oceania: ...Vanuatu - Hand Signed Notes Matching Serial Nos 10 Complete Set 2010

Ripablik blong Vanuatu
Republic of Vanuatu
République de Vanuatu

I have recently acquired the last two of the Hand Signed notes of 500 and 5000 vatu and here I have updated a complete set of the notes with matching serial numbers, first issued in 2010. In 2010, Vanuatu commenced releasing a new series of polymer banknotes replacing the paper banknotes series with the first denomination of the 10000 vatu, the highest value ever issued. Vanuatu first issued it's own currency in 1982. It is believed that the 10000 vatu polymer note issued in 2010 was for the celebration of the nation's 30th Year of Independence (1980-2010). However this note was not printed with any commemorative logo or any text to celebrate the occasion. For this special occasion, the central bank issued the first 100 sets with serial 000001 to 000100 all personally hand signed by the then Bank Governor and Minister of Finance, Odo Tevi and Sela Molisa respectively.

Since then the bank retained this unique tradition for the remaining series by issuing the first 100 sets for the remaining series released in 2014 and 2017, all personally signed by the Governor and the Minister of Finance. As these are specially issued for souvenir purposes, they are all issued in a folder at a premium. Below are some of the unique features; -

1) Obviously no two signatures are of the same;
2) The colours of the pens/inks used for the signatures are not the same as those printed for normal circulation;
3) The fonts for the serial numbers for the notes are not all the same as these series were printed by two difference imprinters;
4) Traditionally all signatures are printed/signed above their respective job titles for both paper and polymer notes. However, the last two values, 500 and 5000 vatu (ND2017), the hand signed notes that I have are all signed below their respective titles. I wonder who made the mistake first, the Governor or the Minister of Finance or was it deliberately signed this way? Oooopsie!! I am also wondering if all the 100 pieces for the 500 and 5000 vatu are signed this way too? If not, would you consider them as errors? If so, then you can really classify these last two notes as "human error". See image below for the 5000 vatu note.

signing errors

Whilst the issues were only meant for 100 sets, it is not sure why the bank released more than 100 sets for the 2000 vatu note. However unlike the first 100 sets, these additional sets were issued with a much higher serial numbers range and are not from the first AA prefix prints.

Below, I have uploaded a full set from 200 to 10000 vatu all with matching serial nos;
AA10 000010 - 10,000 vatu (NPA);
AA14 000010 - 200, 1000 & 2000 vatu (Oberthur Fiduciaire, France); and
AA17 000010 - 500 & 5000 vatu (NPA).

L to R - 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 & 10000 vatu

As Vanuatu first polymer series are printed by NPA and Oberthur Fiduciaire, we are not sure if any replacement prefix has been printed, especially for those printed by Oberthur Fiduciaire (200, 1000 & 2000 vatu). It is unlikely that you will find any for those printed by NPA. So far, non has been reported yet.

Ten Thousand Vatu (30th Year of Independence Commemorative)