National Reserve Bank of Tonga

Tonga’s 2023 New Currency Series Winner Of HSP Asia 2024 Best New Banknote Series Award

The National Reserve Bank of Tonga (NRBT) wins the High Security Printing (HSP) Asia 2024 “Best New Banknote Series” award with its New Currency Series launched by HRH Prince Ata on 4^th December 2023 in Nuku’alofa. The prestigious Regional Banknote and ID Document of the Year Awards form part of the HSP Asia Conference which was held in Bangkok, Thailand on 2 - 4 December 2024. NRBT was represented by Deputy Governor, ‘Ungatea Lātū along with Head of Currency Chief Manager Viliami ‘Akau’ola and received the award.

	The award recognizes the international standard achieved by Tonga’s currency series, its high-security technological features to reflect our history, values, and collective future. - Governor Tatafu Moeaki

Tonga’s latest currency series incorporated both paper and polymer, which was designed and printed by De La Rue under the authority of Tonga’s Privy Council. The new series offers vibrant reflections of the Kingdom's rich culture, history, and aspirations. This includes promotion of tourism (whale watching), ancient sites (Ha’amonga ‘a Maui Trilithon), cultural ceremonies (Kava Ceremony Milolua), growth (NRBT building), stability from good governance (St. George Government Building), and the Royal Family (Royal Palace). The portrait of His Majesty King Tupou VI is centralized on all banknotes framed within a circular design.

Governor Moeaki stated “NRBT welcomes the HSP Asia 2024 Award in its 20^th Year and acknowledges the granted approval by His Majesty’s Privy Council for the design in partnership with De La Rue, and to issue the new series.  The award recognizes the international standard achieved by Tonga’s currency series, its high-security technological features to reflect our history, values, and collective future.” Previous winners of the Best Banknote Series from the Pacific region include the Reserve Bank of Fiji, Reserve Bank of New Zealand and Bank of Papua New Guinea.

Ms. Ruth Euling, Managing Director De La Rue Currency also commented, "We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the National Reserve Bank of Tonga for receiving this prestigious award. It has been an honour to be your chosen partner on this project, and we deeply appreciate your trust in us."

The most widely used denominations, the 5 and 10 Tongan Pa'anga notes, are printed for the first time on durable and secure polymer, ensuring longevity and resilience in everyday use. The other denominations, of 2, 20, 50 and 100 Tongan Pa’anga notes, are printed on micro-optic thread paper.

Enquiries

Currency Department
National Reserve Bank of Tonga
Fasi mo e Afi
NUKU'ALOFA

Telephone: (676) 24057; Governor: (676) 7815722
Fax: (676) 24201
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