King Tupou VI unveiled Tonga's New Family of Currency
- Details
- Category: Press Releases
- Created: 30 June 2015
His Majesty King Tupou VI, launched the Kingdom of Tonga’s new coronation currency series on 29th June 2015 at the Fa’onelua Convention Centre in Nuku’alofa. The new coronation currency consists of a new series of coins to replace the old coins and new banknotes with advanced security features.
The Privy Council approved to change the portrait from His Majesty the late King George Tupou V to His Majesty King Tupou VI effigy on the banknotes with slight changes to the design and paper to improve the quality and performance of the banknotes. The colour of the banknotes is slightly darker to prevent the notes from being soiled quickly. Security features were also updated to strengthen the resiliency of the banknotes to counterfeit. These include increasing the width of OPTIK thread from 2mm to 3 mm in the $2 to $20 and from 3mm to 18mm in the $50 to the security level in the $100 banknote.
Among the major changes to Tonga’s coronation currency series is the discontinuance of the 1 and 2 seniti and coining of the 1 pa’anga. Both the new notes and coins depict the portrait of His Majesty, King Tupou VI with the exception of the 1 pa’anga coin which depicts the portrait of His Majesty, the Late King George Tupou V.
The new family of coins consists of 5 coins featuring designs, themes and concepts that reflect Tonga’s history, culture, economy and heritage. These are reflected on the introduction of the Milolua on the 50 seniti, Kalia on the 20 seniti, the world’s rarest and smallest megapode Malau on the 10 seniti and the Heilala flower on the 5 seniti. The sizes of the coins are now thinner, smaller in size and lighter in weight. Launching of Tonga’s new coronation currency series is truly a historic event that marks the Kingdom’s first coinage reform in almost 50 years.
| Features of Tonga's new coronation currency series | |||
| Denominations | Obverse | Theme | Colour |
| Banknotes | New | New | |
| $100 | King Tupou VI's image | Vava'u Harbour | Cherry red and white |
| $50 | King Tupou VI's image | Royal Palace | Light green and yellow |
| $20 | King Tupou VI's image | NRBT Building | Brown |
| $10 | King Tupou VI's image | Royal Tomb | Blue |
| $5 | King Tupou VI's image | Ancient 'Otu Langi | Purple |
| $2 | King Tupou VI's image | Whale Watching | Light Red |
| Coins | |||
| $1 | King George Tupou V's image | Coat of Arms | Gold |
| 50¢ | King Tupou VI's image | Milolua | Silver |
| 20¢ | King Tupou VI's image | Kalia | Silver |
| 10¢ | King Tupou VI's image | Malau | Silver |
| 5¢ | King Tupou VI's image | Heilala | Silver |
If you need further clarifications, please contact:
National Reserve Bank of Tonga
Telephone: (676) 24057 | Fax: (676) 24201
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For media: Press Release in English
