In December 2022, Coin & Mint News was still in its fledgling stages, and we published a round-up of three key trends that became ever more apparent over the course of last year – environmental sustainability, effective circulation, and industry collaboration.

The Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten has announced its approval of samples of the 1 cent, 5 cent, 10 cent, and 50 cent coins for the new Caribbean guilder currency. Now that the samples have been approved, the Royal Canadian Mint – the chosen supplier of the new coins – can begin pre-production trials for the lower denomination coins.

To commemorate the centenary of Gustave Eiffel’s death – the French civil engineer and architect of the world famous Eiffel Tower and several other iconic monuments – Monnaie de Paris has created a collection of gold and silver coins. Amongst these is a €25 silver proof coin that features an NFC chip on its reverse which, when scanned, reveals the coin’s technical specifications.

In this article, we summarise the information from central bank reports on circulating and commemorative coins and numismatic programmes.

As those involved in the industry continuously review the cost of coins, not just production but also distribution and circulation costs, so do government bodies to ensure that the currency systems in place are best suited to the areas in which they operate.

The European Commission has published the results of its latest Eurobarometer, a survey conducted to measure public perceptions of the euro currency among citizens living in euro-area countries.

Monnaie de Paris, the French-state owned mint, has been in existence since 864, making it not only the oldest institution in France, but probably in the world too. Coin & Mint News™ spoke to its CEO, Marc Schwartz, about the company, his views of the industry as a relative newcomer, and how it is meeting the challenges of today for coins.

A few recent personnel updates from The Royal Mint, SPMCIL, ACYS Lasertechnik, the South African Mint, IACA, and the Perth Mint.

The central bank of Morocco, Bank Al- Maghrib, has issued a new coin series into circulation as part of its latest round of currency updates. Alongside new 10 centimes, 20 centimes, ½ dirham, 1 dirham, 5 dirham, and 10 dirham coins, an updated 100 dirham banknote has also been issued.

The Royal Canadian Mint has unveiled and struck the first Canadian coin bearing the effigy of HM King Charles III, with the $1 circulation coin becoming the first to display the portrait of a new monarch in 70 years.

Held during the Gala Dinner at the recent MDC 2023 in Ottawa, Canada, the MDC Awards included an additional category for the first time, namely the ‘Best Sustainability Initiative’.

On the International Day of Child Rights, the Royal Dutch Mint (RDM) released the Free a Girl coincard featuring its first ever RDM NFT (Non-Fungible Token).

The Royal Australian Mint has been awarded the ‘Best CashTech Award’ for its Donation Dollar at the recent CashTech Innovation Awards held earlier this month at the Future of Cash Conference in Istanbul, Türkiye.

Following the announcement and subsequent issue of a new royal effigy for the obverse of the United Kingdom’s coins, The Royal Mint has recently unveiled eight new reverse designs for a completely updated set of the nation’s circulating coinage.

The Royal Australian Mint (RAM) recently published its annual report for 2022. In the year, 110 million circulating coins were supplied to banks, a decrease of 19 million from the 119 million supplied in 2021-2022.

The Royal Canadian Mint has issued its latest circulating commemorative $2 coin, honouring influential 20th century visual artist Jean-Paul Riopelle. Released to mark the 100th anniversary of his birth, the coin marks the artist’s contribution to Canada’s cultural heritage.

The 2023 MDC received record-breaking 204 entries in total for the five categories of the 2023 MDC Awards, with the ceremony taking place during the MDC Gala Dinner, held at the Canadian Museum of History.

Banco de Guatemala and the Mint of Finland have announced the signing of a new contract for the production and supply of circulation coins from the former to the latter. The Mint of Finland will produce and supply 400 million pieces of 1 quetzal circulation coins, with deliveries taking place between 2023 and 2025.

The 2023 Mint Directors Conference took place in Ottawa, Canada, earlier this month. Hosted by the Royal Canadian Mint, the event was the first MDC held in five years and welcomed over 250 delegates from mints and the wider industry across the globe.

At the recent Mint Directors Conference in Ottawa, the Mint Directors Association (MDA) was formally announced. It has now been legally incorporated as a not-for-profit association, and is the successor to the MDC, the looser association of mint directors that has been in existence since 1962.