New Zealand's five dollar note has been named the banknote of 2015 by the International Bank Note Society -- a "clear winner" among nearly 40 eligible¹ designs from a record 20 countries.

新西兰5元纸币近日被国际纸币学会评为2015年度最佳纸币，在近40种参评纸币中“轻松取胜”。参与此次评选的有20个国家，开创了新纪录。

Scottish Clydesdale Bank's five pound note, Sweden's 20 kronor note, Russia's 100 rouble note and Kazakhstan's 20,000 tenge note emerged as runners-up, the Guardian² reported.

据《卫报》报道，排在新西兰5元纸币之后的分别是：苏格兰克莱兹代尔银行发行的5英镑纸币、瑞典20克朗纸币、俄罗斯100卢布纸币以及哈萨克斯坦2万坚戈纸币。

New Zealand's $5, printed by a Canadian company, shows mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary (the first man to summit Mount Qomolangma) facing the South Island's Aoraki/Mount Cook and, on the other side, a rare yellow-eyed penguin³ and local flora⁴.

新西兰5元纸币由一家加拿大公司负责印刷，其正面图案包括首个征服珠穆朗玛峰的登山家埃德蒙·希拉里爵士，他的头像面朝新西兰南岛库克山山峰。背面图案包括珍稀的黄眼企鹅和新西兰特有植物。

To be eligible, a banknote must have been issued for the first time during the year of the award, and be in general circulation. It is assessed for its "artistic⁵ merit and/or innovative⁶ security features", including use of colour, contrast and balance.

有效参赛纸币必须为参赛当年首次发行，且是公开流通的货币。最佳纸币评选标准在于设计是否美观、是否拥有创新的防伪技术等，包括对色彩、对比度的平衡运用。

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand had released the new $5 and $10 notes in October last year.

新西兰储备银行（央行）2015年10月发行新版5元和10元纸币。

"The note incorporates some of the world's most advanced security features, yet still beautifully showcases New Zealand's history, culture and heritage," said the bank.

新西兰央行表示：“新西兰5元纸币使用了一些世界上最先进的防伪技术，同时以美观的方式展示了新西兰历史和文化遗产。”

The International Bank Note Society, which awards the honour every year, praised the "stunning⁷ orange and brown" design and its "gorgeous polymer window".

国际纸币学会每年都会颁发这一奖项。该学会称新西兰5元纸币的橙色和褐色版面“精美绝伦”，聚合物视窗的设计“华丽绚烂”。