...Papua New Guinea - 50 Kina 2025 Commemorative 50th Year of Independence

Independent State of Papua New Guinea

Bank of Papua New Guinea (Est.1973)

Currency - Kina (PGK)

 

Here, I have posted the 50 kina polymer note issued commemorating the country's 50th year of gaining independence from Australia. This note was reportedly released on 28.08.2025 to the public for circulation.

 

Papua New Guinea achieved independence on 16.09.1975 after almost 57 years of under the Australian administration. Papua New Guinea was given to Australia's rule after the end of World War I. Prior to that, the country was divided into two, with the German occupying the top half of present-day Papua New Guinea and the British occupying the bottom half. In 1902, the British ceded their control to Australia and after the defeat of the German in the First World War, the part that was occupied by the German prior the war was then handed over to the Australia control. 

 

Since gaining independence, numerous banknotes have been released to celebrate the country's independence: -  

 

1995 - 2 kina 20th Anniversary of Independence

2000 - Full set 25th Anniversary of Independence 

2010 - Full set 35th Anniversary of Independence

2015 - 20 kina 40th Anniversary of Independence

 

The design for this 50 kina commemorative note is very similar to the current 50 kina normal circulating note but with added commemorative features mainly on the front.

 

Fifty Kina

 

Front - Coat of Arms, a flying Bird of Paradise, with Papua New Guinea's parliament in the background. The independence logo of 50 is printed next to the parliament building. Below are two butterflies flying.

 

Governor - Elizabeth W Genia (tenure 2023-)

Secretary, Department of Treasury - Andrew F Oaeke (tenure 2021-)

Sizes - 145.5mm x 70mm

 

Back - Portrait of Sir Michael Somare (b.1936-2021); spears from Sepik; shield and mask from New Ireland; leaf and pointed Tubuan face mask from New Britain; headdress from the Highlands; mask and costume from Sepik River. No security thread. 

 

 

...Tonga - Specimen Notes No Signatures Government of Tonga Issues ND1985 And 1988 (Commemorative)

Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻO Tonga

(Kingdom of Tonga)

 

Pangike Pule Fakafanua 'O Tonga

(National Reserve Bank of Tonga, Est.1989) 

Currency - Pa'anga (TOP)

Here are my two specimen notes both issued prior to the establishment of the National Reserve Bank of Tonga in 1989.

The two notes posted here were printed with no signatures and with no dates either. I believe these two notes belong to the third series since 1921. The 20 pa'anga was first issued in 1985 (Series 1985-1989) and was issued by the Government of Tonga, whilst the 50 pa'anga was first issued 1988 and a reprint was issued with the year date of 1989. In general, the 50 pa'anga was a short series which has only been printed twice. However, this design was later re adopted and issued under the National Reserve Bank of Tonga.

As these are specimen notes and printed with no dates, for those issued for general circulation the notes were printed with the following signatures, both signed as Finance Commissioner (Komisiona Pa'anga) from L-R:-

Accountant General - James Cecil Cocker (tenure 1982-1991)

Prime Minister - Prince Fatafehi Tu'ipelehake (tenure 1965-1991)

Secretary for Finance - Sione Uhila Liava'a 

Twenty Pa'anga 

 

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, he 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. 

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. 

Fifty Pa'anga (Commemorative)

An Aerial view of Vava'u Harbour. The Vava'u Harbour is also known as the Port of Refuge. The harbour is located in the northern part of Tonga within the Vava'u island group. The main town is Neiafu and is located on the shores of this harbour. Vava'u island is famous for its natural beauty and is a tourist attraction and destination for the rich (yachts visiting) and cruise ships and for sailing and humpback whales watching.  

This note was issued to coincide with the celebration of the King's 70th birthday. However, no text or logo were incorporated into the design for this celebration. 

...Papua New Guines - ND2023 Prints Of 2, 10 and 100 Kina

Independent State of Papua New Guinea

Bank of Papua New Guinea (Est.1973)

Currency - Kina (PGK)

 

Below are three notes all printed with the year nd2023. At present, only these notes have been reported and we are not sure if the five, twenty and fifty kina have been released as well, as the last print for these notes were all dated nd2021. Time will tell if more than 3 notes have been issued for the nd2023 series.  

 

 

Two Kina

 

Governor - Elizabeth Genia (tenure 2023-)

Secretary, Department of Treasury - Andrew F Oaeke (tenure 2021-)

Dimensions - 126mm x 70.5mm

 

Front - Papua New Guinea's Parliament located in Waigani in the capital city of Port Moresby. The parliament house was officially opened on 08.08.1984 by Prince Charles (now King Charles The lll). The parliament house was formerly known as the House of Assembly Building of Papua New Guinea from 1964 to 1975. On the top left is the Bird of Paradise, the national emblem of Papua New Guinea, perched on a Kundu Drum and Ceremonial spear.Coat of Arms and on the far left is a see-through image of the bank's logo. 

 

Back - The main design on the back are a Mt Hagen axe, Kula Arm band from Milne Bay, engraved dog teeth from Bouganville, and a clay pot from the Sepik regions.

 

   

Ten Kina

 

Governor - Elizabeth Genia (tenure 2023-)

Secretary, Department of Treasury - Andrew F Oaeke (tenure 2021-)

Dimensions - 136mm x 70.5mm

 

Front - The main design elements on the front are the Parliament House and the National Crest of Papua New Guinea, which is a stylised Bird of Paradise sitting on a Kundu (drum) and a spear.

 

Back - The main design elements on the back are a Tami Bowl, Bird of Paradise feathers, a Boar’sTusk from the Highlands and Tambu Shell Money from East New Britain, which is also the complex window design

 

 

 

One Hundred Kina

 

Governor - Elizabeth Genia (tenure 2023-)

Secretary, Department of Treasury - Andrew F Oaeke (tenure 2021-)

Dimensions - 151mm x 70mm

Front - The front of the Banknote contains an Intaglio portrait of the Parliament House and the National Crest symbolising National Unity. 

 

Back - The main feature on the back of the note depicts the transition from the traditional primary economy towards the modern economy encompassing mining, petroleum, tourism, transportation and technology.
 

 

...Fiji - 100 Cents Polymer ND2023 Uncut Sheets Of 2 and 3 Commemorative Numismatic Products

Republic of Fiji

 

Reserve Bank of Fiji

(Established 1983)

Currency - Dollar (FJD)

 

On 04.11.2023, I posted the single note for the Fiji 100 cents polymer commemorative note with the design of a Chinese Dragon. This note was issued in a joint-venture between the Reserve Bank of Fiji and a company in China called China Coin Industrial Co. Limited (CCIC) trading as Shenzhen China Coin Investment Co. Limited. CCIC was granted full license to distribute this note and was first released on 08.08.2023. The intention for this note was to celebrate the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Dragon 2024. Since the release in 2023, it is not sure how successful this issue is and I wonder if they are still selling them or they are all sold out by now. If not, then I do not believe it will ever get all sold out as the note was sold at a pretty high price given the face value is nominal.    

 

Whilst the note printed may be auspicious to the Chinese, only banknote collectors would be interested in this as I believe such note would attract any interest from the normal folks in China. 

 

One Hundred Cents Two Uncut Sheet Polymer

 

Front - Hibiscus flower, Coat of Arms. The design on the front is very similar to the previous 88-cent note, except for the see-through window on the left. Even the colours are similar too.

 

Governor - Faizul Ariff Ali (tenure since 11.09.2017)

Watermark - N/A

Printer - De La Rue (not printed)

Dimensions - 145.5mm x 140.5mm

 

Back - A Chinese Imperial dragon holding a fireball in its paw. A Chinese word '龍' (Dragon) is also printed in the bottom right. Like the China 100 yuan polymer commemorative note issued in 2000, this note also depicts a Chinese Imperial Dragon, and back in the Chinese Imperial years right up to 1911, only the sitting Emperor of the day was allowed to have such dragon design on their robe. Anyone found to have the same dragon or similar design on their clothing will not live another day to enjoy this. The yellowish background colour also represents the Chinese Imperial colour as well.

 

 

 One Hundred Cents Three Uncut Sheet

Dimensions - 210mm x 145.5mm

...Samoa - 10 Tala Polymer XVI Pacific Games 2019 Commemorative Specimen

Malo Saʻoloto Tutoʻatasi o Sāmoa

Independent State of Samoa

Central Bank of Samoa, Est 1984

Currency - Tala (WST)

One in Spirit / Tasi i le Agaga

 

On 31.08.2019, I posted the ten tala commemorative polymer note issued to celebrate the XVI Pacific Game. The game was held in the capital city of Apia from 07.07.2019 to 20.07.2019. You can read more about my original post here.

Here, I have posted the same note but printed with the word 'specimen' on the front and on the back. Unlike the normal issues which also came in a folder, this specimen note is not. Whilst specimen notes are usually printed with all zeros serial numbers, this note is also printed with a tiny control number at the bottom left corner. The control number printed on this note is 500, and I am not sure how many pieces have been issued but I am aware that there are no shortage of supply for such specimen notes, and this is all depending how much you are willing to pay for it. I have no idea how many of the specimen notes have been printed but if I have to guess and based on past experience, I guess it would be at least 500 pieces issued. Given Samoa has a rather small population, it is unlikely that they would have printed more than 500 pieces, unless these are given away as gifts to all the participants involved in the games, which I do not believe this is the case. Of course I could be wrong here.

 

Ten Tala Polymer Specimen

Minister of Finance - Mr Sili Epa Tuioti (tenure 2016-2021)

Governor - Ms Maiava Atalina Emma Ainuu-Enari (Tenure 2011-)

Date - 2019

Dimensions - 141mm x 72mm

Front - Twenty-two sports were held in this XVI Pacific Game. In the center the note depicts the images of three sports - women weightlifting, rugby and outrigger canoeing. The 22 games are archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, cricket, football, golf, judo, lawn bowls, netball, outrigger canoeing, powerlifting, rugby league nines, rugby sevens, sailing, shooting, squash, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, touch rugby, triathlon, volleyball and weightlifting. To the center left is the image of the game's logo for the tournament with the word Samoa and 2019 printed on the logo. Underneath the logo is the text of "One in Spirit/Tasi i le Agaga" (Samoan).

Back - Featuring children doing various activities, with a boy carrying coconuts with a tree branch over his shoulder, a young man rowing in a canoe and four boys playing rugby with a coconut as ball. In the background is a scene of a beach with coconut trees and smaller islands. As the game's logo is in a transparent feature, it is featured sideway's on top of the note. The game ended with New Caledonia winning the most medals with 76 gold, 55 silver and 51 bronze (total 182), followed by Papua New Guinea 38/57/35 (130) and Samoa 38/42/45 (125). Every nation that participated won at least one medal, and Tokelau was the winner of the wooden spoon with only one bronze.