I just read an abridged version of the 'Bits and bob' article in the digital version (on iPad) of June 18th-24th 2001 edition of The Economist. This represents what is in the print edition. It is much shorter than online version http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2011/06/virtual-currency, cutting out all the technical details. It tells the reader to learn more about how Bitcoin works, visit www.economist.com/blogs/babbage.
So, while not front page, it is under the 'Finance and economics' section and not the 'Science and technology' section.
They end the print version of the article with: "Bitcoin is technically sophisticated. As a monetary system, it looks primitive."