December 13, 2018 – G+D Currency Technology and Louisenthal produced the new banknote series for Armenia, issued by the country’s Central Bank on November 22, 2018. The series consists of six denominations: 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, and 1,000 dram and is entirely based on Hybrid substrate.
The new banknotes follow on from last December’s 500-dram commemorative note featuring a Noah’s Ark motif, which won the Regional Banknote of the Year” award for design and technology.
The new 1,000 dram banknote. Photo: Central Bank of Armenia.
The Central Bank of Armenia has asked Louisenthal to also produce the new series on Hybrid™, with the latest security features implemented. G+D Currency Technology contributed the design and printing of the series. “We’ve set new standards with this series, in terms of both design and technology. It once again demonstrates how complex technologies enable beautiful banknotes that are part of contemporary living,” stated Dr. Wolfram Seidemann, CEO of G+D Currency Technology.
The new 2,000 dram banknote. Photo: Central Bank of Armenia.
Hybrid substrate
Hybrid™ is made up of a cotton core with a protective polyester film. Seidemann: “Using Hybrid supports the central bank’s clean note policy. Clean and intact notes offer clear, unequivocal authentication both for the general public and for the central bank’s processing systems. Hybrid™ notes are more resilient and durable in circulation so they do not need to be replaced as often, thus saving central banks money.”
The new 5,000 dram banknote. Photo: Central Bank of Armenia.
Design and security
The Governor of the Central Bank of Armenia, Arthur Javadyan, is delighted with the new banknotes: “Both the new series III and the 500 dram collector’s note were issued in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Armenian currency. National currency is part of a nation’s identity. Motifs on banknotes represent a people’s finest and proudest moments.
The new 10,000 dram banknote. Photo: Central Bank of Armenia.
These banknotes have been designed to represent famous Armenian personalities: clerics, musicians and writers. We are very proud of the design, technical sophistication, and highly complex security elements, making the new Armenian series one of the most modern and technologically advanced in the world.“
The new 20,000 dram banknote. Photo: Central Bank of Armenia.
Security features
Just like cotton banknotes, Hybrid banknotes can be printed with any design, and have any security feature applied without restriction. Each denomination in the new Armenian series is equipped with the latest security features which guarantee protection against counterfeiting: a 5mm-wide Galaxy® security thread with machine-readable MultiCode™ design elements, a 3D-effect watermark, a LaserCut™ window, and a two-color iridescent strip on the reverse.
The new 50,000 dram banknote. Photo: Central Bank of Armenia.
Galaxy® security thread combines color shift with 3D and movement effects, made possible by a thread composed of millions of micromirrors arranged in a minute space. These create a striking color effect, which counterfeiters cannot imitate.
More information on Giesecke+Devrient is available on the company’s website.