The new 50 swiss franc is the best currency note of the year

7 years ago - Published in Alternative investments, Finance

The International Bank Note Society (IBNS) announces that its voting membership has selected the Swiss National Bank to receive its prestigious “Bank Note of the Year Award” for 2016. With almost 120 new banknotes released worldwide during 2016, over half were of sufficiently new design to be eligible for nomination. The Swiss note only narrowly beat the Maldive Islands 1000 Rufiyaa bill, Argentina’s 500 Peso jaguar, and the Royal Bank of Scotland’s 5 Pound first polymer note.

Now in its 56th year, the IBNS has over 2000 members worldwide. As a non-profit educational organization its objectives are to promote, stimulate and advance the study, collection and dissemination of information related to paper money. From all significant newly designed and widely circulated banknotes released in 2016, the IBNS membership nominated notes from a near-record 19 countries to place on the ballot. Nominees represented four continents (Europe, Australia, South America and Asia), two Middle East countries, and four island nations.

Past “Bank Note of the Year” winners include New Zealand (2015), Trinidad & Tobago (2014), Kazakhstan (2013, 2012, 2011), Uganda (2010), Bermuda (2009), Samoa (2008), Scotland (2007), Comoros (2006), Faeroe Islands (2005) and Canada (2004).

The Switzerland 50 Franc note is the first new design the Swiss National Bank has released in 20 years. Printed by Orell Fussli Security Printing Ltd., this note from the new ninth series features wind and national experiences. Incorporating the latest technological security standards, future notes will depict time, light, water, matter and language. Slightly smaller than U.S. banknotes, this is the first hybrid note to win the coveted IBNS banknote award. 

“We’re happy about it,” SNB spokesman Walter Meier said of the citation. On 17 May this year Switzerland will launch a new 20 franc note. This will be followed by the 10 in autumn 2017 and then the 100, 200 and 1,000 francs notes between now and 2019.

Founded in 1961, the non-profit IBNS seeks to advance the study of knowledge of paper currency around the world. It has more than 2,000 members.