The award for Best New Banknotes was presented to the Bank of Thailand for its new 50 and 100 bahts, which entered circulation in November. The notes have been printed on polymer substrate and their release follows that of the updated 20 baht note, which was first issued in 2022. Studies by the Bank have shown that the new polymer banknote is four times more durable than its paper counterpart. This is projected to save 350 million banknotes per year over the eight years that the notes are expected to last, reducing production, transport and resource costs.

The new notes retain the familiar designs of the current paper versions while incorporating advanced security features. The substrate for the 50 baht is De La Rue’s SAFEGUARD™, featuring colour changing, iridescent, and hide and reveal security features. The substrate for the 100 baht  is CCL Secure’s GUARDIAN™. It incorporates a complex window, a GSWITCH™ dynamic colour-shifting feature that makes a flower on the note change from purple to orange when tilted, and a secondary window contains a METALIX™ pentagon with a brilliant metallic sheen and a lustrous gold finish.

Both notes also include embossed and transparent diagonal lines, which can be easily touched and felt, to support individuals with visual impairments.