...The Falkland Islands - 2025 Polymer New Series Full Set Dated 14 August 2025

Falkland Islands

(British Overseas Territory)

 

Falkland Islands Commissioners of Currency

Currency - Pound (FKP) 

Here is a set of three notes all printed with the date of 14 August 2025. These three notes are all printed in polymer substrates and these are new series replacing the previous paper series first introduced in 1983 (£5 commemorative). The £50 denomination is not included in this new series as I believe this note is rarely used on the island and according to a local online news outlet, there is plenty of stock available for the £50 to last the demand for a long time before reprints are required.

All notes were released on 14.08.2025. This day is also the Falklands day where the people in the Falkland Islands celebrate the first sighting of the Falkland Islands on that day in 1592 by the English explorer, Captain John Davis. It should be noted that, and I believe, that this is not a public holiday for the Falklanders.

The Falkland Islands pound is pegged to the British sterling at par and as such the English pounds are widely accepted on the island, just like in Saint Helena, Gibraltar and the Channel Islands. However, I cannot say the same in the United Kingdom where the Falkland Islands pounds are widely acceptable. The Falkland Islands pound was first introduced in 1833.

Falkland Islands is a disputed territory as it is also claimed by the Argentinian government. It is believed that the Falkland Islands were uninhabited before the arrival of the Europeans in 1764. The British took over the islands in 1833 but Argentina maintains its claim to the islands. In 1982, a brief war was fought between the British and the Argentinians, after Argentina invaded the island on 02.04.1982 (and South Georgia on 03.04.1982). The war ended on 14.06.1982, after the Argentinian army surrendered. To the Argentinians, they called this territory as Islas Malvinas. Until today, this dispute is still unresolved. In 2013, a sovereignty referendum was held on the island and over 99+% of the residents wanted to remain with the British. This is not a surprise, after all, the majority of the people, if not all, are descendants of British subjects. Only 1,516 people voted with 1,513 voted for and 3 against, and 1 invalid vote and 1 blank vote. Falkland Islands is considered as one of the most remote places you can find in the world. However, it is not as bad as the Pitcairn Islands in the Pacific.

As this is a new series, the designs for all three notes are the same, except for the colours, and denomination values. Just like those previous series, the designs for all three notes on the front are all the same, and the same goes for the reverse too. I am not sure if this has anything to do with the cost of designing and manufacturing or simply just going for simplicity with the same design on all the notes. As expected, the notes are all printed with the portrait of the current British monarch, King Charles the III in military uniform. These are the first series of banknotes printed with King Charles III's portrait. 'However, Bermuda was the first nation outside the United Kingdom to issue banknotes with King's Charles portrait. A few other countries are going to follow suit, and one would expect territories like Jersey, Gibraltar and Guernsey to do the same when new banknotes are required. 

All notes are printed with tactile features in a shape to assist with those partially impaired.

£5 - Inverted triangle shape (14 dots); 

£10 - Square shape (16 dots); and 

£20 - Circular shape (12 dots) 

To a local news media in the Falkland Islands, this new series is known as - The two Kings, with King Charles printed on the front and King Penguins on the back. 

Just like the last issues of the £10 and £20 Series B dated 1 January 2011, all notes are also printed with the three signatures of the Commissioners of Currency. They are:- 

Rebecca Ross (Exchequer Supervisor)

Pat Clunie (Finance Secretary)

Stephen Cannon (Head of Finance)

 

Given a rather small population (3,788 people - 2023 estimated), I believe only one prefix has been printed for this series. However, I do not have any information as to how many pieces were printed, and given that this new series is printed on polymer substrates, I can only predict that between 100,000 or 200,000 pieces are printed, with the higher denomination printed less. I have not sighted and replacement prefix has been printed, but I am sure they are available.

Five Pounds 

Front - The portrait of King Charles the III, replacing the last Queen Elizabeth the II. King Charles III became the King of the United Kingdom following the death of his mother on 08.09.2022. Coronation for King Charles was held on 06.05.2023. In the middle background is the image of the map of the Falkland Island, and in the top left are five black-browed albatrosses flying. To the top right corner is the see-through window printed with the image of a King Penguin.

Date - 14 August 2025

Sizes - 135.5mm x 65mm

Back - Pale Maiden (flower) or Olsynium filifolium is the only species of the iris family native to the Falkland Islands.

Steeple Jason Island is a small island west of Grand Jason Island. This island is situated on the northwest of the Falkland Islands. The Steeple Jason Island was used for sheep grazing until the 1980s. Today, it is home to the largest colony of black-browed albatrosses in the world. Today, 70% of the global population of these birds breed in the Falkland Islands. Below the Pale Maiden are the five species of penguin.

Five penguins are printed in the bottom left. 

Below the wordings - The Government of the Falkland Islands, the following slogan is also added to the note - "Desire The Right" to the bottom right corner on all the three notes.

Ten Pounds 

Sizes - 135mm x 65mm 

Twenty Pounds

Sizes - 136mm x 65mm

Some interesting facts about the Falkland Islands

1) It has a rather small population of  3,788+/-;

2) All citizens are also considered as British subjects with the right to British residency;

3) No McDonalds, Tescos or Starbucks, nor any chain shops or restaurants;

4) Visitors have visa free visit for up to 30 days;

5) Flying into the island is via Chile;

6) Averaging detached houses costing £350,000+/- each;

7) Minimum wages £9.19 at at 01.01.2025, average income is £20,100; 

8) Only one pub, called The Rose Bar (corner of Rose Road - Dean Street);

9) Foreigners retirement is possible if financially independent; 

10) Most common food is mutton, a staple diet to the locals; 

11) No trees can be grown due to the weather and the unsuitable soil; 

12) Car speed limit in Stanley (capital) is 25mph and 40mph in other area; 

13) Temperature - Winter -5C and Summer 24C;

14) Main economy are tourism, commercial fishing and servicing the fishing industry.