INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL MONETARY STUDIES
The Stichting (Foundation) Institute of International Monetary Studies was established by Drs. Hugo J. van Reijen who has more than thirty years of experience in the bank note field. He is Chairman of Van Reijen International Agencies Limited, an international organisation importing and exporting large quantities of bank notes from and to more than 80 different countries. During his dealings with Central Banks all over the world he found that there is not always a full understanding of the importance of attractive bank note designs.
The bank notes will find their way into the hands of collectors throughout the world. Bank note collecting, as with stamp collecting, is a fast increasing international activity. The ideal bank note should be recognised instantly as an ambassador of the country for which it was issued. Nothing better reflects the atmosphere and cultural heritage of a country than the pictures on its bank notes.
It can be the superb expression of an artist who has managed to translate his strongest feelings into a design which will be handled daily by millions of people throughout the country. An ever increasing number of people feel the charm of collecting these pieces of paper which carry beautiful pictures, harmoniously blending cyphers and monetary units with age old landscapes and rare zoological species.
In order to make bank note issuing authorities more aware of the importance of attractive designs, for the public in general as well as collectors, Drs. Van Reijen took the initiative to establish the Institute for International Monetary Studies.
The Institute was established on the 24th October 1995 as a non-profit Foundation according to Dutch legislation and registered with the Chamber of Commerce in Amsterdam.
The aim of the Institute is to encourage on a worldwide basis the quality and attractiveness of paper money and in particular the designs used.
The Institute strives to reach this aim among others by the following means:
- Comparative studies between different kinds of paper money issued by Central Banks and other authorities
- Supplying information to the public in general and collectors in particular about all aspects of paper money
- Periodically awarding Certificates and prizes for the most attractively designed paper money.