...Mexico - 2024-2025 Full Set Banco de Mexico 100th Years Commemorative 1925-2025

Estados Unidos Mexicanos

(United Mexican States)

Banco de Mexico (est.1925)
(Bank of Mexico)
Currency : Peso (MXN) 

Below is a full set of five notes issued between 2024 and 2025 commemorating the central bank's 100th Anniversary 1925 to 2025.

Banco de Mexico (Bank of Mexico) was established on 1st of September 1925 with its current head office located in the capital city of Mexico. Only five notes have been issued for this commemorative series as the 20 pesos note is not included. The designs for all five notes are the same as all current series in circulation but with commemorative text/logo printed (as above) to celebrate this special occasion. Like the current series, both the 50 and 100 pesos are printed on polymer substrate materials.

Whilst I have posted a full set of five notes, in reality, a complete set consists of 25 notes as in Mexico each denomination issued comes with 5 signature varieties. All banknotes are signed with the bank governor and counters signed by one board member of the central bank and all the five board member's signatures are not the same. This is one of the reasons that collecting Mexico banknotes in full sets is very difficult especially for those not residing in the country. Whilst some dealers may stock them in full sets with all five signature varieties for the lower note denominations, it is hard and expensive to get the 500 and 1000 pesos notes in full sets, and for this reason, I have decided just to have one denomination each. Sadly to say, the signatures on all of my five notes are not the same. It would be better if they were, as it would look nicer. 

Fifty Pesos (Polymer)

Front - Image of the foundation of Tenochtitlan, which is now the capital city of Mexico, Mexico city. This is a historical site and was reported as being first founded in 1325. Underneath is the image of an eagle standing on a cactus plant.

Signatures - Victoria Rodriguez Ceja and Isabel Morales Pasantes

Date - Ciudad de México, 27 Jun. 2024

Sizes - 65mm x 147.5mm 

Back - scene of an axolotl swimming in Xochimilco lake. This is one weird looking creature and can be found in several lakes in Mexico. 

One Hundred Pesos (Polymer)

Front - Juana Inés de la Cruz (b.1648-1695). Her birth name was Dona Ines de Asbaje y Ramirez de Santillana. During her lifetime, she was a nun, a writer, poet and a musician composer too. Image of Patio of the "Antiguo Colegio" San Ildefonso. This building is now used as a museum and cultural center in Mexico City. Originally it was established in 1588 as a Jesuit boarding school. This was dissolved in 1978 and turned it into a museum.  

Signatures - Jonathan Heath Constable and Isabel Morales Pasantes

Date - Ciudad de México, 27 Jun. 2024

Sizes - 65mm x 132mm 

Back - rain forest with Monarch butterflies flying around persuasively from the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt pine-oak forests ecoregion in central Mexico.

Two Hundred Pesos (Paper)

Front - Campana de Dolores (Bell of Dolores) which was used to call upon the population and start the independence movement in Dolores Hidalgo, Don Miguel Gregorio Antonio Francisco Ignacio Hidalgo-Costilla y Gallaga Mandarte Villaseñor (priest 1753-1811) who started the Mexico's War of Independence in Dolores Hidalgo and José María Teclo Morelos Pérez y Pavón (1765-1815) who assumed the leadership of the independent movement after the death of Hidalgo;

Signatures - Galia Borja Gomez and Isabel Morales Pasantes

Date - Ciudad de México, 27 Jun. 2024

Watermarks - Bell and electrotype 200

Sizes - 139.5mm x 65mm 

Back - Royal eagle, Biosphere of El Pinacate (desert) and Gran Desierto de Altar in Sonora UNESCO World Heritage site. 

Five Hundred Pesos (Paper)

Front - Portrait of Benito Pablo Juarez Garcia (b.1806-1872) was the 26th president of Mexico. He was appointed to the post from 1858 until his death in 1872. To his left is the sScene of Brnito Jusrez entering Mexico City.

Signatures - Victoria Rodriguez Ceja and Isabel Morales Pasantes

Date - Ciudad de México, 27 Jun. 2024 

Watermarks - Benito Juarez and electrotype 500

Sizes - 146mm x 65mm 

Back - The main design depicts the view of El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve with a whale swimming with her calf. The Reserve was created in 1988 and is located in Mulege Municipality in northern Baja California Sur (peninsula).

 

One Thousand Pesos (Paper)

Front - Portraits of Maria del Carmen Serdan Alatriste (b.1875-1948, was a Mexican revolutionary), Hermila Galinda Acosta (b.1886-1954, was a Mexican ferminist and writer) and Francisco Ignacio Madero Gnzalez (b.1873-1913, was a Mexican businessman, revolutionary, writer, politician and statesman and was the 37th president of Mexico from 1911 to 1913). A steam locomotive is printed in the background on the left next to the portrait of Carmen Serdan, 

Signatures - Jonathan Heath Constable and Isabel Morales Pasantes

Watermarks - Portrait of Francisco Ignacio Madero and electrotype 1000

Date - Ciudad de México, 12 Mar. 2025

Sizes - 153mm x 65mm 

Back - The main design on the back depicts a jaguar presumably hunting in the jungle. To the right is the ruins of the Mayan temple Calakmul.

...Papua New Guinea - 50 Kina 2025 Commemorative 50th Year of Independence

Independent State of Papua New Guinea

Bank of Papua New Guinea (Est.1973)

Currency - Kina (PGK)

 

Here, I have posted the 50 kina polymer note issued commemorating the country's 50th year of gaining independence from Australia. This note was reportedly released on 28.08.2025 to the public for circulation.

 

Papua New Guinea achieved independence on 16.09.1975 after almost 57 years of under the Australian administration. Papua New Guinea was given to Australia's rule after the end of World War I. Prior to that, the country was divided into two, with the German occupying the top half of present-day Papua New Guinea and the British occupying the bottom half. In 1902, the British ceded their control to Australia and after the defeat of the German in the First World War, the part that was occupied by the German prior the war was then handed over to the Australia control. 

 

Since gaining independence, numerous banknotes have been released to celebrate the country's independence: -  

 

1995 - 2 kina 20th Anniversary of Independence

2000 - Full set 25th Anniversary of Independence 

2010 - Full set 35th Anniversary of Independence

2015 - 20 kina 40th Anniversary of Independence

 

The design for this 50 kina commemorative note is very similar to the current 50 kina normal circulating note but with added commemorative features mainly on the front.

 

Fifty Kina

 

Front - Coat of Arms, a flying Bird of Paradise, with Papua New Guinea's parliament in the background. The independence logo of 50 is printed next to the parliament building. Below are two butterflies flying.

 

Governor - Elizabeth W Genia (tenure 2023-)

Secretary, Department of Treasury - Andrew F Oaeke (tenure 2021-)

Sizes - 145.5mm x 70mm

 

Back - Portrait of Sir Michael Somare (b.1936-2021); spears from Sepik; shield and mask from New Ireland; leaf and pointed Tubuan face mask from New Britain; headdress from the Highlands; mask and costume from Sepik River. No security thread. 

 

 

...Sri Lanka - 2000 Rupees Central Bank 75th Year Commemorative

ශ්‍රීලංකා ප්‍රජාතාන්ත්‍රික සමාජවාදී ජනරජය

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

 

Central Bank of Sri Lanka (Est.1950)

Currency - Rupee (LKR)

 

This is a 2,000 rupee issued on 29.08.2025, celebrating the 75th year of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. The central bank was established on 28.08.2025, with its head office situated at Colombo, the largest city in Sri Lanka. This commemorative note is printed on paper material.

 

Back in 2020, the then Bank Governor Deshamanya Weligamage Don Lakshman (tenure December 2019 - September 2021) announced that it will introduce a new 2,000 rupees to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Central Bank. As we all know now, this did not happen. It is not sure why this was delayed until now. Just for the record, this 2,000 rupees is worth less than US$7.  

 

Two Thousand Rupees

Front - The image of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka located in Colombo. Within a short walking distance is the Lighthouse Clock tower which is located at the roundabout or the junction of Chatham Street and Janadhipathib Mawatha. This clock tower was built in 1857 as a lighthouse and is now a landmark in the heart of the official district in Colombo. To the bottom left is the city skyline silhouette of Colombo city. The commemorative 75 Years (Stability for Prosperity) logo is printed on the bottom far left corner.

 

Governor - Dr Nandalai Weerasinghe

Date - 2025-08-28 

Watermark - Coat of Arms

Sizes - 159mm x 67mm

 

Back - A stylised map of Sri Lanka printed with circular shapes on all over the map. The national flower of Sri Lanka, a blue water lily is printed on top of the map. This aquatic flower is also known locally as Nil Manel. The water lily is a symbol of purity, serenity, and has significant cultural and spiritual importance to the people of Sri Lanka. The water lily was adopted as the national flower on 26.02.1986.  On top is printed with the 75 Years commemorative logo.

 

...Transnistria - One Ruble ND2025 Commemorative 80TH Anniversary Of End Of World War Two 1945-2025

Република Молдовеняскэ Нистрянэ

Приднестровская Молдавская Республика

(Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic)

 

Transnistrian Republican Bank (Est.1992)

Currency : Ruble (RUP)

The never ending story continues.  

Here, another 1 ruble overprint commemorative is released celebrating the end of the last war, World War II. Nazi Germany was defeated in Mid-April in Eastern Europe and the war did not end until the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany on 08.05.1945. 

This is the 29th commemorative note issued by Transnistria since 2009. Like previous issues, the designs are the same but with the commemorative logo added to the watermark area of the banknote. 

One Ruble

Front - The format and design of this note is similar to the 2012 series. A portrait of the Russian General Alexander Vassilyevich Suvorov (b.1730-1800) in military uniform. General Suvorav was a Russian born military hero holding the rank of Field Marshal Generalissimo. He was born in Moscow and joined the army at the age of 17 and was promoted to the rank of colonel when he was 32 years old. By 1787, he was then promoted to the rank of General. During his lifetime, he was involved in at least 57 battles/wars with the majority of these conflicts ending in victory in his favour. He died at the age of 70 years old and was buried in the city of St Petersburg. He was the fourth Generalissimo of Russia.

To the right of the note where the watermark area is, is printed with the commemorative logo of a woman statue with a raised sword. Next to it is the numeral of 80 and below it is the Russian word ПОБЕДА! or victory!

Signature - N/A

Date: 2012 (2025 issue)

Watermarks - Alexander Vassilyevich Suvorov and electrotype ПРБ

Quantity - 2490 pieces issued

Dimensions - 130.5mm x 56.5mm

Back - Kitskansk Bridgehead memorial or Chiţcani monument in Chitcani. This monument was built in 1972 (opened 09.05.1972) to commemorate victory against the German's invasion during the Second World War in 1944. Chitcani is situated north of Tiraspol, the capital city of Transnistria.  

Below are the scans of the simple card folder on the front and also inside the description for this issue. I have also translated this from Russian to English with the help of Google Translate. 

On the front cover, it depicts a very well known picture of two Russian soldiers raising a Soviet Union flag over the Reichstag (Parliament) in Berlin. This picture was taken by Tevgeny Ananyevich Khaldei (b.1917-1997) during the final stage of the war in Europe. The picture was taken on 02.05.1945 during the Battle of Berlin. 

Front over 

Inside Cover

Translated to English, courtesy of Google Translate.

 

List of all commemorative banknotes issued:-

2009 - 15 Years of National Currency;

2014 - 20 Years of National Currency, 2020 sets (4 notes);

2015 - 70 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War (WWll), 7070 sets, 2000 sets in folders (2 notes);

2015 - 25 Years of Transnistria Republic, 2525 sets, 2000 sets in folders (4 notes);

2017 - 100 Years of the Great October Socialist Revolution, 5,000 sets, 2017 sets in folders (2 notes);

2017 - 100 Year of KGB/State Security Bodies, 2500 sets in folders;

2017 - 100 Years of Police Force, 2500 sets in folders;

2018 - 100 Years of Border Troops, 2500 sets, 1000 sets in folder;

2018 - 100 Years of Armed Force/State Police, 2500 sets, 1000 sets in folders (Text - 27 Yrs of the Armed Forces of the PMR);

2019 - 30 Years of Soviet Troops withdrawing from Afghanistan, 1500 sets in folders;

2019 - 75th Anniversary Years of Liberation from Nazi Invaders, 1500 sets in folders;

2019 - 75th Anniversary of Jassy-Kishinev Operation, 1500 sets in folders;

2019 - 25 Years of National Currency, 200000 pieces, 2500 sets in folders (2 notes);

2020 - 75 Years of End of World War ll (1945-2020), 2500 sets in folders;

2020 - 30th Year of Formation of Transdniestr, 2510 sets, 2500 sets in folders;

2021 - 30th Anniversary of the First PMR bank, 2510 sets, 2500 sets in folders issued;

2021 - 30th Anniversary of the PMR Financial System, 2510 sets, 2500 sets in folders;

2023 - 100th Year of the 2023 - 100th Year of Gold Chervonets, 2500 sets, 2490 sets in folders;

2024 - 30th Anniversary of the Pridnestrovian Ruble, 1,500 sets, 1,490 sets in folders;

2024 - 100th Year of Formation of the MASSR, 1,500 sets, 1,490 sets in folders;

2025 - 80th Year of Victory in the Great Patriotic War (WWII 1939-1945), 2,490 sets;

...Fiji - 100 Cents Polymer ND2023 Uncut Sheets Of 2 and 3 Commemorative Numismatic Products

Republic of Fiji

 

Reserve Bank of Fiji

(Established 1983)

Currency - Dollar (FJD)

 

On 04.11.2023, I posted the single note for the Fiji 100 cents polymer commemorative note with the design of a Chinese Dragon. This note was issued in a joint-venture between the Reserve Bank of Fiji and a company in China called China Coin Industrial Co. Limited (CCIC) trading as Shenzhen China Coin Investment Co. Limited. CCIC was granted full license to distribute this note and was first released on 08.08.2023. The intention for this note was to celebrate the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Dragon 2024. Since the release in 2023, it is not sure how successful this issue is and I wonder if they are still selling them or they are all sold out by now. If not, then I do not believe it will ever get all sold out as the note was sold at a pretty high price given the face value is nominal.    

 

Whilst the note printed may be auspicious to the Chinese, only banknote collectors would be interested in this as I believe such note would attract any interest from the normal folks in China. 

 

One Hundred Cents Two Uncut Sheet Polymer

 

Front - Hibiscus flower, Coat of Arms. The design on the front is very similar to the previous 88-cent note, except for the see-through window on the left. Even the colours are similar too.

 

Governor - Faizul Ariff Ali (tenure since 11.09.2017)

Watermark - N/A

Printer - De La Rue (not printed)

Dimensions - 145.5mm x 140.5mm

 

Back - A Chinese Imperial dragon holding a fireball in its paw. A Chinese word '龍' (Dragon) is also printed in the bottom right. Like the China 100 yuan polymer commemorative note issued in 2000, this note also depicts a Chinese Imperial Dragon, and back in the Chinese Imperial years right up to 1911, only the sitting Emperor of the day was allowed to have such dragon design on their robe. Anyone found to have the same dragon or similar design on their clothing will not live another day to enjoy this. The yellowish background colour also represents the Chinese Imperial colour as well.

 

 

 One Hundred Cents Three Uncut Sheet

Dimensions - 210mm x 145.5mm