According to a TélaNón article dated 27 November 2019, the Banco Central de São Tomé e Príncipe and De La Rue met to discuss replacing the defective 200-dobra note of 2016, which had been removed from circulation due to security flaws. Furthermore, the 5- and 10-dobra notes printed on polymer could not withstand the hot, humid climate and will be replaced with new notes printed on paper with better security features and durability. The new notes are expected to be introduced in the first half of 2020.

Courtesy of Murtaza Karimjee (www.africancollectible.com).

Tags: Sao Tome and Principe, Polymer

B308 (PNL): 5 dobras (US$0.20)
Purple. Front: Portuguese text; Acraea insularis butterfly; coat of arms; Banco Central headquarters building in São Tomé; Rei Amador embossed on clear window. Back: Portuguese text; stylized cocoa pod; Rei Amador embossed on clear window; butterflies; map of Sao Tome and Principe; Musaranho-fingui (Crocidura thomensis) São Tomé shrew. No security thread. Watermark (shadow image): None. Printer: (Thomas De La Rue). 130 x 67 mm. Polymer (Safeguard).
a. 21 de Outubro de 2016. Sig. 7. Prefix AA. Intro: 01.01.2018.



B309 (PNL): 10 dobras (US$0.45)
Red. Front: Portuguese text; Acraea niobe butterfly; coat of arms; Banco Central headquarters building in São Tomé; Rei Amador embossed on clear window. Back: Portuguese text; stylized cocoa pod; Rei Amador embossed on clear window; butterflies; map of Sao Tome and Principe; Tluqui-Sun-Dêçu (Prinia molleri) São Tomé prinia bird perched on branch. No security thread. Watermark (shadow image): None. Printer: (Thomas De La Rue). 135 x 67 mm. Polymer (Safeguard).
a. 21 de Outubro de 2016. Sig. 7. Prefix AB. Intro: 01.01.2018.



B310 (PNL): 20 dobras (US$0.90)
Green. Front: Portuguese text; Charaxes barnsi butterfly; coat of arms; Banco Central headquarters building in São Tomé; butterfly as registration device. Back: Portuguese text; stylized cocoa pod; butterfly; map of Sao Tome and Principe; Rã de S. Tomé (Hyperolius thomensis) Sao Tome giant treefrog clutching branch. Red-to-green windowed security thread with demetalized BCSTP. Watermark: Rei Amador and electrotype butterfly. Printer: (Thomas De La Rue). 140 x 67 mm.
a. 21 de Outubro de 2016. Sig. 7. Prefix AC. Intro: 01.01.2018.



B311 (PNL): 50 dobras (US$2.20)
Brown. Front: Portuguese text; Charaxes lemosi butterfly; coat of arms; Banco Central headquarters building in São Tomé; butterfly as registration device. Back: Portuguese text; stylized cocoa pod; butterfly; map of Sao Tome and Principe; Tchintchintchólò (Ploceus sanctithomae) São Tomé weaver perched on branch. Red-to-green windowed security thread with demetalized BCSTP. Watermark: Rei Amador and electrotype butterfly. Printer: (Thomas De La Rue). 145 x 67 mm.
a. 21 de Outubro de 2016. Sig. 7. Prefix AD. Intro: 01.01.2018.



B312 (PNL): 100 dobras (US$4.40)
Green. Front: Portuguese text; Charaxes odysseus butterfly; coat of arms; Banco Central headquarters building in São Tomé; holographic patch; butterfly as registration device. Back: Portuguese text; stylized cocoa pod; butterfly; map of Sao Tome and Principe; Macaco de S. Tomé (Cercophithecus mona) Mona monkey on branch. Red-to-green windowed security thread with demetalized BCSTP. Watermark: Rei Amador and electrotype butterfly. Printer: (Thomas De La Rue). 150 x 67 mm.
a. 21 de Outubro de 2016. Sig. 7. Prefix AE. Intro: 01.01.2018.



B313 (PNL): 200 dobras (US$8.80)
Dark red. Front: Portuguese text; Charaxes defulvata butterfly; coat of arms; Banco Central headquarters building in São Tomé; holographic patch; butterfly as registration device. Back: Portuguese text; stylized cocoa pod; butterfly; map of Sao Tome and Principe; Chibi-ficha (Anabathmis hartlaubii) Príncipe sunbird perched on branch. Red-to-green windowed security thread with demetalized BCSTP. Watermark: Rei Amador and electrotype butterfly. Printer: (Thomas De La Rue). 155 x 67 mm.
a. 21 de Outubro de 2016. Sig. 7. Prefix AF. Intro: 01.01.2018.

Courtesy of Manuel Pires Horta Rosa.

Tags: Sao Tome and Principe, Polymer

On 25 August 2017, the Banco Central de São Tomé e Príncipe unveiled six new banknotes and five new coins as part of the bank’s 25th anniversary celebrations and redenomination efforts. The notes were designed and printed by De La Rue to showcase wildlife and include innovative features to make them secure against counterfeiting. The four largest denominations are protected with Depth Image holograms and StarChrome windowed security threads. The two smallest denominations are printed on Safeguard polymer substrate. The new notes are expected to be introduced on 1 January 2018.








Courtesy of Claudio Marana.

Tags: Sao Tome and Principe

B305e: Like B305d, but new signatures and new date (31 de Dezembro de 2013). Prefix CA.

Courtesy of Rafal Nogowczyk (Nogowczyk).

Tags: Sao Tome and Principe

5,000 dobras, 31 de Dezembro de 2013. Like BCSTP B3, but new date and new signatures (Hélio Silva Vaz de Almeida and Maria do Carmo Trovoada Pires de Carvalho Silveira).

10,000 dobras, 31 de Dezembro de 2013. Like BCSTP B4, but new date and new signatures (Hélio Silva Vaz de Almeida and Maria do Carmo Trovoada Pires de Carvalho Silveira).

50,000 dobras, 31 de Dezembro de 2013. Like BCSTP B6, but new date and new signatures (Hélio Silva Vaz de Almeida and Maria do Carmo Trovoada Pires de Carvalho Silveira).

100,000 dobras, 31 de Dezembro de 2013. Like BCSTP B7, but new date and new signatures (Hélio Silva Vaz de Almeida and Maria do Carmo Trovoada Pires de Carvalho Silveira).

Courtesy of Murtaza Karimjee (http://www.africanbanknotes.blogspot.com).

Tags: Sao Tome and Principe

20,000 dobras (US$1), 10 de Dezembro de 2010. Like BCSTP B5 (P67), but new date and signatures (Americo de Oliveira dos Ramos and Luis Fernando Moreira de Sousa).

Courtesy of Andrew Roberts.

Tags: Sao Tome and Principe

The Sao Tome and Principe chapter of The Banknote Book is now available for individual sale and as a free download to subscribers.

This 13-page catalog covers notes issued by the Banco Nacional de S. Tomé e Príncipe (National Bank of Sao Tome and Principe) from 1976 to 1989, and the Banco Central de S. Tomé e Príncipe (Central Bank of Sao Tome and Principe) from 1993 to present. Banco Nacional Ultramarino notes are not currently included in this chapter. Revised 21.01.2018.

Each chapter of The Banknote Book includes detailed descriptions and background information, full-color images, and accurate valuations. The Banknote Book also features:

• Sharp color images of note’s front and back without overlap
• Face value or date of demonetization if no longer legal tender
• Specific identification of all vignette elements
• Security features described in full
• Printer imprint reproduced exactly as on note
• Each date/signature variety assigned an individual letter
• Variety checkboxes for tracking your collection and want list
• Red stars highlight the many notes missing from the SCWPM
• Date reproduced exactly as on note
• Precise date of introduction noted when known
• Replacement note information
• Signature tables, often with names and terms of service
• Background information for historical and cultural context
• Details magnified to distinguish between note varieties
• Bibliographic sources listed for further research

Subscribe to The Banknote Book
If you collect the entire world or a large number of countries, buying a $99 annual subscription is the best deal because it's less expensive than buying chapters individually, and it entitles you to every chapter currently available as well as everything published—or revised (click here to see the Change Log)—during the next 12 months.


Sign up for Email Notifications
If you would like to receive email notifications whenever a new chapter of The Banknote Book is published, please join the email list.

Tags: Sao Tome and Principe

50,000 dobras (US$2.65), 10 de Dezembro de 2010. Like P68, but new date and signatures (unknown and Luis Fernando de Sousa Moreiraa).

100,000 dobras (US$5.30), 10 de Dezembro de 2010. Like P69, but new date and signatures (unknown and Luis Fernando de Sousa Moreiraa).

Courtesy of David Murcek (www.themonetaryunit.com).

Tags: Sao Tome and Principe

On December 22, 2008, Luís de Sousa, the governor of the Banco Central de Sao Tomé e Príncipe introduced a new 100,000-dobra note (US$6), the largest denomination ever for the tiny African island country. The notes are said to have 21 security features, though they have not been described.


100,000 dobras (US$5.75)
Light blue, green, and dark red. Front: Lines from Tenreiro’s poem “In Coração em África” (Courage in Africa); papagaio-cinz (gray parrot); leaves; coat of arms; compass rose; poet Francisco José Tenreiro; silver foil open book. Back: Men in costumes with shields standing before monument, celebrating Auto de Floripes in the city of Santo António on the island of Príncipe. Two security threads with demetalized BCSTP. Watermark: Rei Amador. Printer: DE LA RUE. 146 x 67 mm. 03 de Junho de 2005. Signatures: Adelino Castelo David, MINISTRO DO PLANEAMENTO E FINANCAS; Maria do Carmo Trovoada Silveira, GOVERNADORA DO BANCO CENTRAL. Introduced 22.12.2008.

Courtesy of Manuel Pires Horta Rosa.

Tags: Sao Tome and Principe