..Fiji - $5 ND2023 Polymer Specimen Note

  Republic of Fiji

 

Reserve Bank of Fiji

(Established 1983)

Currency - Dollar (FJD)

 

Further to my previous posting for the $5 and $100 notes signed by Bank Governor, Faizul Ariff Ali, below is the $5 polymer specimen note. It is not sure when this note was released, but I have a feeling that it was in early 2023. To date, Fiji has only issued a single polymer note for general circulation.

Just like the $7 commemorative 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games issue, the serial number for this specimen note is also printed with all 8s. Maybe the meaning of prosperity of 8888888 has gone into the mind of the authority of the Reserve Bank of Fiji. Whilst the specimen for the initial 2012 issue was printed with the prefix of FFA, this reprint specimen note is also printed with the same prefix, despite the normal prefix for the circulating issue being printed with the prefix letters of FFB.

 

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

Signature - Faizul Ariff Ali

Dimensions - 137mm x 67mm

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 Levu. 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

Five Dollars (with a control number)

Kulawai (Red-throated Lorikeet)

 

Dimensions - 136mm x 67.5mm

Crested iguana and the Balaka palm