International banknote community (IBNS), which brings together collectors of paper money, published the results of the competition “Banknote of the year 2016″. The applicant for the first place must have either high-tech protection, or look like a work of art. At the same time, the banknote must be in circulation.

The list of winners is opened by the leader of the past year – a note of 50 francs (Switzerland). 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 9th series features wind and national experiences. Incorporating the latest technological security standards, future notes will depict time, light, water, matter and language. Using three layer substrate Durasafe® technology, the bright green vertical banknote depicts dandelion seeds, a paraglider aloft in the mountains and a strikingly playful human hand.

A new note of 500-peso (Argentina) had the excellent chances for victory competing with Switzerland franc. It is the first in a new series of banknotes featuring the native fauna of various regions of the country. This new note will circulate in parallel with existing notes. The note with the image of a jaguar is protected by watermarks and a metal strip stitched through a paper.

The Central Bank of Russia is issuing a commemorative 100 ruble banknote dedicated to Sevastopol and Crimea. It is released in honor of the reunification of Crimea and Russia and has a truly exclusive design. The front of the note features a Crimean landmark called the Swallow's Nest Castle. The back of the note is devoted to the Russian federal city of Sevastopol and features the Sunken Ships Monument in Sevastopol Bay and a patch of Ivan Aivazovsky's painting 'The Russian Squadron on the Sebastopol Roads'.

Turning to the candidates for the leadership in 2017, it's worth mentioning a note of 100 peso (Mexico). This banknote has quite good chances for the first place. It was issued in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Constitution of Mexico. It depicts the ideologist of the national revolution Venustiano Carranza and the head of the Constituent Assembly Luis Rojas.

For something that stands out from the crowd, look no further than the note of 100 krone (Norway). The main theme of the new design is the sea, thanks to which the Norwegians communicate with the world. The note depicts the Viking ship. "The sea unites us," the developers of the bank note believe, and in many respects they are right.