New Generation of Banknote Design Is on the WayAccording to David Longworth, the central bank’s deputy governor, the plan of redesign of Canadian banknotes is a part of a strategy to stay ahead of counterfeiters.We remind that in 2001 a well-organized group of counterfeiters was detained in Canada. They managed to print and put into circulation a few millions of high-quality counterfeit 100-dollar bills. At that moment, up to 10 thousand of counterfeit banknotes were detected monthly. It’s hard to imagine, but some of these fakes have even appeared in Russia. Credit the Russian police authorities, these counterfeits were promptly seized from circulation (the description of the counterfeit banknotes was published in “BoW”). To rid the consequences of counterfeiters’ activity, the Bank of Canada was forced to promptly introduce into circulation the new series of the banknotes — “Canadian Journey”. But in late 2006 a new scandal crashed out: the officers of Royal Canadian Mounted Police seized 18000 and then 9000 more pieces of counterfeit 20-dollar banknotes (we have published this sensational story in details with illustrations of forged Canadian banknotes in article “Counterfeit Banknotes That Shook Canada”, “BoW” #2, 2007).
Since that time the level of counterfeiting in Canada has reduced by several times and in 2009 it is planned to fewer than 100 counterfeits detected annually per million notes in circulation. Despite this, according to recommendations of cash circulation specialists who declare that due to the modern technologies level the banknote series must be revisited at least once in 5—7 years, Bank of Canada plans of elaboration of new banknote series seem quite reasonable.
According to D. Longworth, the Bank is hard at work designing the next generation of banknotes, planned for introduction beginning in 2011. New banknotes of Canadian dollars will have improved security features as compared with current series. The main objective of the Bank of Canada’s currency work is to give Canadians “paper money that can be trusted”, Longworth said.
We remind that in 2000 with intention to fight money laundering and organized crime the Bank of Canada has ceased issuing of 1000-dollar notes. All $1,000 notes returned to the bank were withdrawn from circulation and destroyed.
The bank proposed to introduce new 200-dollar banknote to replace withdrawn 1000-dollar notes, but faced strong opposition of retailers. According to the survey conducted by SES Reseach in different Canadian cities, more than 59% of store owners opposed to the introduction of 200-dollar bill into circulation.
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