..The Bahamas - Series 2016-2021 CRISP Evolution (CE) 'A' Series Paper/Hybrid Notes

Commonwealth of The Bahamas

Central Bank of The Bahamas
Currency : Dollar (BSD)

This is the latest Bahamian series of banknotes printed with the CRISP Evolution technology. CRISP stands for "Counterfeit Resistant Integrated Security Product". This series started in 2016 when the $10 was first introduced. The designs for this new series are completely new. However similar main features or themes are retained as per previous issues. A full set comprises 50 cents, 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars. Out of the 8 notes of this series, three are printed with her majesty's portrait, Queen Elizabeth the Second. Unlike the previous series, the 50 cents note is also reintroduced. The last 50 cents of The Bahamas currency was issued in 2001. Whilst most central banks around the world would have replaced it's lower denomination of banknotes, especially the fractional notes with coins, it is good to see that The Bahamas have decided to retain this tradition. Nowadays, only a few central banks still print new fractional banknotes, namely Bahrain, Kuwait etc.

It also appears that the $3 note is not a common banknote in the Bahamas. The last time a $3 note  issued was back in 1984. The notes for this new series were issued in stages and printed by four  imprinters, namely De La Rue (England), Canadian Bank Note Company, Oberthur Fiduciaire France, Giesecke & Devrient Germany etc.

All notes are printed horizontally on the front and vertical format on the back. The styles of designs on the front of each note is all very similar. On the left are the outline maps of The Bahamas. In the center, it depicted a different flower for each note and on the right is a portrait of her majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second and former politicians of The Bahamas (Prime Minister, Cabinet Minister, Governor and leader of a political party etc).

The Bahamas dollar is considered as a strong currency as it is at par with the United States dollar. 

Governors

Mrs Wendy M Craigg (tenure 01/06/2005-31/12/2015

John A Rolle (tenure since 01/01/2016)

Dimensions - all at 156mm x 67mm

Only the $10 notes bear the signature of Ms Wendy M Craigg. The note was planned and printed while she was still the Governor of the bank and released almost one year after her tenure ended in December 2015.

The serial numbers for this series are not all printed with the same number of digits. Both the $1, $5 and $50 are all printed with 7 numerals whilst the rest are only with 6. Are these three notes the most popular banknotes in the country? The Bahamas has a rather small population of less than 400,000 people. Here I have a full set all with the first prefix 'A'.

Half Dollar/Fifty Cents (Oberther Fiduciaire, France)

Series 2019, map of The Bahamas, Strongback flower, QEll (aged 66), Oberther Fiduciaire

Reverse - Sister Sarah Johnson at the Straw Market

One Dollar Hybrid (Giesecke & Devrient Germany)

Series 2017, map of The Bahamas, Lignum Vitae flower, Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling (b.1930-2000), Hybrid G&D

Reverse - Drum Major in full regalia leading the Royal Bahamas Police Force band trailing with band members adjacent

 

Three Dollars (Oberther Fiduciaire, France)

Series 2019, map of The Bahamas, Passion flower, QEll (aged 66), Oberther Fiduciaire

Reverse - Four Sail boats at sea

 

Five Dollars Hybrid (Giesecke & Devrient Germany)

Series 2020, map of The Bahamas, hibiscus flower, Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield (b.1930-1990)

Reverse - junkanooers cowbeller in full costume, rainbow-arcs

Ten Dollars (De La Rue)

Series 2016, map of The Bahamas, Yellow Elder flower, Sir Stafford Lofthouse Sands (b.1913-1972), DLR

Reverse - Hope Town Lighthouse Abaco, two flamingos

 

Twenty Dollars (De La Rue)

Series 2018, map of The Bahamsa, bougainvillea flower, Sir Milo Boughton Butler (b.1906-1979), DLR

Reverse - Festival Place tower over looking Nassau Harbour, Paradise Island bridges

 

Fifty Dollars Hybrid (Canadian Bank Note Company)

Series 2019, map of The Bahamas, blooming Frangipani, Sir Roland Theodore Symonette (b.1898-1980), CBNC

Central Bank building, coconut trees, (CBNC)

 

One Hundred Dollars Hybrid (Canadian Bank Note Company) 157mm x 67mm

Series 2021, map of The Bahamas, Arthur Dion Hanna (b.1928-2021)

Reverse - blue marlin soaring out of the Bahamian waters, fish & images of sharks circulating around, (CBNC)

 

Footnote➤

Her majesty's portrait came from a photo taken by Terry O'Neill and was taken in 1992 when the Queen was 66 years old. This portrait came in two versions and the first version was used by Gibraltar, Guernsey, Fiji and Bermuda on their banknotes. The above is the second version and only used by the Bahamas central bank for this new series.