Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻO Tonga
(Kingdom of Tonga)
Pangike Pule Fakafanua 'O Tonga
(National Reserve Bank of Tonga, Est.1989)
Currency - Pa'anga (TOP)
Signatures
Prime Minister - Siaosi Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni (since December 2021)
Minister of Finance - Tiofilusi Tiueti (since October 2022)
Bank Governor - Tatafu Toma Moeaki (since December 2022) Below is a full set of paper/polymer notes released on 04.12.2023. This set comprises six notes from 2 pa'anga to 100 pa'anga. This is the first time this tiny pacific nation has issued a polymer banknote and the bank has released them in the denominations of 5 and 10 pa'anga. I believe this is the 9th series of banknotes issued since 1921. This set was issued to commemorate the birthday of the Kingdom's moderniser King Tupou I. King George Tupou I was born on 04.12.1797 and
died on 18.02.1893. He was the king of Tonga from 1845 until his death at the good old age of 95.
Right now there are about 11 nations in the Pacific region that are issuing their own banknotes, and all have at least one or two notes that are printed on polymer substrate except for the French Pacific Territories and New Caledonia. Countries like Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu have all fully converted their banknotes to polymer notes and now Tonga have issued two of their notes in polymer substrate notes too. The reason for the two notes of 5 and 10 pa'anga printed on SAFEGUARD on polymer substrate is that these are the two most used denominations in the country. These notes are all printed by De La Rue.
The theme for this new series is similar to those previous issues with the exception of the 50 pa'anga. I believe the design for the 50 pa'anga is completely new. As expected, the design on the front for all the notes are the same albeit in different colours. The dimensions for all six notes are also basically the same with 1 to 1.5mm in variance, which is normal. These notes are undated (nd2023).
Two Pa'anga
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| King of Tonga, Tupou VI (b.1959) |
Front - King of Tonga, Tupou VI (b.1959). He was crowned King of Tonga on 18.03.2012 following the death of his brother, King George Tupou V. Prior to that, he was the 13th Prime Minister of Tonga from 2000 to 2006. In 2008, he was the Chief of mission for Tonga's High Commission in Canberra Australia and in 2010, he was appointed as the Tongan ambassador to Japan. To the far right is the Coat of Arms.
Watermarks - King Tupou VI and electrotype NRBT
Dimensions - 150.5mm x 70mm
Back - The theme on the back of the note is related to tourism, depicting a Humpback whale doing a water backsplash. Whales watching months in Tonga is from June to October, with August and September are the best months.
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| Whale watching |
Five Pa'anga (Polymer)
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| King of Tonga, Tupou VI (b.1959) |
Watermarks - King Tupou VI and electrotype NRBT (transparent window)
Dimensions - 151.5mm x 71mm
Back - Ha'amonga stone gateway or Ha'amonga 'a Maui is a stone structure with two vertical large stones supporting a third stone on the top. This Ha'amonga 'a Maui is situated on the island of Tongatapu. Standing next to the structure is a man/woman. This gives you some ideas how big this structure is. It is believed that this structure was built by King Tu'itatui in the 13th century in honour of his sons.
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| Ha'amonga 'a Maui |
Ten Pa'anga (Polymer)
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| King of Tonga, Tupou VI (b.1959) |
Watermarks - King Tupou VI and electrotype NRBT (transparent window)
Dimensions - 151.5mm x 70.5mm
Back - Tonga ancient and ritual ceremony, depicting Princess Angelika Latufuipeka Tuku'aho (b.1983) performing Kava Ceremony Milolua. The princess is the eldest daughter of King Tupou VI, and the princess is the current Tonga High Commissioner to Australia since 2012.
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| Milolua |
Twenty Pa'anga
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| King of Tonga, Tupou VI (b.1959) |
Front - This note is printed with a PUREIMAGE security feature, a holographic thread in the central right of the note.
Watermarks - King Tupou VI and electrotype NRBT
Dimensions - 151mm x 69.5mm
Back - The National Reserve Bank of Tonga (NRBT) building in Nkuk'alofa. The NRBT is a five story building and is the tallest building in Tonga. The building also hosts the Embassy of Japan.
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| The National Reserve Bank of Tonga (NRBT) building |
Fifty Pa'anga
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| King of Tonga, Tupou VI (b.1959) |
Front - On the front it features the NEXUS security thread, a dynamic micro-optic thread with the 'Drive' effect and denominational numeral.
Watermarks - King Tupou VI and electrotype NRBT
Dimensions - 151.5mm x 70mm
Back - The St George Government Building was built in May 2017. This is a four-storey building which is occupied by the Prime Minister department, the Minister of Finance and National Planning, and also the office of Trade and Foreign Affairs. The cost for the construction was funded via a grant from China and was built by Shanghai Construction Group.
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| St George Government Building |
One Hundred Pa'anga
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| King of Tonga, Tupou VI (b.1959) |
Front - With NEXUS security feature which is a 18mm wide embedded micro optic stripe on the central left side of the note.
Watermarks - King Tupou VI and electrotype NRBT
Dimensions - 151mm x 70mm
Back - On the back is the Royal Palace situated in Nuku'Alofa, the capital city
of Tonga. This wooden palace was built in 1867 and is located only a short distance from the Pacific ocean. The palace is the official residence of the King of Tonga.
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| Tonga Royal Palace in Nuku'alofa (capital city of Tonga) |
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