Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻO Tonga
(Kingdom of Tonga)
Pangike Pule Fakafanua 'O Tonga
(National Reserve Bank of Tonga)
Currency - Pa'anga (TOP)
Here is a 50 pa'anga Hybrid note reportedly printed in 2018 but only released in 2020. This note is basically a reprint of the previous issue which was first released on 04.07.2015, celebrating the Coronation of King Tupou VI. The King's birth name is ʻAhoʻeitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho. According to central bank, this is a 2018 series.
King Tupou VI was the youngest brother of King George Tupou V who passed away on 18.03.2012 at the aged of 64. The late King George Tupou V was a bachelor and without any children when he died. King George Tupou V had two other younger brothers, called Prince Fatafehi ʻAlaivahamamaʻo Tukuʻaho and King Tupou VI. However, Prince Fatafehi ʻAlaivahamamaʻo Tukuʻaho's Royal title was stripped from him when he married a commoner and for that he was not named the crowned prince when King George Tupou V was alive. King Tupou VI became the crowned prince on 27.09.2006. Their parents were Taufa'ahau Tupou IV of Tonga (b.1918-2006) and Halaevalu Mata'aho Ahome'e (b.1926-2017).
Prior to becoming the crowned prince, King Tupou VI was Tonga's 14th Prime Minister between 2000 and 2006. It was not sure why he resigned unexpectedly but most Tongan political analysts would believe that it was due to political unrest and also the people in Tonga demanded that the Royal family take a lesser role in Tongan politics.
As I mentioned above, this is a reprint of the 2015 first issues. However, as the 2015 was a commemorative issue, this reprint is not and as such the commemorative text "Coronation of King Tupou VI" have been omitted from the original design. In addition to this, it also has two new signatures printed on the note.
The Designs;-
On the front of the note, it depicts the current King of Tonga and next to the portrait is the Coat of Arms. On top of the note is printed with Kingdom of Tonga in English and below is printed with the value of 50 dollars in Tongan language - Pa'anga 'E Nimangofulu. Below this are the signatures and titles of the people that signed on the note. To the locals, the Tongan currency is also referred to as 'dollar' in English even though the official name is Pa'anga.
On the back is the 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. You can say that the palace is beach front facing. The palace is the official residence of the King of Tonga. On top of the note is printed with the bank's name in English - National Reserve Bank of Tonga and the value in Tongan is also repeated on the note.
As you can see on my note, it is printed with the letter prefix C. The 2015 commemorative notes are printed with the letter prefixes of A and B but I am not sure if the letter C is also printed. However, I am not surprised if the central bank had also printed the letter C for the 2015 issue as 2.5 million or more pieces are not considered to be a lot.
On the front, the note is printed with three signatures. These signatures belong to;
Palemia 'O Tonga (Prime Minister of Tonga) - Samiuela Akilisi Pohiva (tenure 2014-2019);
Minisita Pa'anga (Minister of Finance) - Pohiva Tu'i'onetoe (tenure 2018-2019);
Kovana (Governor) - Sione Hgongo Kioa (tenure since 2013).
Very few countries around the world that issued banknotes would have the signature of a sitting Prime Minister or President printed on the note. Tonga is one of those few countries.
This note is printed on Hybrid material, just like the previous issue.
Fifty Pa'anga
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| nd2018, King ʻAhoʻeitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho Tupou Vl (.1959) |
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| Tonga Royal Palace in Nuku'alofa (capital city of Tonga) |
Footnote: 👃
Some websites may have listed this as nd2020 issue, however, according to my source, this is a 2018 print. There is a different between the year sighted and the note was actually printed and issued, especially to the outside world where information are harder to find. Some central banks released press statement to inform the public of the issue to avoid any confusion, and many do not. Some even printed a year date on the note and only get to see the day light the following year or even later. The categorisation or description of banknotes should follow the official release provided by the issuing authority.
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