Republic of Fiji
Reserve Bank of Fiji
(Established 1983)
Currency - Dollar (FJD)
In 2017, the Reserve Bank of Fiji released a $7 commemorative note, celebrating the 2016 Rio Olympic Games Rugby 7s gold medal won by the team from Fiji. That was the first time the country had ever won a medal in any Olympic games and needless to say, a gold medal tops everything!
Fast forward 5 years, and in the 2021 Tokyo 2020 Olympic games, the Fijian team for men won the gold medal again, and this time, the women's team won their first medal - a bronze. Winning two medals in one Olympic games is Fiji's best ever performance and for these achievements, a new $7 commemorative note was released on 28.03.2022, celebrating these special occasions.
Like the 2017 $7 commemorative note, two million pieces were minted for this series too. According to the Authority, the quantity issued is to ensure everyone in Fiji has the ability to get them, and they are expecting most of these notes will be kept as souvenirs instead of placing it into normal circulations. The serial number of the note is printed with 6-digit and there are three prefixes printed, with FIJ, GFG and the replacement note of ZZZ. The 2017 issue was also printed with two million pieces, but for this 2017 series, the notes were printed with 7-digits and as such, only one prefix printed with AU (as in Gold) and the replacement prefix of AZ. The two prefixes of FIJ and GFG stand for FIJI and Go Fiji Go!
Like the previous 2017 $7 commemorative note, the design for the 2022 $7 note is completely new too. However, this time, the format printed is horizontal and not vertical. The main colour for these new notes are not the same either, changed from predominantly blue to brown (Bronze) on the front and yellow (Gold) on the back. Unlike the recent $50 2020 commemorative note issued, this note is printed on paper material and not polymer. The new note is also printed with Bioguard varnish, which has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties to the surface of the notes. It is also claimed that the Bioguard Varnish has been tested to provide an active protection against Covid-19.
The new notes are distributed by all commercial banks in Fiji at face value, however, the following are also made available and are sold as numismatic products to collectors at a premium: -
$7 Single note in folder @ F$25 (FIJ & GFG);
$7 Single note 2017 and 2022 in folder @ F$50;
$7 Single note Specimen @ F$50 (GFG888888);
$7 2-in-1 Uncut Sheet @ F$30 (ZZZ);
$7 2-in-1 Uncut Sheet Folder @ F$60 (ZZZ); and
$7 7-in-1 Uncut Sheet @ F$80 (GFG)
The new commemorative note was launched by the Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama on 26.03.2022 during the Marist Rugby 7s game tournament at the ANZ Stadium in Suva. The Fiji Barbarians won the Marist 7s tournament by beating the Police Blue 33-7.
Seven Dollars (Prefix FIJ)
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| Fiji Rugby 7s Women team members huddle during the Tokyo Olympics 2021 games |
Front - Fiji Rugby 7s Women team members huddle during the Tokyo Olympics 2021 games. The bronze medallion is printed on the left side of the note.
The note features the watermark of Ms Reapi Ulunisau with a rugby ball running. She competed in the women's Rugby 7s game at the Tokyo Olympics 2021.
Governor - Ariff Ali (appointed 11.09.2017)
Printer - Oberthur Fiduciaire France
Dimensions - 140mm x 67mm
Back - The Fiji Rugby 7s team singing the National Anthem after receiving their gold medals. On the left is the Captain Jerry Tuwai gesturing and thanking god and on the right is the National Coach Mr Gareth Baber in pensive thought mode. Baber took over the coaching role in 2016 and his role is now taken over by Ben Gollings since December 2021. The coach for the 2016 team that won their first Olympics gold was Ben Ryan. It would be interesting to see if the men's team can win again in 2024, in Paris, France. Ben Gollings's term is for 3 years, and he is expected to lead the team in Paris 2024. Just say this, but with no pressure, Ben! The women team is headed by coach Saiasi Fuli. No doubt that if the Fiji men team wins again. we would expect another banknote to commemorate this wonderful achievement. Again Ben Gollings, no pressure!
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| Fiji Rugby 7s team singing the National Anthem after receiving their gold medals |
Seven Dollars (Prefix GFG)
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| Fiji Rugby 7s Women team members huddle during the Tokyo Olympics 2021 games |
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| Fiji Rugby 7s team singing the National Anthem after receiving their gold medals |
Footnote:
Here I have only posted the two notes with the prefixes of FIJ and GFG. I will post the remaining series with the 2-in-1 uncut and the specimen note. However I will not post the 7-in-1 uncut as my scanner is not large enough to scan it without damaging the note.
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