america: East Caribbean States

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01 October, 2024

...East Caribbean - $50 Polymer 2024 - Grenada 50th Year Of Independence 1974-2024

Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
(Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, British Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe and Martinique)

Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (Est. 1983)
Currency : Dollar (CXD)

This is a commemorative polymer note of $50 issued in August 2024 for the celebration of Grenada's 50th Year of Independence anniversary from the British. Despite gaining full independence, the country adopted a unitary parliamentary system with King Charles III as the Head of State (King of Grenada) and has been represented by a Governor-General, Dame Cecile Ellen Fleurette La Grenade since 2013. Grenada was one of the founding members of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States when it was first established on 18.06.1981. Prior to this, Grenada was a member of the West Indies Associated States (together with Antigua, Dominica, Saint Christopher, Nevis, Anguilla, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent). Grenada's association ended in 1974 when it became independent.

The British officially invaded Grenada on 10.02.1763 under the Treaty of Paris. On 03.03.1967, the country was granted full autonomy and on 07.02.1974, it became fully independent with Eric Gairy (b.1922-1997) becoming the first Prime Minister, serving from 1974 to 1979.

Grenada is situated north of Trinidad and Tobago and consists of one main island and a few other smaller islands to the north. It has a small population of around 125,000+/-. Grenada briefly became world famous in the early 1980s. If you have followed world news then, you will remember that this tiny nation was invaded by the USA during the administration of President Ronald Reagan in 1983. The invasion was carried out due to differences in political ideological ideas and policies among the ruling party and the USA. At that time, the Grenada government was very friendly to Cuba (and to the Soviet Union) and because of this the USA was not too happy to have a pro Cuban nation so close to home that may pose a security threat to them. I believe this is the only USA's invasion of a foreign power that ended successfully since the end of the Second World War in 1945. The invasion was brief and only lasted for 8 days (25.10.1983-02.11.1983). Despite having a much superior firing power against the Grenadian forces (and the Cubans), the USA lost 19 of its soldiers in this conflict.

This commemorative banknote honours famous people of Grenada for their pivotal roles in shaping Grenada's history. The designs for this note incorporates Grenada's culture and landmarks and it's achievements since gaining independence.

This note is printed in vertical format, both front and back on SAFEGUARD® polymer substrate. It is believed that more commemorative banknotes will be issued when other members of the Eastern Caribbean States celebrate their 50th Anniversary of Independence at a later date. Grenada was the first country to gain independence and as such the first member to issue this commemorative note. Out of the eleven members, Anguila is still a member of the British Overseas Territory and has not chosen to become an independent state yet. The Guadeloupe and Martinique are colonies of France and I believe they have been using the Euro currency since 2002. The British Virgin Islands is using the United States dollar, despite the name 'British'.

This note is undated (nd2024). So far, only two prefixes have been signed - AA and AB. According to the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank's website, this is a limited edition and the notes are only made available in Grenada only. However, this commemorative note is valid for legal tender in any of the member countries of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union. In addition to single note, special $50 notepacks are also sold for those who wish to keep this commemorative note as a souvenir and the issue prices are as follows; -

$50 Commemorative Bank Note Pack - US$30 per set;

$50 Golden Jubilee Commemorative Magazine - US$30 per set; and

$50 Commemorative Bundle Package $50 Note and Magazine - US$50 per set.

(Courtesy of De La Rue)

Fifty Dollars

Governor - Timothy N.J. Antoine (since 2016-)

Printer - De La Rue

Prefix - AA

Dimensions - 69.5mm x 146mm

Front - Portrait of Sir Eric Matthew Gairy (b.1922-1997), the first Prime Minister of Grenada from 1974 to 1979. Whilst Eric Gairy was out of the country in 1979, Maurice Rupert Bishop staged a coup d'état and installed himself as the second Prime Minister. Prior to that, Eric Gairy was the Premier of Grenada from 1967 to 1974, and before that was the Chief Minister from 1961 to 1962. Next to him is the Grenadian famous Olympian 400 meters runner champion Kirani James who won a gold medal in the 2012 London Olympics, a silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. I believe he was not involved in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Below Eric Gairy is a silhouette of three people (family of three) appearing to be celebrating. To the right are the islands (map) of Grenada. The smaller maps are printed over a waterfall. There are at least seven waterfalls in Grenada but I am not sure which one this waterfall is related to. At the bottom is the silhouette of Maurice Bishop International Airport with a commercial airplane taxiing on the tarmac.

Back - Portrait of Maurice Rupert Bishop (b.1944-1983). He was the second Prime Minister of Grenada from 1976 to 1983. He was overthrown by his deputy Winston Bernard Coard (b.1944) on 13.10.1983 and executed on 19.10.1983 by Winston Bernard Coard's followers. He died at the age of 39 years old. Winston Bernard Coard then went on and ruled the country from 13.10.1983 to 19.10.1983 before he too was removed by General Hudson Austin (b.1938-2022). General Hudson Austin only ruled Grenada for 6 days before the USA's invasion. After the invasion, both Winston Bernard Coard and General Hudson Austin were put on trial and both were sentenced to death in 1986. In 1991, their sentences were then commuted to life and in 2007 both were released as free men. Whilst General Hudson Austin died in 2022, Winston Bernard Coard is still alive today. He has given up politics since he was freed in 2007. Below the portrait of Maurice Rupert Bishop is a woman dancing and supported by a musician team of three men playing drums.

Fifty Dollars

Governor - Timothy N.J. Antoine (since 2016-)

Printer - De La Rue

Prefix - AB

Dimensions - 70mm x 145mm

Front - Fourteen tactile dots in the shape of a triangle are featured in the top left corner where the denomination of "50" is situated. To the right and below the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank's name, the commemorative text of "50 Years Grenada's Independence" is printed and over the image of Kirani James running, the following text is printed - "The difficult we do right away. The impossible will take time". At the bottom below the commercial plan, the following text is repeatedly printed in two rows in two different colours - One People One Journey One Future.

Back - Next to the portrait of Maurice Rupert Bishop are the two large digits of "50" representing 50 years of independence. The following text is printed over the two digits - Forward ever; backward never. At the bottom of the note is the bird-eye view of Grenada's capital city - Saint Georg's.

I personally find it interesting to see this note honouring both Eric Gairy and Maurice Rupert Bishop. Eric Gairy was allegedly reported to be very autocratic and corrupt during his term in office, and Maurice Rupert Bishop removed Eric Gairy, who was then the elected Prime Minister not via a democratic means but by force. I suppose they are still considered as national heroes in Grenada. I wonder what Winston Bernard Coard's opinion on the designs of this note is?

08 March, 2024

...East Caribbean - $2 2023 Commemorative 40th Year of Eastern Caribbean Central Bank 1983-2023

Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (est. 1983)
Currency : Dollar (CXD)

This is a new $2 commemorative polymer note issued for the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. The announcement of the new $2 note was made on 01.12.2023 by the Minister for Finance of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Chairman of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) Monetary Council Camillo Gonsalves, and the Governor of ECCB Timothy N.J. Antoine. The commemorative notes were made available to the public via commercial banks on 06.12.2023.

The ECCB was established on 01.10.1983, succeeding the previous central bank, East Caribbean Currency Authority (1965-1983), and prior to that the British Caribbean Currency Board (1950-1965). The ECCB is the central bank for 8 island nations in the Eastern Caribbean. The countries that use the Eastern Caribbean Dollar are St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts & Nevis, and Saint Lucia. Whilst there are eleven members in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, the remaining three members (British Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe and Martinique) use other currencies.

The design for this commemorative note is completely new. Unlike those banknotes previously issued, there are no portraits of a British monarch (past or present) as part of the designs. Instead of a monarch, this note bears the image of a living legendary former West Indies cricketer Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards.

Reports have indicated that only two million pieces have been issued, however, I have now sighted at least 4 prefixes - AA, AB, AC and AD and I have all four prefixes of the notes posted here.

Two Dollars

Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards (b.1952-)

Prefix AB

Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards (b.1952-)

Prefix AC

Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards (b.1952-)

Prefix AD

Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards (b.1952-)

Front - The legendary former West Indies cricketer and Antigua and Barbuda Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards (b.1952-) a.k.a. 'The Master Blaster', wielding a cricket bat. He represented the West Indies cricket team from 1974 to 1991 and is regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time. He first represented the West Indies cricket team in 1974 in a test match against India in Bangalore and in 1975, he helped the team by winning the inaugural Cricket World Cup final in London, by beating Australia. He captained the West Indies team from 1984 to 1991, and was the only captain that had never lost a Test series. He retired from the sport in 1993. In the middle left is the Eastern Caribbean Bank headquarters building located at Basseterre on the island of St Kitts. To the right is the commemorative logo. On the bottom it also features an aqua-blue tinted holographic foil.

Governor - Timothy N.J. Antoine (since 2016-)

Printer - De La Rue

Quantity - 2.0 million pieces

Dimensions - 65.5mm x 133mm

Back - Aquatic design which depicts the region rich in marine lives. The design features a coral reef with fish (Queen Angelfish and Abudefduf Saxatliis or Sergeant-Major fish), a star fish and a Caribbean Sea turtle swimming around. Also printed on the notes are the islands of the Caribbean states of (top to bottom) Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada, the nations that are currently using the Eastern Caribbean dollar currency.

Coral reef

04 August, 2020

...East Caribbean States - 2019 Polymer Series

Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
(Antigua & Barbuda, Anguilla, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, British Virgin Islands and Martinique)

Eastern Caribbean Central Bank
Currency : Dollar (CXD)

A complete set of 5 notes with face value of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. The first four notes of $10, $20, $50 and $100 were released in 2019. The fifth note of $5 was issued 25.06.2021. This new series is printed on polymer material. The Eastern Caribbean dollar is the currency of Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. There are ten independent states/British overseas territories in the Eastern Caribbean States group. However only eight of its members are using the Eastern Caribbean dollar and the remaining two members use other currencies, namely - British Virgin Islands (US dollar) and Martinique (Euro). The Eastern Caribbean dollar is pegged to the US Dollar at EC$2.70.

These notes were released in stages. The first was the $50 note issued in July 2019 and then followed by the $20 and $100 notes in August 2019 and then the $10 in September 2019. The final note of 45 was issued on 25.06.2021. The $5 was supposed to be issued in October 2020 but was delayed until June 2021. The delay was due to the worldwide ongoing pandemic.

The designs
$5 - Queen Elizabeth ll, Eastern Caribbean Central Bank building (Basseterre), hummingbird /

Trafalgar Falls (Dominica), Admirals House (Antigua & Barbuda);

$10 - Queen Elizabeth ll, Eastern Caribbean Central Bank building (Basseterre), hummingbird / Admiralty Bay in St Vincent, The Warspite in Anguilla;

$20 - Queen Elizabeth ll, Eastern Caribbean Central Bank building / Government House (Montserrat), nutmeg (Grenada);

$50 - Queen Elizabeth ll, Queen Elizabeth ll, Eastern Caribbean Central Bank building (Basseterre) / Brimstone Hill (St Kitts), Sir Kenneth Dwight Venner (1946-1916);

$100 - Queen Elizabeth ll, Queen Elizabeth ll, Eastern Caribbean Central Bank building (Basseterre) / Sir William Arthur Lewis (1915-1991), Les Pitons Volcano (St Lucia).

The portrait of Queen Elizabeth ll printed on these notes was taken by Peter Grugeon in 1977 when the Queen was 51 years old.

Governor - Timothy Antoine (tenure since 2015)

Five Dollars 145mm x 69mm