Below are six notes issued between 1992 and 1997. The notes posted here are derived from the 1992 and 1997 series. All notes are printed with matching signatures and that is why I have posted them all in one post, despite these were not issued from the same series.
The signatures on the notes are; -
Prime Minister - Baron Vaea von Houma (tenure 1991-2000)
Minister of Finance - James Cecil Cocker (tenure 1982-1991)
Baron Vaea von Houma (b.1921-2009) was a nephew of Queen Salote (b.1900-1965), who ruled Tonga from 1918 until 1965. The Baron's birth name was Siaosi 'Alipate Halakilangi Tau'alupeoko Vaea Tupov. His career in the Tonga government spanned 54 years. He was the 12th Prime Minister of Tonga.
From the above, I have mentioned that James Cecil Cocker's tenure as Minister of Finance ended in 1991 and yet these notes posted were released after 1991. In general, this is not uncommon, as in most cases, banknotes are printed in advance and not released to the public for various reasons. The most common reason is supply and demand. Other reasons could be due to economic conditions or maybe political reasons.
One Pa'anga
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| nd1995, 151mm x 70mm |
Front - Portrait of King Taufa'ahau Topou IV (b.1918-2006). King Taufa'ahau Topou IV (born Siaosi Taufa'ahau Tupoulahi) was crowned King of Tonga in 1965, following the death of his mother, Queen Salote Tupoulll (born Salote Mafile'o Pilolevu), who ruled Tonga for 48 years from 1918 to 1965. At the time of his accession to the Tongan throne, King Topou IV was 47 years old. Coronation was held two years later on 04.07.1967. He died at the age of 88 years old and was succeeded by his eldest son, King George Tupou V.
Watermark - Bust of King Taufa'ahau Topou IV facing right.
Back - View of a coastal town. It is not sure if this is actually related to an actual town or location or simply just an artist's impression. I cannot be sure if this is an aerial view of a river scene of Port of Vava'u as some have reported. Some banknote websites have stated that but some just mentioned the scene as a coastal town. I am not surprised if this is actually related to a coastal town in Tonga. Vava'u is a group of islands in Tonga and is famous for its stunning natural beauty, particularly it's clear waters, pristine coral reefs and diverse marine life. It is also a popular destination for sailing and humpback whales watching.
Two Pa'anga
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| nd1995, 151mm x 70.5mm |
Watermark - Bust of King Taufa'ahau Topou IV facing right.
Back - Scene of a group of women sitting on the ground making Tapa (Ngatu) cloth. The Ngatu is a traditional textile made from the inner bark of the paper mulberry tree. It is a significant cultural item in Tonga, and they are used in ceremonies, gift-giving, and as a display of wealth. The cloth is created through a process of beating, soaking, and gluing strips of bark, followed by intricate painting and dyeing. Countries in the Pacific region also used them, like Samoa, Niue, Cook Islands. French Polynesia and Fiji. In the background is a native hut called fale.
Five Paánga
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| nd1995, 151mm x 70.5mm |
Watermark - Bust of King Taufa'ahau Topou IV facing right.
Back - Ha'amonga stone gateway or Ha'amonga 'a Maui is a stone structure with two vertical large stones supporting a third stone on the top. This Ha'amonga 'a Maui is situated on the island of Tongatapu. Standing next to the structure is a man/woman. This gives you some ideas how big this structure is. It is believed that this structure was built by King Tu'itatui in the 13th century in honour of his sons.
Ten Pa'anga (nd1992)
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| nd1992, 151.5mm x 70.5mm |
Back - Royal Palace situated in Nuku'Alofa, the capital city of Tonga. This wooden palace was built in 1867 and is located only a short distance from the Pacific ocean. The palace is the official residence of the King of Tonga. Whilst the Palace is not open to the public, it can be viewed from the waterfront and also from the main entrance separated by the gate. This gate was added to the property in the early 2000s after some people driving on lorries/trucks invaded the palace's compound.
Ten Pa'anga (nd1997)
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| nd1997, 151mm x 71mm |
Watermark - Bust of King Taufa'ahau Topou IV facing right.
Back - Royal Palace situated in Nuku'Alofa, the capital city of Tonga. This wooden palace was built in 1867 and is located only a short distance from the Pacific ocean. The palace is the official residence of the King of Tonga. Whilst the Palace is not open to the public, it can be viewed from the waterfront and also from the main entrance separated by the gate. This gate was added to the property in the early 2000s after some people driving on lorries/trucks invaded the palace's compound.
Twenty Pa'anga (nd1995)
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| nd1995, 151mm x 70.5mm |
Watermark - Bust of King Taufa'ahau Topou IV facing right.
Back - The front image of the Tonga Development Bank (TDB) building in Nuku'alofa the capital city of Tonga. It is not known when this building was built. Like all banks, it's main function is to promote Tonga's economic and social advancement through a variety of banking services including loans, savings, and domestic money transfer (RTGS). TDB was established on 01.09.1977 and is both private and government owned.
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