Tonga issues new $2-50 notes 21 January 2009

On 21 January 2009, the National Reserve Bank of Tonga issued newly designed banknotes in the denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 pa’anga. The new notes replace the image of King Taufa’ahau Tupou V with that of the reigning King George Tupou V. The watermark is of King Tupou V with electrotype NRBT. On the $1-$5 notes, the 1.4-mm wide windowed security thread is demetalized NRBT. Larger denominations have a 2.0-mm wide red-to-green thread with demetalized NRBT. Older notes will remain legal tender, but will be phased out over time.


1 pa’anga (US$0.50)
Green. Front: King George Tupou V. Back: Whale leaping out of water. 1.4-mm windowed security thread with demetalized NRBT. Watermark: King Tupou, electrotype NRBT, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 150 x 70 mm.


2 pa’anga (US$1)
Light red. Front: King George Tupou V. Back: Children studying outside school building; two men playing rugby. 1.4-mm windowed security thread with demetalized NRBT. Watermark: King Tupou, electrotype NRBT, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 150 x 70 mm.


5 pa’anga (US$2.40)
Purple. Front: King George Tupou V. Back: Langi. 1.4-mm windowed security thread with demetalized NRBT. Watermark: King Tupou, electrotype NRBT, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 150 x 70 mm.


10 pa’anga (US$4.85)
Blue. Front: King George Tupou V. Back: Royal tomb. 2.0-mm red-to-green windowed security thread with demetalized NRBT. Watermark: King Tupou, electrotype NRBT, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 150 x 70 mm.


20 pa’anga (US$9.70)
Brown. Front: King George Tupou V. Back: NRBT building. 2.0-mm red-to-green windowed security thread with demetalized NRBT. Watermark: King Tupou, electrotype NRBT, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 150 x 70 mm.


50 pa’anga (US$24.30
Light green and yellow. Front: King George Tupou V. Back: Royal Palace building. 2.0-mm red-to-green windowed security thread with demetalized NRBT. Watermark: King Tupou, electrotype NRBT, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 150 x 70 mm.

Courtesy of Thomas Augustsson, Cleophas Elmakias Schockemohle, and Sejin Ahn.