New Livros Released TodayA shopkeeper exchanges her old livros with new ones at the bank in the city of Colonella di Bruttii, grant of Plano Verta, province of Brutland. July 3, 2010
by Sara FisichellaKINGSVILLE - the newly redesigned Series IX
Nord-Brutlandese livro, the currency of the United Kingdom of
Brutland and Norden, was released today into general circulation by the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Bank (
Banco Reala Nordèbrutelliense, BRNb) through public and private banks all over the country.
The release was simultaneous in all grants and provinces following a July 2 bank holiday in order to provide a one-day window for the delivery of the new banknotes to banks all over the country. Citizens can now exchange their old paper banknotes into the new polymer banknotes in all banks in Brutland and Norden. Most vending machines, automated teller machines, and currency counters had also been reconfigured to adapt to the change.
"Smooth Turnover"The BRNb reported that £12.5 billion worth of old livros had been exchanged to the new livros so far. While there was no rush to exchange banknotes, some Nord-Brutlandese went to banks early in order to get their hands on the new, more modern currency. "It's... different," Sabino Pellegrino, an office worker from Providenza, remarked about the new banknotes. Pellegrino went to the bank early before work to exchange his old King Adam IV livros. "It doesn't feel like money. But I guess we Nord-Brutlandese will get used to these plastic money. I hear these polymer banknotes are more secure... and definitely you cannot reproduce this in a paper copier. "
"I like it," said Carolina di Gasperina, a bank teller at the Banco di Monteleone. "Vivid colors, sophisticated design and security features, and it feels clean. Dirt and smell sticks to paper banknotes, sometimes you loath to touch them. And it'll be much easier to look out for fakes."
There were only a few isolated incidents concerning the new banknotes. In the town of Palombara di Tiberio, province of Brutland, some local stores refused to accept the new banknotes. Some shopkeepers believed the new banknotes were toy money. The matter as immediately cleared by the municipal mayor and the BRNb representative for the grant of Cantabrica. In the grant of Mordogudoro, province of Norden, people were unable to get the new banknotes after the barge that was supposed to bring the new banknotes to the islands was stranded in the Scilian port of Agriacca.
Exchange EarlyThe Chief Cashier of the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Bank, Adam Castresana, encouraged citizens to exchange their livros early and make the transition immediately. The BRNb had shortened the grace period with which the paper banknotes can still be used and exchanged. The BRNb gave the Nord-Brutlandese three months to exchange their livros in the country's banks. The paper Series VIII banknotes, bearing the image of King Kyle II, will remain legal tender only for one more year, up to July 2011 (instead of the usual four years); and can be exchanged at face value (at BRNb branches only) only for two more years, up to July 2012 (instead of the usual seven years). The Series VII notes, bearing the image of King Adam IV, will cease to be legal tender this month, and can be exchanged at face value for only one more year, up to July 2011 (instead of up to July 2013).
Security Features of the Nord-Brutlandese Livro
(from the Royal Bank of Brutland and Norden) BRNB's Castresana said that the Bank wanted Brutland and Norden to shift immediately to the polymer banknotes and cease the use of the paper banknotes, which was more liable to counterfeiting. While there were some cases of counterfeiting, it was never much of a problem. Nevertheless, the BRNb recognized the vulnerability of the Nord-Brutlandese livro and immediately made plans to remedy it, hence the issuance of a new series of banknotes.
And although the high-denomination banknotes (£200, £500, £1000) will remain legal tender and will be circulated, the Bank will be reducing the amount that they will print, primarily to fight money laundering. The £1000 livro banknote, roughly equivalent to $1600, is one of the highest-valued banknotes in the world.
The New Series IX BanknotesThe redesign was proposed by the BRNb and was approved by the Cortanella government in 2009, primarily to strengthen the security features of Nord-Brutlandese currency. It was also to update the images on the currency.
The new banknotes of the Nord-Brutlandese livro are made of a plastic polymer called biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP), developed at the Nord-Brutlandese company Baadsgaard & Lambert (B&L). B&L was also responsible for the other security features, which included a transparent plastic window, holograms, color-shifting and thermochromatic inks, intaglio printing, and for higher denominations, RFIDs to track down the currencies and reveal counterfeits.
The banknotes bear the image of His Majesty King Kyle II and various castles around Brutland and Norden. The colors remained the same for all denominations in order to prevent confusion with the colors the Nord-Brutlandese had been accustomed to.
Gallery: Nord-Brutlandese livro Series IX£1: Colored blue, Mount Bianco on the Reverse£5: Colored yellow, Royal Palace on the Reverse£10: Colored green, General Court on the ReverseThe view of the General Court featured changed from the interior courtyard to the south side of the Court.
£20: Colored orange, Stroppiana Lighthouse on the Reverse£50: Colored gray, Nordville Castle on the Reverse£100: Colored red, Montecrestese Castle on the Reverse£200: Colored cyan, Dennville Castle on the Reverse£500: Colored violet, Brutland City Castle on the ReverseThe Castle of Brutes (City of Padanica) as replaced by the Brutland CIty Castle.
£1000: Multicolored, Pannondrian Castle on the Reverse