...Barbados - Series 2024 Reprints of 5 notes

Barbados

(Little Britain)

 

Central Bank of Barbados (Est.1972)

Currency - Dollar (BBD)

Below are the latest series of polymer notes, first introduced in 2022. The notes that I have posted here are all reprints of the 2022 series, but with a new bank governor's signature and dated 2024. Only five notes posted here as I am not sure if the $10 has been printed or issued.

The first two notes of the $20 and $100 were reportedly released in June 2024. There are no changes to this series, except that the notes are printed with the year date of Series 2024 and also with the new signature.

Two Dollars Polymer

Front - John Redman Bovell (b.1855-1928). He was a scientist and agronomist, and was credited for saving the sugar industry in Barbados. The Trident symbol is printed on the top right hand corner. 

Signature - Dr Kelvin Greenidge (since 2023)

Date - Series 2024

Dimensions - 65.5mm x 150mm

Back - Morgan Lewis Windmill in St Andrew. This mill was used as a sugar windmill and ceased operating in 1947. Restoration on the windmill was carried out in 1997, and reopened in 1999 as a museum. This is still a working windmill. The site where this windmill is located is listed in the 1996 World Monuments Watch by the World Monuments Fund. A partial map of Barbados is printed in the background.

Five Dollars Polymer

Front - Sir Frank Mortimer Maglinne Worrell (b.1924-1967) was a cricketer and a Jamaican senator. He and together with Everton Weekes and Clyde Walcott, formed what was known as 'The Three Ws' of the West Indian cricket and a cricket is named after them, He died of leukaemia in 1967 at the aged of 42 years old. The Trident symbol is printed on the top right hand corner.

Signature - Dr Kelvin Greenidge (since 2023)

Date - Series 2024

Dimensions - 65.5mm x 151mm

Back - 3Ws Oval UWI, men playing popular cricket games.

 

 

 

 

 

Twenty Dollars Polymer

Front - Samuel Jackson Prescod (b.1806-1871), was the first person of African descent to be elected to the Barbados parliament, in 1843. The Trident symbol is printed on the top right hand corner.

Signature - Dr Kelvin Greenidge (since 2023)

Date - Series 2024

Dimensions - 65.5mm x 151mm

Back - The parliament of Barbados existed since 1639 but not until the Parliament House was built in 1874. Initially this building was known as Public Buildings. Both the Lower and Upper houses sit in the same building.

 

 

 

 

Fifty Dollars Polymer

Front - Errol Walton Barrow (b.1920-1987). He was the first prime minister of Barbados and was in office from 1966 to 1976 and then re-elected in 1986 until his death in 1987. Prior to that, he was the Premier from 1961 to 1966. Barbados became independent from the British on 30.11.1966. The Trident symbol is printed on the top right hand corner.

Signature - Dr Kelvin Greenidge (since 2023)

Date - Series 2024

Dimensions - 65.5mm x 151.5mm

Back - Independence Square Bridgetown is located on the waterfront area in the heart of the capital city of Bridgetown. Construction for the square was started in 2005 and completed in 2007. A major attraction of the square is the larger than life Statue of Errol Walton Barrow (9 feet tall) dominating the whole square. Errol Barrow is sometimes also referred to as the Father of Independence in Barbados.

 

 

 

One Hundred Dollars Polymer

Front - Sir Grantley Herbert Adams (b.1898-1971) was the first Barbados Premier from 1953 to 1958, and then the first and only prime minister of the West Indies Federation from 1958 to 1962. The West Indies Federation was a union which included Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica and the Leeward and Windward Islands. Its union collapsed due to political conflicts between parties as to how the union should be governed. In 1998, he was named as one of the National Heroes of Barbados. The Trident symbol is printed on the top right hand corner.

Signature - Dr Kelvin Greenidge (since 2023)

Date - Series 2024

Dimensions - 65.5mm x 150mm

Back - Grantley Adams International Airport in Christ Church. This airport was reportedly started in September 1938 and was then known as Seawell Airport. The airport is located in the southern part of the island, next to the island's capital Bridgetown. In 1976, the airport was renamed Grantley Adams International Airport in honour of the Island's first Premier.

 

 

 

An interesting fact about this series is that if you place all the notes with the $2, $5 and $10 on the top row and the remaining notes in the bottom and join that together and you can see the outline map of the island of Barbados. (Note: the $10 posted here came from the Series 2022 issue).

...Curacao and Sint Maarten - 2025 Series Caribische Gulden Full Set

 

Curacao and Sint Maarten

(Curacao and Sint Maarten, as at 10.10.2010)

 

Central Bank of Curacao and Sint Maarten

Previously Bank of Netherlands Antilles (Est.1828)

Currency - Caribische Gulden/Caribbean Guilder (XCG)

Here is a full set of five notes all released on 31.03.2025. These are new currencies of Curacao and Sint Maarten called Caribische Gulden (Caribbean Guilder), replacing the previous currency of Netherlands Antillean Gulden/Guilder. As these are new currencies, all notes are also printed with the new central bank's name of the Central Bank of Curacao and Sint Maarten (Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten).

 

The Netherlands Antilles, also known as the Dutch Antilles are a group of Caribbean islands comprises the islands of Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten in the Lesser Antilles region, and Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire in the Leeward Antilles (south of the Caribbean). This country was created in 1954 as the autonomous successor of the Dutch colony of Curacao and Dependencies. This union of these tiny nations was then dissolved on 10.10.2010 when each nation was granted specific statues by the government in the Netherlands. Since then, Curacao and Sint Maarten became autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, managing their own affairs with the exceptions of defence and foreign policy. 

Since the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles in 2010, the authority continues to issue banknotes under the Netherlands Antilles's name. Aruba withdrew from the union on 01.01.1986 and since then has been issuing it's own currency - the Florin. Member nations like Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Caribbean Netherlands) ceased using the gulden currency and all adopted the United States dollar on 01.01.2011. This leaves Curacao and Sint Maarten the remaining two nations still using the gulden currency.

The arrangement for the Netherlands Antillean gulden currency used by both Curacao and Sint Maarten is due to expire on 30.06.2025. These new notes were reportedly released on 31.03.2025. Needless to say, the notes that I have posted here are the first series for these two tiny nations.

 

It is interesting to know that Sint Maarten is a very tiny island in the Lesser Antilles region. It is so tiny that you cannot see the island on a map via the Internet unless you zoom in. Even when you do that, you will also see that this island is split into two almost equal halves, with the top half occupied by the French and the bottom by the Dutch. Both the French and the Dutch called this island the same name, albeit with different spelling. Curacao is the larger of the two islands. The land area for Curacao is 444km2 whilst Sint Maarten is only 34km2 and the distance between these two islands are about 2+ hours apart by air. These two nations have a combined population of 190,000+/-.

The theme for this series is 'World Under The Sea'. On the front, each note shows a vibrant marine life native to Curacao and Sint Maarten, while the reverse side shows historical and cultural landmarks of both countries. All notes are also printed with the date of 31.03.2025. For this new series, all notes are printed horizontally on the front and vertically on the back. 

 

The reasons for both Curacao and Sint Maarten sharing the same central bank are mainly due to economic, efficiency and effectiveness reasons as both countries are operating in an open but small economy and both countries are depending on the USA with fixed exchange rate. The Caribbean guilder is pegged to the US dollar at an exchange rate of US$1 = Cg1.79. The Netherlands Antillean guilder and the Caribbean guilder are of equal value. These notes were printed by Crane Currency.

  

 

Ten Caribische Gulden

 

Front - A single Gray angelfish. However, on the note it says Black Angelfish (Zwarte Keizersvis). To the central left is a Queen conch printed in green with the numeral 10 next to it. To the far right is a bloated fish.

Signatures

President - Richard A Doornbosch

Director Secretary - Leila A. Matroos-Lasten

Dated - 31 maart 2025 (31.03.2025)

Watermarks - Compass Rose and electrotype XCG

Dimensions - 148mm x 66mm

Back -  An image of the Klein Curacao lighthouse. This lighthouse stands at 20 meters tall and was constructed in 1850. The lighthouse was then rebuilt in 1879. The Klein Curacao lighthouse is situated in the middle of the island of Klein Curacao, which is about 10 km south-east of the main island, Curacao. The island itself is about 1.7 sq km, and I believe the island has no permanent inhabitants. The only building on this small island is an old lighthouse, a beach house and a few huts. Due to advances in technology, the light house is not manned and is operated on solar power.

 

Twenty Caribische Gulden

Front - A pair of Spotted Eagle rays (Gevlekte Adelaarsrog) swimming together in the same direction. To the central left is a Yellow cowry printed in green with the numeral 20 next to it. Cuttlefish is printed in the far right.

Signatures

President - Richard A Doornbosch

Director Secretary - Leila A. Matroos-Lasten

Dated - 31 maart 2025 (31.03.2025)

Watermarks - Compass Rose and electrotype XCG

Dimensions - 148mm x 67mm

Back - An aerial view of Simpson Bay in Sint Maarten with a bird flying above. The island's international airport is located on Simpson Bay and the airport was name Princess Juliana International Airport when she was still the princess. This airport was opened in 1943. In the background, you can see the airport's single runway. Would it be fair to say that this is one of the very few islands that have two international airports with a short distance for two nations? The other one is the smaller airport called L'Esperance Airport controlled by the French.

 

 

 

Fifty Caribische Gulden

Front - Green Sea Turtle. Favoured tellin shell.

 

Signatures

President - Richard A Doornbosch

Director Secretary - Leila A. Matroos-Lasten

Dated - 31 maart 2025 (31.03.2025)

Watermarks - Compass Rose and electrotype XCG

Dimensions - 148mm x 66.5mm 

Back - An aerial view of Grote Knip on the island of Curacao. Grote Knip is a beach resort situated in the northern end of Curacao island. Obviously this is also another tourist attraction on the island.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One Hundred Caribische Gulden

Front - Stoplight parrotfish. Music volute

 

Signatures

President - Richard A Doornbosch

Director Secretary - Leila A. Matroos-Lasten

Dated - 31 maart 2025 (31.03.2025)

Watermarks - Compass Rose and electrotype XCG

Dimensions - 168mm x 66.5mm 

Back - Image of the Court House in Sint Maarten. This building is considered one of the most important buildings on the island. No doubt, this is a tourist attraction on the island and this courthouse was constructed in 1793. This building is located on Front Street.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Two Hundred Caribische Gulden

Front - A pair of Longsnout seahorses. Giant tun shell

Signatures

President - Richard A Doornbosch

Director Secretary - Leila A. Matroos-Lasten

Dated - 31 maart 2025 (31.03.2025)

Watermarks - Compass Rose and electrotype XCG

Dimensions - 148mm x 67mm

Back - Queen Emma Bridge. This is a pontoon bridge built across St. Anna Bay in the capital city of Willemstad on Curacao island. This bridge connects the Punda and Otrobanda quarters. Construction for this bridge was completed in 1888 and was named after Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont (b.1858-1934), who was then the queen consort of the Netherlands. Since 1888, this bridge has been restored twice, first in 1939 and then more recently in 2008.

...Argentina - 20000 Pesos ND2024

Republica Argentina

(Argentina Republic)

Banco Central de la Republica Argentina

(Central Bank of the Argentina Republic)

 Currency - Peso (ARS)

 

Here is the latest and largest denomination of note issued on 13.11.2024 with the face value of 20000 pesos. This is the largest value of note issued since the 1989-1991 series. This high value note was issued due to the country's ongoing high inflation rate. According to the central bank, this will be the highest denomination note for the 'Heroines and Heroes of Homeland' banknote series. Time will tell if more higher denominations of banknotes are required.

 

It was reported that this note was printed by China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation (CBPMC) 中国印钞造币总公司. Whilst I understand that CBPMC is not a major player on the world stage in printing banknotes. Apart from printing banknotes for China, I believe this company have/had printed banknotes for countries like Albania, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cuba, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Argentina of course. CBPMC is state owned and is also the world's largest banknotes printer (and coins) by volume. CBPMC. The company has operations located in Shanghai, Shenyang, Nanjing and Shenzhen in China.

Twenty Thousand Pesos

 

Presidente H.C. Diputados - Martin Menem

Presidente B.C.R.A. - Santiago Bausili

Watermarks - Juan Bautista Alberdi  and electrotype JBA

Dimensions - 156mm x 65mm

 

Front - A portrait of Juan Bautista Alberdi (b.1810-1884.). During his lifetime, he was a political theorist and diplomat whose work influenced the Constitution of Argentina of 1853. He spent more than 40 years of his life living in exile in Uruguay and Chile. He returned to Argentina in 1879. A few years after that, he was then sent to Europe and died near Paris in 1884 after suffering a stroke.

 

Back - An image of a house in San Miguel de Tucuman where Juan Bautista Alberdi was born. San Miguel de Tucuman is a city situated in the central north of Argentina. He spent his first 14 years of his life here before moving to Buenos Aires.

 

...Bermuda - $2 And $5 Polymer Notes 2024 Series

Bermuda

(British Overseas Territory)

Bermuda Monetary Authority (Est.1969)

Currency - Dollar (BMD) 

 

Here are the two polymer notes released during the second week of November 2024. In 2009, Bermuda became the first country to issue a complete set of Hybrid banknotes with denominations of $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. These Hybrid notes were printed by De La Rue (DLR). Is DLR abandoning their Hybrid banknote technology? Few countries adopted Hybrid banknotes over the last 10 years or so, and these have since been replaced, mostly with polymer notes. Given that DLR's Hybrid notes were first introduced more than 10 years ago, it appears that they are not that popular and most countries that have issued Hybrid notes are mostly from small countries, mostly from the Pacific nations. Bermuda is now one of the very few countries that have their banknotes printed on paper, hybrid and now polymer substrate material.

 

It is obvious that these two polymer notes replaced the 2009 Hybrid series. The main features of these two polymer notes are the same as those hybrid notes first introduced in 2009 but with advanced security features thus making these more secure. As these are both printed on polymer substrate, they both come with a transparent window as expected for all polymer notes.

 

Like the previous Hybrid series printed with the effigy of Queen Elizabeth, and since the demise of the queen in 2022, the effigy of King Charles III is now used instead and is printed in the bottom left corner. This is the first time King Charles III's bust is printed on a banknote outside the United Kingdom. Unlike a few countries around that world that still have the British monarch as their Head of State, Bermuda continues to print their banknotes with the image of the British monarch, as Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory. A British Overseas Territory is not an independent nation, but it has it's own government. However, it's external affairs, defense and security are the responsibility of the British government.

An interesting fact about Bermuda is that it was named after a Spanish sailor called Juan de Bermudez, who discovered the islands in 1505 while sailing from Spain to the Caribbean on a provisioning voyaging journey. At the time of the discovery, it appears that the islands were uninhabited by any natives. As of 2023, Bermuda has a population of approximately 63,500 people.

If you are a collector and have been following these two notes, you will notice that they are selling quite expensive in the market. The Bermuda dollar is at par with the US dollar and yet they are selling 6 to 9 times the face value. It appears that the authority in Bermuda is discouraging or preventing their currency from exporting and as such there are not that many available in the market. Given that these are polymer notes and the growing demand in this hobby, the demand just simply exceeded the supply and as such the high price tag. Even those circulated polymer notes are also selling at a very high price too. In addition to the polymer series, those current or latest Hybrid series are also commanding a fairly high price too.

 

Whilst these are the two latest polymer notes issued by the bank, it is not sure if the remaining notes will follow suit.

 

Two Dollars 

Chairman - Donald A.M. Scott (since 2021)

Director - Philip Butterfield

Date - 20 February 2024

Dimensions - 69mm x 141mm

Front - The main feature is a Bermuda Bluebird. King Charles III's effigy is printed in the lower left corner, replacing the late Queen Elizabeth in the previous series. The Plumeria rubra flowers are printed in the background. On top of the note is a reflective, mirror-like image of a tuna fish. On the transparent window is a partially see-through window, showing a cloudy sky above water and an underwater scene. The letters of BMA are also printed on the transparent window area. Two sail boats are sailing in the open sea. A triangle raise dots of 14 is added to the note to assist with those visual impairments. 

I personally still find it strange to have the image of the British monarch King Charles III printed in the bottom left of the note instead in the top left or right corner, just like those postage stamps.

Back - Dockyard's Clock tower. I believe this Dockyard's Clock tower is located in the Clock Tower Shopping Mall in Ireland Island. Next to the tower is a statue of Neptune at the Bermuda Maritime Museum. In the background is the Clocktower Mall. On the transparent window area, a hibiscus flower is added to the design. On top of the transparent window is a small butterfly in pink and blue colours.

  

Five Dollars

 

Chairman - Donald A.M. Scott (since 2021)

Director - Karel Van-Hulle

Date - 20 February 2024

Dimensions - 69mm x 141mm

 

Front - The main feature is a Blue marlin leaping out of the water. King Charles III's effigy is printed in the lower left corner, replacing the late Queen Elizabeth in the previous series. In the background are the Easter Lily flowers. On top of the note is a reflective, mirror-like image of a tuna fish. On the transparent window is a partially see-through window, showing a cloudy sky above water and an underwater scene. The letters of BMA are also printed on the transparent window area. Three dolphins leaping out of an open sea. A circular raised dot of 12 is added to the note to assist with those visual impairments.

 

Back - Somerset bridge, connecting the islands of Somerset Island and the Main Islands (Great Bermuda). This is a hand drawn bridge and is the smallest in the world. When the bridge is opened, it creates a gap of 32-inch to allow the passage of a sailboat's mast. Above that is a view of Horseshoe bay beach. On the transparent window area, a hibiscus flower is added to the design. On top of the transparent window is a dolphin added to the design as a registration feature.

 

...Cayman Islands - $25 and $50 2022 25th Anniversary of Cayman Islands Monetary Authority Issues

Cayman Islands

(British Overseas Territory)

Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (Est. 1997)

Currency - Dollar (KYD)

 

Two notes of $25 and $50, both overprinted with commemorative logos for the celebration of Cayman Islands Monetary Authority's 25th Anniversary. The CIMA was established on 01.01.1997 as the primary financial services regulator a.k.a. central bank. The bank is situated in the capital city George Town in the Grand Cayman island, the largest of the three main islands of Cayman Islands. These two notes are both dated 2022 but only released in 2023. The design on both notes are the same as the two notes of $25 and $50 previously 2010 series issued but with added commemorative logo on the front for this celebration. These two notes were initially scheduled to be released in 2022 but were delayed until mid-2023. The prefix series for these two notes is D/4. Cayman Islands have a rather small population of 74,000+/- and as such it is not expected many banknotes issued, even for those for general circulation.  

Prior to 1972, the Jamaican dollar was circulating in the Cayman Islands and needless to say the Cayman Islands dollar was an offshoot of the Jamaican dollar. In 1972, the Cayman Islands introduced its own currency and like Jamaica, Australia and New Zealand, Cayman Islands adopted the 'Dollar' instead of 'Pound Sterling'. The exchange rate (Jamaica dollar to Cayman Islands dollar) at the time was $1 for ₤1. Jamaica converted its currency to decimal system on 08.09.1969. Today, one Cayman Islands dollar can buy $180+/- Jamaican dollars.

Twenty Five Dollars

 

Front - The portrait of Queen Elizabeth (b.1926-2022). This portrait was taken in 1999 by Mark Lawrence and has been used for the Cayman Islands banknotes series since 2010. The Queen was 73 years old when this portrait was taken. Since the accession to the British throne, 31 portraits of the Queen have been used on various banknotes issued around the Commonwealth issued during her 70 years reign, including those issued in Scotland. The design for this note is the same as the 2010 series but with the commemorative logo added in the center right, next to the Queen's head. Five scallop clam shells are printed in the note, with a larger one in the center left.

 

Signatures

Minister of Finance - Christopher S Saunders (tenure 2021-2023)

Managing Director - Cindy Scotland (since 2002)

Watermarks - A Hawk-bill turtle and electrotype CIMA

Dimensions - 157mm x 67mm

Back - A Hawk-bill turtle swimming in the sea, with some angle fish swimming above. This note (together with the $50) is printed by De La Rue. On the far right is an image of a scallop shell (on the front too) in grey and white colours and when the note is held up against the light, you can see a perfect registrar of the shell.

Fifty Dollars

 

Front - Queen Elizabeth the Second (b.1926-2022) on the center right, a 'flat' stingray on the center left. This is the second last series of banknotes printed with the portrait of the last Queen Elizabeth. The last series issued with her portrait was the commemorative note of $70 issued in memory of her first anniversary passing. Like the above $25 note, the three main islands of the Cayman Islands are printed in the center left, namely - Cayman Brac, Little Cayman and Grand Cayman. This note is printed with - 2022 Series Issued under The Monetary Authority Law.

Signatures

Minister of Finance - Christopher S Saunders (tenure 2021-2023)

Managing Director - Cindy Scotland (since 2002)

Watermarks -  A Hawk-bill turtle and electrotype CIMA

Dimensions - 157mm x 67mm

 

Back - A stingray swimming in the ocean. A cone shaped shell on the top left corner, and an image of a stingray perfect registration/see-through security feature is located on the bottom right corner (bottom left on the front). A perfect registration of a stingray is printed on the far right as one of the few security features of this note.