IBNS names 2015 Bank Note of the Year
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has been feted with prestigious Bank Note of the Year Award from the International Bank Note Society. It received the award for best 2015…
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has been feted with prestigious Bank Note of the Year Award from the International Bank Note Society. It received the award for best 2015 note for New Zealand’s $5 polymer note.
According to the IBNS, with almost 150 new bank notes released worldwide during 2015, more than three dozen were of sufficiently new design to be eligible for nomination.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand began releasing a new family of “Brighter Money” bank notes in 2015, beginning with the $5 and $10 denominations. Printed by the Canadian Bank Note Co. in Ottawa, each orange and brown $5 note displays a map of New Zealand in a polymer window as well as numerous upgraded security features.
The face features legendary New Zealand mountain climber Sir Edmund Hillary and South Island’s Mount Cook (Aoraki). A color-changing yellow-eyed penguin (hoiho) completes the face design. The back design again features this rare penguin unique to New Zealand as well as local flora.
Runner-ups for the award were Sweden’s 20-kronor note depicting children’s author Astrid Lindgren, Russia’s 100-ruble note illustrating Crimean landmarks, Kazakhstan’s 20,000-tenge note, and Scotland’s (Clydesdale Bank) five-pound polymer note.
From all significantly new designed and widely circulated bank notes released in 2015, the IBNS membership nominated notes from a record 20 countries to place on the ballot. Nominees represented four continents (Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa), four Middle East countries, and four island nations.
Past “Bank Note of the Year” winners include Trinidad & Tobago (2014), Kazakhstan (2013, 2012, 2011), Uganda (2010), Bermuda (2009), Samoa (2008), Scotland (2007), Comoros (2006), Faeroe Islands (2005) and Canada (2004).
The IBNS was founded in 1961 and is a non-profit educational organization with objectives “to promote, stimulate, and advance the study and knowledge of worldwide banknotes and paper currencies along educational, scientific and historical lines.”
For additional information on its awards program and membership, visit www.theibns.org.
This article was originally printed in Bank Note Reporter.
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