...Fiji - Flora And Fauna Series Reprints - Governor Faizul Ariff Ali

  Republic of Fiji

 

Reserve Bank of Fiji

(Established 1983)

Currency - Dollar (FJD)

 

Below are the first two known reprints of the Flora and Fauna series which was first introduced in 2012. Whilst the Reserve Bank had issued banknotes with the current governor signature's Faizul Ariff Ali since he took office on 11.09.2017, this is the first time that his signature appeared on Fijian banknotes that was issued not as commemorative series. These are the only two normal circulating notes known to us that have the current governor's signature, and it is not sure if other denominations have been printed, and are waiting to be released.

 

The $100 was released in 2022, and I believe the $5 polymer was issued in early or mid January 2023. The $5 note is still the first and only polymer banknote issued in Fiji.

Five Dollars (Polymer)

Kulawai (Red-throated Lorikeet)

Front - To the left is a Kato ni Masim (native Fijian salt basket), to the center right is a Kulawai (Red-throated Lorikeet) bird resting on a tree branch. This is a very rare and the smallest member of the parrot family found in Fiji. This is so rare that the last sighting was back in 1993. It appears that the arboreal ship rats called Rattus rattus are the main culprit. I believe the Kulawai is the national bird of Fiji. The country Coat of Arms is printed on the top right-hand corner. The prefix for this series commences with FFB.

Dimensions - 136.5mm x 68mm

Watermark (see-through window - image of an i-Taukei man

Back - on the top left-hand corner is Mount Valili situated on the island of Vanua Leva. On the center left is Fiji's endangered Crested iguana and the Balaka palm. The Masiratu flower is printed on the center right.

Crested iguana and the Balaka palm

One Hundred Dollars (Paper)

Fijian cicada

Front - Buli kula (Golden Cowrie) to the bottom left corner and Nanai (Fiji cicada). Fiji has the richest fauna of cicadas in the southwest Pacific with 19 species. The cicada is a noisy creature that can call out all night thus sometimes can be ignored. The prefix for this series commenced with the letters FFB. Previous issue was printed with FFA.

Dimensions - 157mm x 68mm

Watermark - Image of an i-Taukei man and the value 100

Back - Smiling faces of tourism workers and entertainers showing their friendliness. The map of Fiji Islands with the 180 degrees Meridian Line marking the dawn of a new day. A cruise boat for island hopping on the top right, a couple of tourists snorkeling, and the Reserve bank's Coat of Arms on the bottom left corner.

Tourism workers, map of Fiji, cruise boat