop the embossing of the preceding signature.

Courtesy of Thomas Augustsson.

Tags: Cuba

The prefixes on modern Cuban notes follow a very predicatble system:

All 20-peso notes have a series or prefix consisting of two characters (the first always C) followed by a dash and a two-digit number. When the year changes, the second letter in the prefix advances alphabetically. At least that's how it works for every other denomination, but there's an oddity with the 20-peso note.

From the images above, we can see a 20-peso note dated 2002 (P118) with prefix CD, followed by another 2002 dated note with prefix CE, and finally the commemorative dated 2003 (P126) with prefix CF.

It's possible that there exists a non-commemorative 20-peso note dated 2003 with prefix CE. If anyone can provide scans of same, it would be greatly appreciated.

Courtesy of Thomas Augustsson and David Jones.

Tags: Cuba

Shown above, Bermuda Pick 53 is dated 24 MAY 2000. The Bermuda Monetary Authority claims that it has also issued this denomination dated 2007. However, I'm unable to verify this note exists. If anyone can provide scans of same, it would be greatly appreciated.

Tags: Bermuda

The Bank of Canada held a press event on 26 March 2012 to officially introduce the new polymer 50-dollar note.




50 dollars (US$50). Red. Front: Maple leaf; William Lyon Mackenzie King. Back: Canadian Coast Guard Ship Amundsen, an Arctic research icebreaker; map of Canada; map leaf. Holographic stripe. No security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: Unknown. 152 x 70 mm. Polymer.

Courtesy of Arthur John Boyko and Jens Luettschwager.

Tags: Canada, Polymer

20 dollars (US$20), 2010. Like P103 (“ISSUE OF 2004”) but new “PRINTED IN” date of 2010 at lower center on back and new signatures (W.P. Jenkins and M.J. Carney).

Tags: Canada

The Latin American Paper Money Society is pleased to announce that the LANSA 2012 Auction is now online with 665 lots from which to choose. To bid, one need only become a member, and membership is free!

LANSA currently has members from 53 different countries or entities, all of whom share an interest in collecting the banknotes of Latin America, formally defined as the region of the Americas where romance languages (i.e., those derived from Latin), particularly Spanish, Portuguese and French are primarily spoken.

For more details, visit the LANSA web site, or write to LANSA’s president, Art Matz.

Tags: Misc

500 pesos (US$39), 4 NOV. 2010. Like P126, but new date and signatures. Serie G, H, J.

Courtesy of Mark Fox.

Tags: Mexico

Anyone interested in learning details surrounding the delayed introduction of the United States’ new 100-dollar note should read the Office of Inspector General’s Audit Report dated 24 January 2012: OIG-12-038 BILL MANUFACTURING: Improved Planning and Production Oversight Over NexGen $100 Note Is Critical.

Courtesy of Mark A. St. Pierre.

Tags: United States

50 pesos (US$3.75), 3 MAY. 2010. Like P123, but new date and signatures. Serie Q.


50 pesos (US$3.75), 3 MAY. 2010. Like P123, but new date and signatures. Serie R.

Courtesy of Thomas Krause and Ricardo Ramirez Gonzalez.

Tags: Mexico, Polymer

100 pesos (US$7.90), 5 OCT. 2009. Like P124, but new date and signatures. Serie J.


100 pesos (US$7.90), 3 MAY. 2010. Like P124, but new date and signatures. Serie K, L.

Courtesy of Mark Fox.

Tags: Mexico

200 pesos (US$14.50), 5 OCT. 2009. Like P125, but new date and signatures. Serie W.

Courtesy of Ricardo Ramirez Gonzalez.

Tags: Mexico

On 18 November 2011, the BBC published an interesting article, “Who, What, Why: Why don't more countries use plastic banknotes?,” which quotes BanknoteNews.com contributor Stane Štraus, publisher of the Polymer Bank Notes of the World web site.

Courtesy of Aidan Work.

Tags: Polymer, Canada, England

100 dollars (US$98.40), 2011.
Brown. Front: Maple leaf; Prime Minister Sir Robert L. Borden. Back: Electrocardiogram (EKG) reading; woman looking into microscope; bottle of insulin; DNA double helix; maple leaf. Holographic stripe with Robert Borden and tower of parliament building in Ottawa. No security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: Unknown. 152 x 70 mm. Polymer. Intro: 14.11.2011.

According to a press released dated 14 November 2011, the Bank of Canada has introduced a new 100-dollar note which is the first polymer note for the nation. The new 50-dollar note is scheduled for introduction in March 2012.

Courtesy of Arthur Boyko and Nicholas Cheung.

Tags: Canada, Polymer

20 pesos (US$1.50), 3 MAY. 2010. Like P122, but new date, signatures, and serie L, M.

Courtesy of Ricardo Ramirez Gonzalez and Mark Fox.

Tags: Mexico, Polymer

20 dollars (US$20.20), 2011. Like P103 (“ISSUE OF 2004”) but new “PRINTED IN” date of 2011 at lower center on back and new signatures (Maclem / Carney).

Courtesy of Dharshan Mahalingam.

Tags: Canada

50 dollars (US$50), 2009. Like P527, but new date and signatures (Rosa Gumataotao Rios and Timothy Geithner).

Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below. Be sure to say you saw it mentioned on Banknotenews.com.

Courtesy of banknoteshop@gmx.net.

Tags: United States

There’s an interesting article in The New York Times dated 6 July 2011 entitled, “As Plastic Reigns, the Treasury Slows Its Printing Presses,” which discusses the reduced output of banknotes at the BEP in response to the shift to using credit cards for payments, though the death of cash likely remains a long way off.

Courtesy Mark St. Pierre.

Tags: United States

50 dollars (US$52.10), 2011. Like P104 (“ISSUE OF 2004”) but new “PRINTED IN” date of 2011 at lower center on back and new signatures (Maclem and M.J. Carney).

Courtesy of David Ryder.

Tags: Canada

Canada's new polymer bank note series was unveiled on 20 June 2011. The themes for the entire series, as well as designs, images, and security features of the first denominations to be issued—the $100 and $50 notes—were unveiled by James M. Flaherty, Minister of Finance; William J. S. Elliott, Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police; and Mark J. Carney, Governor of the Bank of Canada in a ceremony at the Bank of Canada.

The $100 note is to be issued in November 2011. The $50 note is to be issued in March 2012. The remaining $5, $10, and $20 notes are to be issued by late 2013.





Download the Bank of Canada Review Supplement dated 20 June 2011, Paying with Polymer: Developing Canada’s New Bank Notes.

Watch the unveiling ceremony on the bank’s website.

Courtesy of Richard Miranda and Thomas Krause.

Tags: Canada, Polymer

Moneymakers: The Wicked Lives and Surprising Adventures of Three Notorious Counterfeiters by Ben Rarnoff (Order from Amazon.com)

This 396-page hardcover was a bit of a disappointment for me, perhaps because I am very interested in the subject of counterfeiting from a technical perspective and this book focuses more on the forgers themselves and the economic state of America during the times in which three “most successful counterfeiters” operated, starting in Colonial times, then the early 1800s, and finally during the Civil War. Also, I found the attempts to draw parallels to the recent Wall Street scandals a bit of stretch, as was the author’s portrayal of these criminals as Robin Hood figures merely helping out the ordinary citizens by producing money the banks couldn’t or wouldn’t supply in sufficient quantities to meet popular demand.

Check out other book reviews and news on the Books page of this site.

Tags: United States

5 dollars (US$4.75), 2010. Like P101A (“ISSUE OF 2006”) but new “PRINTED IN” date of 2010 at lower center on back and new signatures (W.P. Jenkins and M.J. Carney).

Courtesy of Nazir Rahemtulla.

Tags: Canada

100 dollars, 2006 A. Like P528, but new date (2006 A).

Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below. Be sure to say you saw it mentioned on Banknotenews.com.

Courtesy of banknoteshop@gmx.net.

Tags: United States

All three above denominations are like preceding issues (P523, P525, and P526, respectively), but with new date (2009) and new signatures of Rosa Gumataotao Rios and Timothy Geithner.

Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below. Be sure to say you saw it mentioned on Banknotenews.com.

Courtesy of banknoteshop@gmx.net.

Tags: United States

In the same spirit as the Make your Franklin art project I wrote about recently, take a look at the Dollar ReDe$ign Project where artists offer their own new designs for the banknotes of the United States.

Courtesy of Richard Miranda.

Tags: United States

The US BEP is having trouble producing the next generation of 100-dollar notes, but that hasn’t stopped artists around the world from creating their own interesting designs as part of the Make your Franklin art project. Most are pretty whimsical, but some designs are actually rather intriguing. Take a look and have fun finding your favorite.

Courtesy of Wilson Chow.

Tags: United States

According to a Bank of Canada press release dated 10 March 2011, new 100-dollar (US$103) polymer banknote will be issued in November 2011, with a polymer 50-dollar note to follow in March 2012. The bank also provided further technical and background information about the new notes. Additional details regarding security features, themes, and designs of these denominations will be unveiled in the spring of 2011. The remaining 5-, 10-, and 20-dollar notes will be unveiled and issued by the end of 2013.

The bank has issued "Backgrounder on Canada’s new polymer bank note series" as a free PDF.

Courtesy of Brian Frame, Jay Mollindo, and Thomas Krause.

Tags: Canada, Polymer

According to a US Government Accountability Office report dated 4 March 2011, the US could save $5.5 billion over 30 years by replacing the 1-dollar banknote with a coin because coins last longer in circulation. This is the fourth time the GAO has made this recommendation in the past two decades, and I doubt this latest recommendation will be adopted even in these difficult economic times as no politician wants to be the one to authorize the euthanasia of hte iconic dollar bill with George Washington’s familiar face. Plus the difficulty in getting US citizens to use the 1-dollar coin dates back to the ill-fated Susan B. Anthony dollar. First issued in 1979, the coin was roundly rejected because it was too close in size, shape, and color to the quarter, resulting in confusion during transactions. The Sacagawea dollar issued in 2000 partially solved the color simularity by using a clad which appears “golden” when new, but tarnishes to a dull color after circulation.

It’s unlikely the public will ever choose the coin over the note if both circulate simultaneously, but if the notes were withdrawn, the public would eventually adopt coinage, just as has happened in many other countries around the world that finally faced up to the financial fact that it made little economic sense to lose money on every dollar it prints instead of mints.

Tags: United States

Here’s an interesting short video about Thomas Hipschen, former engraver for the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

Tags: United States

20 dollars (US$20.20), 2009. Like P103 (“ISSUE OF 2004”) but new “PRINTED IN” date of 2009 at lower center on back and new signatures (W.P. Jenkins and M.J. Carney).

Courtesy of James Huang.

Tags: Canada

10 dollars (US$10.10), 2009. Like P102A (“ISSUE OF 2004”) but new “PRINTED IN” date of 2009 at lower center on back and new signatures (W.P. Jenkins and M.J. Carney).

Courtesy of James Huang.

Tags: Canada

200 pesos (US$16.50), 28 ABR. 2008. Like Pick 125, but new date, new signatures, and Serie N.

Courtesy of Bill Stubkjaer.

Tags: Mexico

50 pesos (US$4.15), 8 MAR. 2010. Like P123, but new date and signatures.

Courtesy of Ricardo G. Ramírez.

Tags: Mexico, Polymer

50 pesos (US$4.10), 23 ABR. 2009. Like P123, but new date and new signature. Serie M.

Courtesy of Ricardo Ramirez Gonzalez.

Tags: Mexico, Polymer

20 pesos (US$1.60), 23 ABR. 2009. Like P122, but new date and signatures. Serie J.

Courtesy of Ricardo G. Ramírez.

Tags: Mexico, Polymer

20 pesos (US$1.60), 20 NOV. 2007. Like P122, but new date and signatures. Serie F.

Courtesy of Ricardo G. Ramírez.

Tags: Mexico, Polymer

MSNBC has an interesting article and video concerning problems with the new 100-dollar note scheduled for release in 2011.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Courtesy of Alex Zlotin.

Tags: United States

According to a Siku News article dated 26 October 2010, Greenland’s government has decided against issuing its own banknotes—similar to how the Faroe Islands issues its own notes equivalent to the Danish krone— an idea initially floated by the former Siumut government and laid down in “The Law on Currency Notes in Greenland” in 2006. The new government headed by the Inuit Ataqatigiit party has decided that the country can’t afford such a symbolic gesture. “Society has much greater problems than using money to introduce Greenland currency,” said Minister for Finance Palle Christensen earlier this year. The 2006 law was annulled at the government’s request.

Tags: Greenland

On 1 October 2010, the Federal Reserve Board announced a delay in the issue date of the redesigned US$100 note. This new design incorporates cutting edge, anti-counterfeiting technologies and the Federal Reserve imposes strict quality controls to ensure that users of U.S. currency around the world receive the highest quality notes. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing manufactures Federal Reserve notes and has identified a problem with sporadic creasing of the paper during printing of the new $100 note, which was not apparent during extensive pre-production testing. As a consequence, the Federal Reserve will not have sufficient inventories to begin distributing the new $100 notes as planned. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is working to resolve this problem, and the Federal Reserve Board will announce a new issue date for the redesigned $100 note as soon as possible. The originally scheduled issue date was 10 February 2011.

Tags: United States

50 pesos (US$3.85), 28 OCT. 2008. Series K with signatures of Jesús Marcos Yacaman (JUNTA DE GOBIERNO/Sub-Governor) and Raúl Valdés Ramos (CAJERO PRINCIPAL/Chief Cashier). Introduced December 2009. Polymer.


50 pesos (US$3.85), 28 OCT. 2008. Series L with signatures of unknown (JUNTA DE GOBIERNO/Sub-Governor) and Raúl Valdés Ramos (CAJERO PRINCIPAL/Chief Cashier). Polymer.

Courtesy of Ricardo G. Ramírez and Thomas Krause.

Tags: Mexico, Polymer

500 pesos (US$38.75), 26 MAR. 2002. Like P120, but new date, new signature, and Serie AG.

Courtesy of Jean-MIchel Engels.

Tags: Mexico

On 30 August 2010, the Bank of Mexico completed the issuance of its latest family of notes with the introduction of a new 500-peso note. As with previous members of this new family, older notes of the same denomination remain legal tender and will circulate in parallel with the new notes.



P126. 500 pesos (US$38.10). Brown. Front: Calla lily in violet-to-green OVI; Rivera’s mural Desnudo con Alcatraces (Nude with Calla Lilies), three brushes, and painter’s palette; muralist Diego Rivera; map. Back: Map; bank logo; artist Frida Kahlo; Kahlo’s painting El Abrazo de Amor del Universo, La Tierra, (México), Yo, Diego and Señor Xolotl (The Love Embrace of the Universe, the Earth, [Mexico], I, Diego and Mister Xolotl); hummingbird. Windowed Motion security thread and solid security thread. Watermark: Diego Rivera and electrotype 500. Printer: BANCO DE MÉXICO. 148 x 66 mm. 8 MAR. 2010. Serie A. Intro: 30.08.2010.

Courtesy of Rickey Stein and Ricardo G. Ramírez.

Tags: Mexico

20 pesos (US$1.55), 28 OCT. 2008. Like P122, but new date and signatures. Serie H.

Courtesy of Ricardo G. Ramírez.

Tags: Mexico, Polymer

20 pesos (US$1.55), 28 ABR. 2008. Like P122, but new date and signatures. Serie G.

Courtesy of Ricardo G. Ramírez.

Tags: Mexico, Polymer

50 pesos (US$3.85), 28 ABR. 2008. Like P123, but new date and signatures. Serie J.

Courtesy of Ricardo G. Ramírez.

Tags: Mexico, Polymer

5 dollars (US$4.75), 2009. Like P101A (“ISSUE OF 2006”) but new “PRINTED IN” date of 2009 at lower center on back and new signatures (W.P. Jenkins and M.J. Carney).

Courtesy of Bill Stubkjaer.

Tags: Canada

100 pesos (US$7.90), 23 ABR. 2009.
Red and yellow. Front: Ear of corn; poem about zentzontle, a bird represented by jade, flower, and two seated men; warrior poet Nezahualcóyotl. Back: Bank logo; temple, central square, and aqueduct of México-Tenochtitlán; cricket. Windowed Motion security thread and solid security thread. Watermark: Nezahualcóyotl and electrotype 100. Printer: BANCO DE MÉXICO. 148 x 66 mm. Intro: 09.08.2010.

Courtesy of Ricardo G. Ramírez and Claudio Marana.

Tags: Mexico

100 dollars (US$96), 2009. Like P105 (“ISSUE OF 2004”) but new “PRINTED IN” date of 2009 at lower center on back and new signatures (W.P. Jenkins and M.J. Carney).

Courtesy of Nazir Rahemtulla.

Tags: Canada

The International Bank Note Society (IBNS) has chosen Bermuda’s $2 note, issued as part of an entirely new series in 2009, as the 2010 Bank Note of the Year. Each year the IBNS recognizes an exceptional banknote issued in the previous year and, from nine very impressive nominations issued in 2009, the Bermuda $2 note was a clear winner.

The award-winning note portrays the Bermuda Bluebird (Sialia sialis) on the front and the Dockyard Clock Tower and Statue of Neptune on the back. As with all notes in the new Bermuda series, the head of HM Queen Elizabeth II appears in a reduced format on the front of the note, the portrait being a mirror of the Machin Head design which appears on the postage stamps of the Royal Mail.

The members of the IBNS Board, who chose the winning note, considered the Bermuda $2 note an example of the most attractive elements which create interest among the ever-widening community of banknote collectors and those who take an interest in the development of paper money. They said the combination of colours were appealing and blended well throughout all components of the design. Additionally, the range of items depicted on the note were attractively presented and allowed the eye to linger and to search for natural and historical design elements which were not immediately apparent.

One of the factors recommending the note to the judges was an interesting array of security features, despite its low face value. These include an Optiks™ embedded metallic thread, with an aperture on the front depicting the island; a Hibiscus watermark on the top section on the front; the Cornerstone™—a watermark feature on the four corners of the note enhancing the durability of the banknote; and, on the back, the Gemini™ feature portraying a compass which fluoresces in two colours under UV light.

Manufactured by De La Rue and released as part of a new series by the Bermuda Monetary Authority in February 2009, the series was the first major re-design of Bermudian banknotes for 40 years. The object of the series was to present depictions of Bermuda, with the series reflecting the natural beauty of the flora and fauna of the island on one side and the island’s architectural heritage on the other.

Working from a detailed brief from the Bermuda Monetary Authority, the initial concept designs for the series were created by Gene Bothwick, one of De La Rue’s long-serving designers, who retired in 2007 after 23 years of service. These concepts were then developed for production by the De La Rue banknote Preliminaries Department with input and guidance from the Monetary Authority.

The IBNS congratulates the Bermuda Monetary Authority and De La Rue on an exceptional banknote.

For more information, buy The Banknote Book: At the time of initial publication, this 22-page catalog covers every note (162 types and varieties, including 20 notes unlisted in the SCWPM) issued by the Bermuda Government from 1914 to 1970, and the Bermuda Monetary Authority from 1974 until present day.

Tags: Bermuda

The United States’ long-awaited new 100-dollar banknote was unveiled on 21 April 2010. Like the preceding issues of the denomination, it features Benjamin Franklin on the front and Independence Hall on the back, but is protected by improved anti-counterfeiting features, chief among them is Crane’s windowed Motion thread (which the BEP calls “3-D Security Ribbon”) and a copper-to-green OVI metameric pair patch shaped like an inkwell which reveals the Liberty Bell inside when tilted.. The note also has a solid security thread printed USA 100, a watermark of Franklin, the denomination printed in copper-to-green OVI, intaglio printing, microprinting, and a huge vertical 100 on the back right. The new $100 will begin circulating on 10 February 2011 and will circulate in parallel with older versions of the denomination (all US notes remain legal tender forever). More information can be found on the BEP web site, but due to high traffic on the day of its unveiling, some pages may refuse to load properly.

Tags: United States

According to a media advisory dated 5 March 2010, “The new design for the $100 note will make its debut on Wednesday, April 21 during a ceremony at the Department of the Treasury's Cash Room. The U.S. government redesigns currency in order to stay ahead of counterfeiters and protect the public. Decisions about the redesign of each denomination are guided by the government's close evaluation of the range of ongoing counterfeit threats, whether from digital technology or traditional printing presses.”

“The unveiling of the $100 note is the first step in a global multi-government agency public education program implemented by the Department of the Treasury, the Federal Reserve Board and the U.S. Secret Service, to educate those who use the $100 note about its changes before it begins circulating. The $100 note is the highest value denomination of U.S. currency in general circulation, and it circulates broadly around the world. Public education is an important component of the government's redesigned currency program because a well informed public is our first and best line of defense against counterfeiting. Free training materials for cash-handlers as well as other public education resources will be available in 25 languages at www.newmoney.gov beginning at 10:30 a.m. EDT on April 21.”

Courtesy of Alan Moe.

Tags: United States

According to an article in The Globe and Mail dated 4 March 2010, Canada has announced that beginning in late 2011 it intends to replace paper-cotton banknotes with polymer notes which are reported to last “two to three times longer. The changes are intended save on the cost of printing bills – and create a currency that’s much harder to counterfeit.” Canada will rely upon Austarlia’s Securency as the sole supplier for the polymer substrate. Though there is no mention of who will print the notes, it will probably continue to be Bank of Canada and Canadian Bank Note Company. Furthermore, it appears the 10- and 20-dollar denominations will be the first to be printed on polymer.

Courtesy of Dharshan Mahalingam and Mark Allen.

Tags: Canada, Polymer

 On 25 February 2010, North Carolina's Republican Representative Patrick McHenry introduced The President Ronald Reagan $50 Bill Act, numbered H.R. 4705, which proposes replacing the portrait of the 18th president, Ulysses S. Grant, with that of the 40th president, Ronald Reagan. "Every generation needs its own heroes. One decade into the 21st century, it's time to honor the last great president of the 20th and give President Reagan a place beside Presidents Roosevelt and Kennedy," said Congressman McHenry. "President Reagan was a modern day statesman, whose presidency transformed our nation's political and economic thinking."

Tags: United States

500 pesos (US$39.05), 28 OCT. 2008. Like Pick 120, but new date, new signatures (unknown and Raúl Valdés Ramons), and new series (AW).

Courtesy of Rickey Stein.

Tags: Mexico

200 pesos (US$15.60), 14 MAY. 2007. New date, new signatures (Guillermo Ortiz Martínez and Raúl Valdés Ramons), and new series (E).


200 pesos (US$15.60), 14 MAY. 2007. New date, new signatures ( Everado Elizando Almaguer and Raúl Valdés Ramons), and new series (F).


200 pesos (US$15.60), 20 NOV. 2007. New date, new signatures (Jesús Marcos Yacamán and Raúl Valdés Ramons), and new series (G).


200 pesos (US$15.60), 20 NOV. 2007. New date, new signatures (unknown and Raúl Valdés Ramons), and new series (H).

Courtesy of Rickey Stein.

Tags: Mexico

200 pesos (US$15.60), 14 MAY. 2007. Like Pick 119, but new date, new signatures (José Julian Sidaoui Dib and Raúl Valdés Ramons), and new series (DN).

Courtesy of Rickey Stein.

Tags: Mexico

100 pesos (US$7.80), 28 ABR. 2008. Like Pick 118, but new date, new signatures (unknown and Raúl Valdés Ramons), and new series (DZ).


100 pesos (US$7.80), 28 ABR. 2008. Like Pick 118, but new date, new signatures (unknown and Raúl Valdés Ramons), and new series (EA).


100 pesos (US$7.80), 28 ABR. 2008. Like Pick 118, but new date, new signatures (Everado Elizando Almaguer and Raúl Valdés Ramons), and new series (EB).

Courtesy of Rickey Stein.

Tags: Mexico

200 pesos (US$15.45), 15 MAY. 2007. New date, new signatures (Jesús Marcos Yacamán and Raúl Valdés Ramos), and series D.

Courtesy of Ricardo G. Ramírez.

Tags: Mexico, Polymer

100 pesos (US$7.70), 20 NOV. 2007. Like Pick 108, but new date, new signatures (Jesús Marcos Yacamán and Raúl Valdés Ramos), and series DY.

Courtesy of Ricardo G. Ramírez.

Tags: Mexico

20 pesos (US$1.55), 14 MAY. 2007. New date, series E, and new signatures (Jesus Marcos Yacaman and Raul Valdes Ramons).

Courtesy of Thomas Krause and Richard Miranda.

Tags: Mexico, Polymer

On 23 September 2009, the Bank of Mexico introduced two commemorative banknotes: a paper one to celebrate the bicentennial of independence, and a polymer one to celebrate the centennial of the Mexican Revolution.

The 100-peso commemorative with series A/A-A/E has an error in the microprinted text. On the front, the text appears correctly as “SUFRAGIO EFECTIVO Y NO REELECCION.” However, on the back the second word is misspelled as “ELECTIVO.” Apparently a corrected note will appear in 2010, and the error notes will remain in circulation.

Courtesy of Rickey Stein and Thomas Krause.

Tags: Mexico, Polymer

10 dollars (US$10). Like Pick 52, but new date (7 MAY 2007) and new signatures.

Courtesy of TDS.

For more information, buy The Banknote Book: At the time of initial publication, this 22-page catalog covers every note (162 types and varieties, including 20 notes unlisted in the SCWPM) issued by the Bermuda Government from 1914 to 1970, and the Bermuda Monetary Authority from 1974 until present day.

Tags: Bermuda

On 23 September 2009, the Bank of Mexico introduced two new commemorative banknotes. The 200-peso paper note celebrates the bicentenial of independence. It is also noteworthy because it's the first note in the world with a new security feature: the Pixel watermark, developed by ArjoWiggins Security.

A new development in the field of multi-tone watermarks, Pixel watermarks consist of patterns of dark dots of varying sizes on light backgrounds to create 3D effects such as the texture on the angel's wing on Mexico's new 200-peso commemorative. According to ArjoWiggins, in the coming months 20 new banknotes will be issued in Asia and Latin America featuring Pixel watermarks.

Courtesy of Nathalie Vast.

Tags: Mexico

In a press release dated 23 September 2009, the Bank of Mexico announced the immediate introduction of two new commemorative banknotes: a paper one to celebrate the bicentennial of independence, and a polymer one to celebrate the centennial of the Mexican Revolution. Each will be limited to 50 million pieces and these notes will not replace the currently circulating notes of the same denominations.

20,000 sets of notes with matching serial numbers were sold in a special folder. Anyone with information on the original cost of a set or the ability to scan the folder is encouraged to share that info and the images.


100 pesos (US$7.50)
Commemorates the Mexcian Revolution. Front: Ear of corn; camp follower (Adelita); locomotive that carried revolutionary troops in 1910; corn field; map. Back: Corn field; soldiers in David Alfaro Siqueiros' mural "Del Porfirismo a la Revolución;" ear of corn. Watermark: Adelita. Series A. Dated 20 NOV. 2007. 134 x 66 mm. Polymer.

• Prefix A Signatures: Guillermo Ortiz Martinez and Raul Valdes Ramons
• Prefix B Signatures: unknown (Roberto Del Cueto Legaspi ?) and Raul Valdes Ramons:
• 

• Prefix C Signatures: Everardo Elizondo Almaguer and Raul Valdes Ramons
• Prefix D Signatures: Jose Julian Sidaoui Dib and Raul Valdes Ramons
• Prefix E Signatures: Jesus Marcos Yacaman and Raul Valdes Ramons:

200 pesos (US$15)
Commemorates Mexican Independence. Front (vertical): Church bell in OVI; map; Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla with a banner, from Jesus Enrique Emilio de la Helguera Evans' painting "Don Miguel Hidalgo." Back (vertical): Angel of Independence, on Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City; stylized bright red cap (symbol of freedom). Windowed security thread. Watermark: Angel of Independence with electrotype 200. 141 x 66 mm.

Signature information courtesy of Thomas Krause.

Tags: Mexico, Polymer

2 dollars (US$2). Like Pick 50, but new date (7 MAY 2007) and new signatures.

50 dollars (US$50), 7 MAY 2007. Like P54, but new date and new signatures (Alan F. Richardson, CHAIRMAN; Robert Steinhoff, DIRECTOR).

Both the 2- and 50-dollar notes have been seen with this new date. The Bermuda Monetary Authority recently confirmed that 10- and 20-dollar notes have also been issued dated 7 MAY 2007. If anyone has these denominations with this date, please send scans so that I can post them.

Anyone interested in buying this note can contact the contributor by clicking the link below. Be sure to say you saw it mentioned here on Banknotenews.com.

Courtesy of Ömer Yalcinkaya.

For more information, buy The Banknote Book: At the time of initial publication, this 22-page catalog covers every note (162 types and varieties, including 20 notes unlisted in the SCWPM) issued by the Bermuda Government from 1914 to 1970, and the Bermuda Monetary Authority from 1974 until present day.

Tags: Bermuda

50 pesos (US$4.55), 28 ABR. 2008. Like Pick 122b, but Series J, new date, and new signatures (Jose Julian Sidaoui Dib and Raul Valdes Ramons). Polymer.

Courtesy of Thomas Krause.

Tags: Mexico, Polymer

100 pesos (US$7.50). Like Pick 118, but new date (28 ABR. 2008) and new signatures (Governor, Guillermo Ortíz Martínez; Chief Cashier, Raul Valdes).

Courtesy of Ricardo Ramirez Gonzalez.

Tags: Mexico

Some Canadian 10-dollar notes printed in 2007 with the Jenkins-Dodge signature combination were printed on paper intended for 20-dollar notes. They therefore have Queen Elizabeth's portrait and the number 20 as the watermark, a security thread with demetalized "Canada 20", and the holographic stripe with the number 20. There are at least three ranges of the error notes with prefixes BTT and BTU. Six notes have been confirmed so far, though there could be many more notes in circulation.

For more information, please visit Canadian Paper Money.

Tags: Canada, Error

The above notes are all dated 2006 on front and printed 2008 on back. They are like preceding issues, but with a new signature combination: W.P. Jenkins and M.J. Carney. As of late May, apparently the $100 has not yet be issued with this date/signature combination.

Courtesy of Jim “Rubycored” Chen.

Tags: Canada

A new variety 20-dollar note from Bermuda has been confirmed. Pick 53a (prefix D/1) at top has a silver foil patch in the shape of an artist’s palette at lower left front, but on the new variety (prefix D/2) the foil patch has a smaller 20, and the artwork to the right includes flowers. Both notes are dated 24 MAY 2000 and have the same signature combinations, and the other security features seem to be unchanged.

Courtesy of Claudio Marana.

For more information, buy The Banknote Book: At the time of initial publication, this 22-page catalog covers every note (162 types and varieties, including 20 notes unlisted in the SCWPM) issued by the Bermuda Government from 1914 to 1970, and the Bermuda Monetary Authority from 1974 until present day.

Tags: Bermuda

On 20 February 2009, the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) celebrated 40 years of service, and the island of Bermuda celebrated the 400th anniversary of its settlement by British explorer Sir George Somers. The BMA is marking these landmark occasions by launching the first complete redesign of Bermuda’s banknotes since the Bermuda dollar was issued in 1969. Planning for this launch commenced in 2005, and the BMA received the permission and support of the minister of finance and the cabinet for this new design in the summer of 2007. The objectives of the launch are to update the design of the Bermuda note family, the basic design of which has been in place since 1969; to provide a distinct Bermuda design, and clearly distinguish the note family from the designs of other countries; to provide a sense of national pride and easy identification with the features by the Bermudian public; to combat counterfeiting by increasing the security features; and to issue notes that are durable in the island’s tropical climate. The new banknotes were unveiled on November 24, 2008, and were introduced on March 9, 2009. Subject to the minister of finance’s approval, the BMA is also planning to issue commemorative note and coin products celebrating the 400th anniversary of Bermuda’s settlement.


2 dollars
Turquoise. Front (vertical): QEII; bluebird; flowers; butterfly; sail boats. Back (vertical): Butterflies; compass rose; dockyard clock tower; statue of Neptune. Optiks security thread. Watermark: Hibiscus flower and electrotype sail boat. Printer: TDLR (w/o imprint). 136 x 69 mm. 1 JANUARY 2009. Signatures: R. Alan F. Richardson and E. Barclay Simmons. Introduced 03.09.2009.


5 dollars
Pink. Front (vertical): QEII; blue marlin fish; flowers; dolphin. Back (vertical): Butterflies; bird of paradise flower; Horseshoe Bay beach; boat passing beneath Somerset bridge. Optiks security thread. Watermark: Hibiscus flower and electrotype sail boat. Printer: TDLR (w/o imprint). 136 x 69 mm. 1 JANUARY 2009. Signature R. Alan F. Richardson and unknown. Introduced 03.09.2009.


10 dollars
Purple. Front (vertical): QEII; blue angel fish; coral; sea turtle. Back (vertical): Anchor; butterflies; ship “The Deliverance;” cannon; Commissioner’s House building in Somerset Parish. Optiks security thread. Watermark: Hibiscus flower and electrotype sail boat. Printer: TDLR (w/o imprint). 136 x 69 mm. 1 JANUARY 2009. Signatures: R. Alan F. Richardson and Lynda Milligan-Whyte. Introduced 03.09.2009.


20 dollars
Green. Front (vertical): QEII; whistling frog; flowers; lizard. Back (vertical): Butterflies; St. Mark’s church; Gibbs Hill lighthouse in Southampton Parish. Optiks security thread. Watermark: Hibiscus flower and electrotype sail boat. Printer: TDLR (w/o imprint). 136 x 69 mm. 1 JANUARY 2009. Signatures: R. Alan F. Richardson and unknown. Introduced 03.09.2009.


50 dollars
Yellow. Front (vertical): QEII; longtail tropic bird; flowers. Back (vertical): Butterflies; St. Peter’s church in town of St. George. Optiks security thread. Watermark: Hibiscus flower and electrotype sail boat. Printer: TDLR (w/o imprint). 136 x 69 mm. 1 JANUARY 2009. Signatures: R. Alan F. Richardson and unknown. Introduced 03.09.2009.

Note: Shortly after the unveiling of the new note designs, ornithologist David Wingate complained that the $50 features a red-billed tropicbird instead of a local white-tailed tropicbird. BMA officials apologized for the error, but won’t change the design because they feel the red bill of the larger bird looks better against the pale yellow background than the orange of the local bird.


100 dollars
Red. Front (vertical): QEII; Red cardinal bird; flowers. Back (vertical): Butterflies; House of Assembly building in Hamilton; cahow bird. Optiks security thread. Watermark: Hibiscus flower and electrotype sail boat. Printer: TDLR (w/o imprint). 136 x 69 mm. 1 JANUARY 2009. Signatures: R. Alan F. Richardson and Robert Steinhoff. Introduced 03.09.2009.

Anyone interested in buying this note can contact the contributor by clicking the link below. Be sure to say you saw it mentioned here on Banknotenews.com.

Courtesy of Ömer Yalcinkaya.

For more information, buy The Banknote Book: At the time of initial publication, this 22-page catalog covers every note (162 types and varieties, including 20 notes unlisted in the SCWPM) issued by the Bermuda Government from 1914 to 1970, and the Bermuda Monetary Authority from 1974 until present day.

Tags: Bermuda

200 pesos (US$18.10), 14 MAY. 2007. Like P119, but new date and series DM.

Strangely enough, the first new style 200-peso note with Motion thread is dated 15 FEB. 2007 and series A, and a variety has also been confirmed with the date 14 MAY. 2007 and series C. That means this old style note bears a date that’s subsequent to the introduction of the new style notes, and actually shares that date with a new style variety.

Courtesy of Kevin Klauss.

Tags: Mexico

200 pesos (US$18.10), 15 FEB. 2007. Introduced 08.09.2008. Green. Front: Writer Juana de Asbaje y Ramírez de Santillana (Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz); books; inkwell; pens; library window. Back: Hacienda de Panoayan; baptismal font of the church of San Vicente Ferrer in Chimalhuacán; Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhautl volcanoes. Series A. OVI, windowed Motion security thread, microtext, Omron rings, map as registration device, intaglio printing, portrait watermark with denomination as electrotype, embedded colored threads, and UV elements. 141 x 66 mm.

Tags: Mexico

50 pesos (US$4.80), 22 NOV. 2006. Like MXN50 issued November 21, 2006, but new date, series G, and new signatures (unknown, JUNTA DE GOBIERNO; Raul Valdas Ramons, CAJERO PRINCIPAL). Polymer.

Courtesy of banknoteshop@gmx.net.

Tags: Mexico, Polymer

100 pesos (US$9.50), 19 JUN. 2006. Like P118, but new date and series DT.

Courtesy of Claudio Marana.

Tags: Mexico

1,000 pesos (US$93.50), 8 MAY, 2006. Introduced 07.04.2008. Rose and violet. Portrait of Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla on front, University of Guanajuato on back. Series A. Three towers of the church of Dolores Hidalgo in OVI, windowed Motion security thread, microtext, Omron rings, map as registration device, intaglio printing, portrait watermark with denomination as electrotype, embedded colored threads, and UV elements. 155 x 66 mm.

Tags: Mexico

200 pesos (US$18.10), 19 JUN. 2006. Like P119, but new date and series DK.

Courtesy of Ricardo Ramirez.

Tags: Mexico

500 pesos (US$46.70), 19 JUN. 2006 and 15 FEB. 2007. Like P120, but new dates and new signatures (Guillermo Ortiz Martinez, Junta de Gobierno; Raul Valdas Ramons, Cajero Principal).

Courtesy of Ronny Hick and Kevin Klauss.

Tags: Mexico

5 dollars (US$5), 2006. Unveiled September 20, 2007. To be issued in “early 2008.” Green and light purple. Enlarged portrait of Abraham Lincoln. Wmk of large 5 to right of portrait, wmk of column of three smaller 5s to left of portrait. Security thread with repeating USA and 5 repositioned to right of portrait; glows blue under UV light. Omron rings. Microprinting. Signatures (Anna Escobedo Cabral, Treasurer of the United States; Henry M. Paulson, Secretary of the Treasury). Lincoln Monument on back with low-vision 5 printed in purple.

Tags: United States

20 pesos (US$1.85), 19 JUN. 2006. Issued August 20, 2007. Blue, green, and brown. Series A. Don Benito Juárez García as portrait and wmk, scales of justice and open book (las Leyes de Reforma en 1859) above signatures (Guillermo Ortiz Martinez, JUNTA DE GOBIERNO; Raul Valdes Ramons, CAJERO PRINCIPAL), 20 embossed on see-through window, 20 PESOS repeated on security band, color-changing bird, microtext, map as registration device, Omron rings, and UV inks. Monte Albán pre-Columbian archaeological ruins in Oaxaca, a pendent, and Dios del Rayo mask of Zapotec deity Cocijo on back. Printer: BANCO DE MEXICO. Polymer. 120 x 66 mm.

20 pesos (US$1.85), 19 JUN. 2006. Issued August 20, 2007. Like above, but Series B and signatures (Guillermo Güemez Garcia, JUNTA DE GOBIERNO; Raul Valdes Ramons, CAJERO PRINCIPAL).

Courtesy of Thomas Krause.

Tags: Mexico, Polymer

Winston Brown of Toronto, Ontario, has recently gone public with a dramatic example of a modern error. The $20 from 2004’s Canadian Journey series has the holographic stripe on the front right, the windowed security thread on the back right, and the watermark is upside down (compare top pair of images with normal note below).

The Bank of Canada has confirmed that the note is genuine and postulates that the error is a result of an uncut sheet of banknote paper being being rotated 180 degrees before being fed into its presses in Ottawa. Since each sheet contains 45 notes, there must have been 44 other examples of this error with serial numbers similar to that found on Brown’s note: EZM7459230. However, his note was found in circulation in 2006 (though a 2004 issue, the note is dated 2006 on the back), and Brown isn’t aware of any other similar notes that have surfaced to date. It’s possible they escaped notice and may be lost, destroyed, collected, or waiting to be discovered.

Brown intends to sell his error note via auction at some point in the future. Interested parties may contact him via email: w_brown_2007@hotmail.com.

Courtesy of Winston Brown.

Tags: Canada, Error

50 pesos (US$4.55), 19 Jun. 2006. Like Pick 122b, but Series E, new date, and new signatures (Jesus Marcos Yacaman, Junta de Gobierno; Raul Valdes Ramons, Cajero Principal). Polymer.

Courtesy of Thomas Krause.

Tags: Mexico, Polymer

5 dollars, 2006. Issued November 15, 2006. Like Pick 101, but new date, new signatures (P. Jenkins, Senior Deputy Governor; and D.A. Dodge, Governor), and additional security features, including metallic holographic stripe, a watermark portrait, a windowed color-shifting security thread, a registration device, and enhanced fluorescence under UV light. Gone are the iridescent maple leaves and latent image of the denomination that appear on Pick 101. To increase its durability, the upgraded $5 note is printed on a slightly heavier paper and is coated with a protective varnish.

Courtesy of Dennis Lane.

Tags: Canada

The Bank of Mexico plans to issue a new family of banknotes designed primarily to improve security and ease identification by the blind through the use of different tactile marks and varying sizes for each denomination. The first note of this new series is the $50 (US$4.60), details of which were revealed today as follows.



50 peso, 5 Nov. 2004. Issued November 21, 2006. Series A. Signatures: Guillermo Ortiz Martinez, Junta de Gobierno; Maria Elvira Herendira Hernandez Barba, Cajero Principal.
José María Morelos as portrait and watermark, color-shifting butterfly, microtext, security thread, map of Mexico as registration device, and see-through window with embossed denomination. Aqueduct in Morelia, Michoacán on back, along with orange Monarch butterflies that fluoresce yellow under UV light. Polymer. 127 x 66 mm.



50 peso, 7 Sept. 2005. Issued November 21, 2006. Like above, but series B, new date, and new signatures (Guillermo Güemez Garcia, Junta de Gobierno; Raul Valdes Ramons, Cajero Principal). Polymer.



50 peso, 7 Sept. 2005. Series C. Signatures: Everardo Elizondo Almaguer, Junta de Gobierno; Raul Valdes Ramons, Cajero Principal.



50 peso, 7 Sept. 2005. Issued November 21, 2006. Like above, but series D, new date, and new signatures (Jose Julian Sidaoui Dib, Junta de Gobierno; Raul Valdes Ramons, Cajero Principal). Polymer.


Faux watermark that appears on all notes to right of portrait.

Courtesy of Thomas Krause.

Tags: Mexico, Polymer

Treasury Secretary “Hank” Paulson visited the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) in Washington, DC on October 23, 2006, for the unveiling of the first paper currency with his signature. The signature, which he provided to the BEP on his first day in office this past July, uses his formal name: Henry M. Paulson Jr. The new $20 Series 2006 notes also bear the signature of Anna Escobedo Cabral, Treasurer. The notes are expected to be sent to the Federal Reserve for distribution as needed.

Tags: United States

In September 2006, the Bank of Mexico outlined its plans to issue a new family of banknotes designed primarily to improve security and ease identification by the blind through the use of different tactile marks and varying sizes for each denomination. The colors and overall designs of the current series of notes will remain unchanged to avoid confusion. The lone exception is the new $500, which will feature Diego Rivera and Frieda Kahlo.

All of the new notes will be 66 mm tall. However, the 20-peso note will be 120 mm in length, and each larger denomination will be 7 mm longer, culminating in a 1,000-peso note measuring 155 x 66 mm, the same size as the current series of notes (Pick 116 - 121).

The first note of the new series will be the $50, to be released in November 2006, followed by the $20 in 2007. Both of these denominations will be printed on polymer, which — in the bank's experience with the current polymer $20 (Pick 116) — lasts three times longer than paper.

The remaining denominations will be printed on paper, with the $200 and $1,000 appearing in 2008, and the $100 and $500 slated for 2009. The current notes will remain legal tender and will be gradually removed from circulation.

Tags: Mexico, Polymer