commemorative

Showing posts with label Fiji - Millennium. Show all posts

04 December 2020

...Fiji - 2000 Y2K Millennium Commemorative Specimen Notes, s. Ratu Jone Yavala Kubuabola

Republic of Fiji
(since 1987)

Reserve Bank of Fiji

Currency : Dollar (FJD)

The Reserve Bank of Fiji issued two commemorative notes of $2 and $2000 in 2000 to celebrate the millennium year 2000. I believe this is the first time in the history of Fiji that commemorative banknotes were issued by the central bank. Here I have posted the two specimen notes of $2 and $2000. Only 18 countries around the world had issued new or overprinted banknotes in 2000 to celebrate the new millennium year and not all of them were issued for general circulation. Here, I have discounted those notes issued in 2000 unless it was specifically stated for the 2000 millennium year celebration or with specific or special prefixes. As for these two notes, it is interesting to see that on the back, the words "Fiji Islands" are printed on the top left hand corner. Previous issues, since the 1930s (I believe) were all printed either with the words "Government of Fiji" and later just a single word "Fiji".

Also in the history of Fijian banknotes issued since 1934, this was the first time that these notes were printed without the portrait of a British monarch. Instead, the two notes of $2 and $2000 were printed with the portraits of the country's first and second Presidents respectively.

Both notes are printed with the following commemorative text -

"COMMEMORATING THE

YEAR 2000 WHERE

THE MILLENNIUM BEGINS"

Signature - Ratu Jone Yavala Kubuabola (tenure 1988-2000)

Imprinter - De La Rue

Dimensions - $2 (156mm x 67mm)
Dimensions - $2000 (201mm x 110mm)

Like all specimen notes issued, these are also printed with the word "Specimen" on the front and back. However, the font size and the format printed on the notes are not the same. The word Specimen on the note for the $2 is measured at 50mm across whilst the size for the $2000 is only measured at 45mm. Also the word Specimen is printed rising steadily from left to right for the $2 and opposite for the $2000 piece.

The size for the $2000 note is considered as a large banknote but not the largest banknote ever printed if you compare to those commemorative notes issued by, say Malaysia (600 ringgit), the Philippines (100000 piso) or Thailand (500000 baht) etc. It is not sure how many specimen notes for this series were printed. A million pieces were issued for the $2 circulating note and only 2000 pieces were printed for the $2000 note. Whilst the $2 notes went into circulation, the $2000 notes were sold at a premium and therefore many locals in Fiji may not even be aware of such notes if one is not a collector. The $2000 commemorative notes were also sold in a very nice wooden presentation box too. In view of this, one would assume that they would have printed more specimens for the $2 than the $2000 note. However, I believe this may not be the case. The $2000 specimen notes are all printed with a tiny control number on the left hand side bottom of the note and none for the $2 specimen note. Judging by what I have observed so far, I would say about 500 pieces printed for the $2000 note, which is quite a lot given the low quantity of notes printed. Yes, I do agree that this is strange as to why so many of the $2000 specimen notes are printed, especially only 2000 pieces printed for the actual note. I just wonder if they initially intended to have this presented as a gift to special VIPs in Fiji. Well, as usual, I could be wrong in this and it would not be the first time either! In my opinion, about 100 to 200 pieces of the $2 specimen were printed for this series.

No replacement prefixes have been sighted for either of the two circulating notes.

Two Dollars Specimen

Dated 2000, the late Ratu Sir Penaia Kanatabatu Ganilau (b.1918-1993), First President of Fiji (tenure 1987-1993), P102s

Reverse - sun, Fijians of all races, map, turtle

Here is the interesting fact about this specimen note. The prefix for this $2 specimen note is printed with "Y2K" (Year 2000). However the actual notes released to the public for circulation are all printed with the prefix of "2K" only, i.e.without the letter "Y" in front. See circulating note below for comparison.

Two Dollars Circulating note

Circulating note

Two Thousand Dollars Specimen

Ratu Sir Kamisese Kapaiwai Tuimacilai Mara (b.1920-2004), First Prime Minister of Fiji (tenure 1970-1987); Second President of Fiji (tenure 1994-2000), P103s

Reverse - view of earth from space, sun, map of Fiji, sea shells, 180० Meridian line

From the above, you can see that I have specimen no 153. To some people this is not a desirable no. It's not my day today 😞.

Footnote ⇛
If any visitors have any information regarding the quantity printed for the specimen notes, please feel free to post your comment here.

View all year 2000 millennium banknotes issued

Appreciate it if you please let me know if you find any broken links. Some of the images here were scanned with 100 dpi. These were done a long time ago, however I am not going to redo them again. Those latest scans are all done with 300 dpi.

14 February 2014

...Fiji - 2,000 Dollars Millennium 2000 Y2K 1111 Commemorative Issued in 1999

This commemorative note was issued in 1999.

Two Thousand Dollars

Dated 2000, P103

Obverse: Portrait of the President of Fiji, the late Ratu Sir Kamisesse Mara (1920-2004, President of Fiji 1993-2000). Special serial numbers from Y2K 0001 to Y2K 2000;

Reverse

Reverse: The sunrise of the millennium event and the 180 degrees Meridian Line running through the three locations in Fiji of Rabi, Udu Point and Taveuni;

If you collect the 2000 Millennium notes, then you will have to agree with me that this has to be the icing on the cake for all the Millennium banknotes issued. The release of this note (together with others) was first announced by the central bank on 22.09.1999. Fiji, back in the year 2000 was then the first country to see the new Millennium (now Samoa Western) and this note, together with the $2 note (1 million pieces printed), $5 Silver coin (mintage 10,000) and $50 gold coin (mintage 2,500) were specifically issued to celebrate this special occasion. The special about this Fiji $2000 note is that this is the highest face value of all the millennium notes issued. In fact, the value of this note is higher than all the face value of all other millennium notes issued combined. A total of 2000 pieces were issued for this denomination with serial numbers ranging from Y2K 0001 to Y2K 2000, and with such a low print, there is only one solid serial number note in this series. Obviously, you would agree with me that the best note to have is either the first note or the last one for obvious reasons. I have a feeling that these two notes are in the hands of VIPs in Fiji. In some countries, it's quite common that such notes are presented to VIPs as gifts or souvenirs, such as the Governor, President, Prime Minister etc. If you managed to get hold of such notes, then you are a very lucky person.

In all, 16 countries/commercial banks had issued commemorative banknotes to celebrate the new Millennium. Most countries celebrated the millennium with one or two notes, however full sets were released by Belarus and Slovakia. In all, a total of 39 millennium notes were issued. This Fiji $2000 is quite a large note measuring 110mm x 201mm.

It is unlikely that you will ever see this note in circulation in the country. This is the highest denomination ever printed, and the current largest denomination in circulation is the F$100, which was first introduced in 2007. In addition to this, most people in the country may not be even aware of the existence of such notes either. This note was sold at a premium, and who wants to spend it at face value? However, my experience has told me that specially issued commemorative notes have been sighted in circulation in the past and this could only be due to ignorance or desperation or even on purpose (like taking revenge on a not so loved one). Touch wood, not me!

My friends, please note that I have discounted all other notes issued in the year 2000 as those were not specifically meant for the Millennium commemorative. Despite being printed with the year date 2000, these were only issued due to either by public demand or depletion of stock. Some were printed due to the uncertainty of the Y2K bugs, which may cause the shut down of the banking electronic systems. In 1999, Australia printed a large quantity of the $50 and $100 to counter the possibility of such an attack which we all now know that this did not happen. These were the only 2 notes Australia printed in 1999 and none were printed in 2000.

View all year 2000 millennium banknotes issued