Barbados’ Polymer Notes Named Best New Banknote Series

Barbados’ 2022 banknotes have come in for more praise. They were named “Best New Series” at Reconnaissance International’s Regional Banknote and ID Document of the Year Awards, which took place during the 2023 High Security Printing Latin America conference in Nassau, Bahamas in early June.

“We are thrilled to have been declared the top new series,” said Alvon Moore, Deputy Director (Ag.), Currency at the Central Bank of Barbados. “Our team worked diligently for more than two years to research and develop banknotes that were attractive, secure, and accessible, so it is very pleasing to see our efforts once again being rewarded.” In May, the Bank was recognised for its public education campaign for the new series.

The new notes are the first generation of Barbadian banknotes printed on polymer, a plastic substrate that, in addition to being more durable, allows banknote manufacturers to include stronger and more intuitive security features such as transparent windows. The Bank says that such features make the notes harder to duplicate but easier to authenticate. 

They also have raised marks that allow the visually impaired to differentiate between denominations. The specific markings on Barbados’ notes were chosen after consultation with the Association for the Blind and Deaf. Moore revealed that because of the change in material, these marks should last the lifetime of the bills.

“We really put our all into designing notes that are functional but at the same time visually appealing and representative of us as a nation. This award says that we have accomplished this.”