Located just off the coast of north eastern Venezuela, the twin island nation, Trinidad and Tobago is in the limelight these days because of its $50 note that was re-released recently and earned the top billing award in this year’s competition convened by the International Bank Society (IBNS).
In partnership with the British banknote manufacturer De La Rue, the note has been designed to commemorate the 50th (golden) anniversary of the country’s Central Bank.
The $50 note shows familiar takes on its national symbols like its coat of arms, a red hibiscus flower, and a red capped cardinal bird, its wings fanned out like a palm tree. The back of the note portrays a smiling carnival dancer, collaged in front of the 22-story Central Bank and Ministry of Finance twin towers, which are the tallest buildings in the entire country.
The multi-coloured version is the modified design redo of the original olive-colored $50 mark released in 2012 to commemorate the country’s 50th anniversary.
Initially it was difficult to differentiate between the so-called “independence $50″, $5 (green) and $10 (grey) notes. “Senior citizens, in particular, experience difficulty identifying the $50 note,” explained the Central Bank in a published statement.
The Central Bank released the new and improved golden polymer notes last December, and it will go into wider circulation by June 2015.
Chosen by 2000 members of IBNS (International Bank Note Society), out of 30 new banknote designs released in 2014, the modified coloured note was adjudged the best followed by 5000 Franc note from the French Pacific Territories (Tahiti), and 10 Dinar bill from Kuwait.