Fiji Banknotes and Coins
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Message from Mr. Barry Whiteside Currency, United Kingdom and one of the world’s leading coin mints, Governor, Reserve Bank of Fiji the Royal Canadian Mint, Canada, were awarded the tender to design It is my privilege to present to you and produce our new notes and coins in their respective categories. Fiji’s new flora and fauna design I wish to acknowledge the contributions of those people who assisted banknotes and coins officially with the design and public education process through the provision of unveiled by His Excellency the unique and rare photographs. Very few people have actually seen the President of Fiji, Ratu Epeli design subjects alive and we are fortunate to have had this assistance. Nailatikau on 12 December 2012. I am truly grateful to these individuals for their contribution to our new The new banknotes and coins will currency. be issued into circulation from 2 January 2013. The RBF for the first time will introduce a new $2 coin and a polymer banknote in $5 denomination in its new vibrant green colour. These Fiji’s endemic flora and fauna measures have been taken to improve banknote durability and to also designs will now replace the portrait save costs for our nation. Various strategies have been set to withdraw of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the old $2 and $5 banknotes. Public awareness will commence in II across all denominations. It January 2013 to ensure an efficient and effective transition for these is important to recognise the two denominations. Other banknote denominations will continue to biodiversity around us. Some of the flora and fauna that have been chosen co-circulate and will be subject to a gradual withdrawal process. Coins to feature on our banknotes and coins are so unique that they are only will continue to co-circulate and the old designs will not be withdrawn. found in Fiji while some are even believed to be extinct since they have not been seen recently. We should be proud of nature’s gift to us. It is Design and technical changes include more vibrant colours and modern therefore important that we recognise these in conserving our biodiversity security features for the higher banknote denominations. Designs on and creating awareness of the threats to biodiversity. What better way to the front and back of all coin denominations have now been named in do this than on our currency which is used by all citizens. promoting our natural heritage even better. We all will get to know and recognise the importance of what we have. Many of us did not know The change in designs is a significant one since we all have been so what a saqamoli was until we put it on the $1 coin. accustomed to seeing members of the British Royal Family on our currency over the past 78 years. At the Reserve Bank we feel it is now time to For the visually impaired, banknotes will continue to be of varied sizes promote our own unique natural treasure. and coins will continue to have different edges to assist in differentiating between the denominations. Work on the design process commenced in 2010, the United Nations declared International Year of Biodiversity. A Currency Design Committee I am sure that we all will be proud of our natural heritage and our (CDC) comprising eminent Fijians was approved by the Prime Minister and new design flora and fauna currency. I am also confident that our new Minister for Finance to oversee the design selection process. The CDC currency will be amongst the best in the world. finalised design selections which were approved by the RBF Board in On behalf of the Board of Directors, Executive Management and Staff November 2010 and by the Cabinet in March 2011. Following a competitive of the RBF, I extend my seasons greetings and best wishes to you all tender process, the world’s largest commercial banknote printer De La Rue for this festive season. Did you know? • Do not apply sellotape on banknotes. Applying sellotape on banknotes damages them and also destroys their look and feel. Banknotes • Do not write on them. Writing on banknotes destroys the look and feel The Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) on average issues 55 million brand new of them. Writing on banknotes is also illegal. banknotes into circulation each year to replace worn out and damaged • Store banknotes in cool and dry places. Water, moisture, excessive heat banknotes and to meet demand. Replacing worn out and damaged and dirt will damage the banknotes. banknotes is an expensive exercise costing the RBF approximately $2.4 million annually. Coins You can help save money for the nation by looking after your banknotes, keeping them cleaner and making them last longer. In February 2009, the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) issued smaller and lighter coins to save cost. Approximately 73 million smaller and lighter coins have been issued by the RBF since February 2009. This equates to 278 tonnes Tips to care for your polymer banknotes of coins. The RBF for the first time has introduced a new polymer banknote in the It is estimated that less than 50 percent of these coins are actively used in $5 denomination. Polymer banknotes require special care. Some tips are: circulation to pay for goods and services. The rest are assumed to be lying • Do not staple or pin banknotes. Polymer banknotes tear easily from the idle in homes, offices and in cars. Some may even be lost. Coins, unlike holes created by staples or pins. Use paper clips instead. Paper clips banknotes, are much more durable, and on average, can last 15 years in don’t damage polymer banknotes. circulation if used actively. • Do not expose polymer banknotes to excessive heat such as ironing, The RBF, on average, issues 11 million brand new coins into circulation heaters and driers. Exposing polymer banknotes to excessive heat could each year to meet demand costing the RBF approximately $1 million. The cause them to melt. If melted, you will lose your banknotes and these rising metal prices are causing the cost of coins to increase every time the will be of no value. Bank orders new coins. You can help save money for the nation by reusing coins that may be received as change from your shopping. Using idle coins will help the RBF “Leading Fiji to Economic Success” Tips to care for your Polymer and Paper banknotes order less coins and help save money. All banknotes must be looked after carefully to ensure they remain clean and can be used for a longer period of time. Some basic banknote handling tips are: Issued by the Reserve Bank of Fiji FIJI BANKNOTES • Keep banknotes straight to help them last longer. Folding and crumpling Physical Address: Pratt Street, Suva, Fiji. Postal Address: Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji. damages the banknotes and reduces their life. Phone: (+679) 331 3611 Fax: (+679) 330 2094 AND COINS • If possible, keep banknotes in wallets and purses. Wallets and purses Email: [email protected] Website: www.rbf.gov.fj prevent banknotes from being damaged and also help in keeping Our Values: Professionalism ... Respect ... Integrity ... Dynamism ... Excellence NEW FLORA AND FAUNA SERIES them clean. $5 $10 $20 $50 $100 11 BANKNOTE 6 7 2 BANKNOTE BANKNOTE BANKNOTE BANKNOTE 3 8 1 4 5 9 POLYMER PAPER PAPER PAPER PAPER Front design features Fiji’s endemic Kulawai (Red-throated Front design features Fiji’s endemic Beli (Lever’s Goby). Beli is Front design features one of the world’s iconic rare birds, the Kacau Front design features the Tagimoucia (Medinella waterhousei) Front design features Fiji’s Nanai (Cicada). Fiji has the richest fauna Lorikeet), our smallest member of the parrot family. Predominantly one of few true freshwater fish, living all its life in fast-running fresh ni Gau (Fiji Petrel) which is known to nest only on Gau Island in Fiji. flower which is perhaps Fiji’s best known flower and has, in the past, of cicadas in the south west Pacific with 19 species, all of which green, the Kulawai is a very rare inhabitant of the mountain forest water as it flows over stones to which they often attach.Beli are Experts believe that no more than 50 pairs survive. For much of been recommended as the national flower. It is the subject of songs, are endemic. Cicadas are well known for their loud calls, some of canopy which feeds on nectar and pollen. Kulawai has only been widespread and found in mid reaches of clear streams on all the its life, the Kacau ni Gau is a true ocean bird and remains at sea stories and folk lore. The name Tagimoucia is synonymous with the which resound through Fiji’s forests. Maka is the common Fijian recorded from Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Ovalau. The last high islands, sometimes over a hundred metres above sea level. probably well outside Fijian waters for months on end. Adults return plant in its home in upland Taveuni around the lake with the same name for cicadas in general, but the Nanai is unique due to its confirmed sighting was in 1993 and searches in the last few years Their presence in any river is an indicator of good habitat quality to Gau only to breed in a burrow in the upland forests, and do so name, but Medinella waterhousei also occurs on Mount Seatura in striking appearance. Nanai is extremely well known to the inland have failed to find it. A clear window with an image of ani-Taukei and minimal catchment disturbance.