.Fiji - (nd)1969 Specimen Notes of $1, $5 and $20 [Government of Fiji]

British Crown Colony of Fiji

(1874-1970)

The Government of Fiji

Currency : Dollar (FJD)

Here are 3 specimen notes issued in 1969/1970. These are the first banknotes printed following which the country converted its currency from the British system of pounds, shillings and pence (£.s.d.) to decimal on 15/01/1969. A full set for this series comprises 50 cents, $1, $2, $5, $10 and $20. The initial issue in 1969 was without the $5 note. This note was later released in 1970. The exchange rate from old to new at that time was F£1 = F$2 or 10 shillings = F$1. Today, it is not sure if the reserve bank would still accept such exchanges, but then why would you want to redeem these old notes for new when you can get much more from dealers/collectors?

Signatures
HP Ritchie (tenure 1967-1973*)
David J Barnes (tenure 1969-1991*)
Imprinter - Thomas De La Rue and Company Limited
Dimensions - 160mm x 77mm

There are no job titles printed below the signatures and therefore it is not sure who was the Chairman and General Manager at the time when these notes were issued. Apart from having his signature printed on this 1969 series of banknotes, HP Ritchie was also the first Chairman appointed to the Fiji Development Bank (FDB) in 1967. FDB is an autonomous statutory body with the Board of directors appointed by the Fijian government.

Whilst Fiji converted to decimal currency in 1969, it should be noted that this is not the first time decimal currencies were used. Between 1871 to 1874, government treasury notes of $1, $5, $10, $25 and $50 were issued and circulated on the island too. Other smaller denominations were also introduced then too.

The 1969 series was the second print of Fijian banknotes that bear the portrait of Queen Elizabeth the Second. These were also the last series printed with the heading - "Government of Fiji". Fiji was a British Crown Colony between 10/10/1874 to 10/10/1970. This series was replaced by the 1974 issues.

Apart from the 50 cents and the one dollar notes, the design on the back for the $2 to $20 are all the same, all printed with the geometric design and also with the face value respectively.

Fifty Cents Specimen
(do not have)

One Dollar Specimen

nd1969, Queen Elizabeth the Second, (aged 29), Coat of Arms, P59s

Reverse - scene of Yanuca beach in the Mamanuca Island, coconut trees

Two Dollars Specimen
(do not have)

Five Dollars Specimen

nd1970, Queen Elizabeth the Second (aged 29), Coat of Arms, P61s

Reverse - geometric design with the value Five Dollars

Ten Dollars Specimen

nd1969, Queen Elizabeth the Second (aged 29), Coat of Arms, P62s

Reverse - geometric design with the value Ten Dollars

Twenty Dollars Specimen
(do not have)

Footnote ➽
*David J Barnes's tenure at the central bank is based on my observation of his signature appearing on the banknotes. In my opinion, his association with the bank could be longer as his signature also appeared in the 1990 Reserve Bank of Fiji annual report dated 28.03.1991 as Executive Director.
*HP Ritchie's tenure is also based on my observation on banknotes with his signature. I believe Ritchie was appointed in 1967 and his signature only appeared on the 1967 series. Presumably, he was replaced by Ian Craik in 1973.
 
I believe this is the best of all the portraits of Queen Elizabeth the Second printed on all banknotes since her majesty ascended to the British throne in 1952. This portrait was completed by Pietro Annigoni (Italian b.1910-1988) in 1955 when the queen was 29 years old. This is the 9th portrait of her majesty printed on the banknotes. The portrait is showing the queen wearing the regalia of the Order of the Garter. Apart from Fijian banknotes, this portrait was also used on other banknotes within the British empire/commonwealth nations as well as many postage stamps (including Fiji) too. Queen Elizabeth the Second first appeared on a 1935 banknote of Canada $20 (English and French text versions) when she was just a little girl. The first portrait was taken by Marcus Adams in 1934 when she was only 8 years old. At that time, her grandfather King George V was still the King and she was third in line to the British throne, after her uncle Edward Vlll (reigned 20/01/1936 to 11/12/1936) and her father George Vl (reigned 1936 to 1952). Since then, 31 portraits have been used (with some variations) by issuing authorities around the commonwealth nations/territories.