Barbados - $50 1996 - 2016 50th Year of Independence

Barbados 50th Anniversary of Independence (30.11.1966). This note was issued on 21.11.2016. The design of this note is the same at those first issued in 2013 (P77), featuring the portrait of Errol Walton Barrow (1920-1987) except that the 50th Independence logo is added to the design on the top right hand corner. The decision to have this note for this independence commemorative is very appropriate too as Errol Barrow was the father of the nation. He was the Premier of Barbados when he led the country to independence from United Kingdom in 1966. The Errol Barrow day, his actual birthday, is also celebrated annually on January 21st since 1989. It seems that they must have this note in mind for this purpose when they designed this back in 2013. This note bears the signature of the Governor Dr Delisle Worrell.

Barbados was the fourth English speaking nation in the West Indies to achieve independence from the United Kingdom, after Jamaica (6.8.1962), Trinidad and Tobago (31.8.1962) and British Guiana (now Guyana 26.5.1966).

Barbados dollar is pegged to the United States Dollar at B$1 = US$0.50. Obviously this note is worth US$25.00 at face value.

The note is dated 30.11.2016 and was released into circulation on 21.11.2016. The serial number for this issue commenced with prefix J30 with number 100001 as the first note. The note that I have posted here is considered as low serial numbered note. I wonder if the center bank retains any of their notes for their archive purposes. Even if they do, I believe it's not many and I have my reasons to say that.

Fifty Dollars

Dated 2016, P79

Reverse

This is the fourth commemorative banknote issued by the Central Bank of Barbados. The previous three issues were all related to the Central Bank's anniversaries. This is the only note that celebrates the nation's independence.

Previous commemorative notes issued were: -

$100 -  1997 25th Anniversary of Central Bank of Barbados (general circulation);
$5 - 2002 30th Anniversary of Central Bank of Barbados (1000 sets issued at B$7.50 each);
$40 - 2012 40th Anniversary of Central Bank of Barbados (general circulation);