Central America and Caribbean

Until a few years ago, the East Caribbean Central Bank issued notes for its members and identified which island they were intended for by way of a letter overprint or a suffix letter at the end of the serial number. Anguilla issues were unusual because the map of the islands which was part of the design did not name Anguilla on the earlier 1988 issue but did on the issues of a few years later. We offer two varieties of the bright red East Caribbean 1 dollar designated for Anguilla. The first had the overprint of a capital U in a circle in the front of a note issued for St Vincent with a V suffix letter (P17u) The second, issued a few years later names Anguilla in the island group map to the right of the Queen’s portrait. The suffix is a letter U (P21u) We can offer both varieties in Crisp Uncirculated but quantities are limited.

Aruba 5 florins 1990 P6 Mauve on white. Modern design with turtle/ Design Unc

Bahamas 3 dollars nd (1984) P44a Red on white facing portrait Queen Elizabeth II at r' Regatta Unc

These Uncirculated 5 dollars from the Bahamas are dated 2013 (P72A) The front has a portrait of national hero Sir Cecil Wallace Whitfield to the right with a map of the islands , a statue of Christopher Columbus and a gold foil outline of Columbus’ ship the Santa Maria to the centre. The back celebrates the famous Junkanoo Dancers who traditionally perform a street parade on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day . Crisp Uncirculated.

Crisp, Uncirculated Fifty Cents Notes from the Bahamas (P-New) These haven’t long been issued and are quite stylish. They are printed on a strengthened substrate. A mature portrait of Queen Elizabeth appears on the front alongside a map of the island and a flower. The back printed in vertical format features a portrait of Sister Sarah in the market with additional vignettes of basket ware. Uncirculated.

Cayman Islands 1 dollar nd (2011) P-New Blue Facing mature portrait Queen Eliz II at r and tropical fish at l/ Rocky cliffs Unc

The Cayman Islands is one of the few countries outside the British Isles still issuing banknotes with the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. This Caribbean destination is known for being, amongst other things a diver’s paradise and a home to many exotic creatures. We offer here Crisp Uncirculated examples of the 5 dollars first issued in 2010. Features a facing mature portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the front, a marine turtle and a pair of parakeets.

Prior to 1972, the Cayman Islands used Jamaican Currency. In 1971, a law was passed initiating a Cayman Islands currency. These 1 dollar bills issued by the Cayman Islands Currency Board are amongst the first to be issued. We know this because they all have the prefix A/1. They are in Uncirculated condition. (P1a.) The front boasts a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Anthony Buckley. In it she is shown wearing the Queen Alexandra Kokoshik Tiara, the Queen’s Festoon necklace and various Royal Family Orders, pinned to the Riband of the Order of the Garter. On the back, a typical underwater coral reef vignette is depicted. Crisp Uncirculated.

Crisp Uncirculated 1 dollar notes from the idyllic Caribbean island nation of the Cayman Islands. They are dated 1974 but were actually issued in 1985 (P5) The front features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II wearing a diamond necklace and tiara. The back reflects the fabulous underwater life found in the islands. Coral and tropical fish are the central illustration.

Costa Rica is another country, which has decided to issue its banknotes on polymer. From this particularly attractive series, dated 2018 but only issued late last year ,we offer Uncirculated examples of the 2000 colones (P-New) This is a lovely note and in no small way because of the design on the back which features a Bull shark swimming among coral with a starfish and turtles also illustrated. The front has a map of the country in SPARK and a portrait of Mauro Fernandez Acuna . He was a 19th century politician and lawyer. Books are shown to his left and a view of Colegio Superior de Senoritas building in San Jose, which he helped found. Uncirculated.

These 20 pesos Specimen notes were issued by Cuba in 1964. (P97) The portrait of Camilo Cienfuegos is on the front while on the back we finda depiction of the disembarkation from the yacht Granma in 1956. On board were 82 fighters intent on overthrowing the regime of Fulgencia Batista to initiate the Cuban Revolution. Batista predicted where the fighters would land and sent helicopters and planes to attack the group. 62 were killed but among the survivors was Fidel Castro and as they say the rest is history. The yacht, which soon became an icon for Cuban communism can now be seen in the Museum of the Revolution in Havana. Crisp Uncirculated 20 pesos 1964 Specimen at just £8.95 each

Cuba 100 pesos 1958 P93a Pink and black on cream. Aquilera at centre/ Shield in orange panel, Unc

In recent times, Cuba has issued a series of higher value notes. This 500 pesos, dated 2022, features a portrait of 19th century Cuban Revolu-tionary Ignacio Agramonte.(P-New) He played an important role in the Ten Years War. He was killed in the Battle of Jimaguayu by a stray bullet at the age of just 32. On the back, we find a view of the Meeting of the Assembly of Guimaro on April 1869 gathered round a table with Carlos Manuel de Cespedes amongst others. Uncirculated.

Red banknote on multicoloured underprint. Ernesto "Che" Guevara at centre. On the back "Che" cutting sugar cane. Specimen with blue MUESTRA overprint twice on each side. A wonderful set of specimen notes with the iconic portrait of Che Guevara.

Dominican Republic 1 peso nd P126a Black, brown and yellow on white Duarte at r/ Aerial view of sugar factory Unc

The East Caribbean Bank has made the transition to polymer. From this new series in polymer, we offer Uncirculated examples of the 10 dollars (P-New) A facing portrait of Queen Elizabeth II is on the front alongside an illustration of a hummingbird hovering over a flower. The back depicts a view of Admiralty Bay in the Grenadines, the sailing sloop The Warspite and a map of the island chain that makes up the East. Caribbean. Uncirculated.

The East Caribbean Central Bank has been changing from paper and now issue their banknotes on polymer. From this new series, we offer uncirculated examples of the polymer 5 dollars (P-New) Printed vertically in a vibrant green a mature facing portrait of Elizabeth II dominates the front with a hummingbird below. On the back, the impressive Trafalgar Falls in Dominica are featured alongside a vignette of Admiral’s House in Antigua and Barbuda. Uncirculated.

Guatemala has flirted with issuing polymer banknotes and this 5 quetzales dated 2010 is one of the few. (P122) The front features a portrait of General Justo Rufino Barrios who was President of Guatemala between 1873 and 1885. The back has a schoolroom scene and celebrates the introduction of free primary education. Uncirculated polymer 5 quetzales

Crisp Uncirculated examples of the Mexico 1 peso dated 1970 (P59l). This is densely engraved by the American banknote Company. The front is dominated by a rendition of the circular Aztec Sun Stone or Calendar. The back in a vibrant red has at its centre the independence monument in Mexico City known as the Statue of Victory. Uncirculated.

Every year, The International Banknote Society awards a new issue banknote its prize of Banknote of the Year. In 2020, this prestigious award was given to the polymer Mexico 100 pesos which was issued as part of a series celebrating Mexico’s history and its natural heritage (P-New). What a note it is! It is printed in a vertical format with a portrait of 17th century Hieronymite nun, Juana de Asbaje on the front. She was a poet, composer, and outspoken philosopher and represents Mexico’s colonial history under the Spanish. The charming design on the back shows Mexico’s temperate forest ecosystem with pine, oak and oyamel trees and a view of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Michoacan de Ocampo. Completing this little marvel, there are see-through security panels of an archway and a butterfly and the denomination 100 in gold SPARK Live. Award-winning Mexico Polymer 100 pesos 2020 in Uncirculated.

Another denomination has been issued in the new series of Mexican banknotes. This time it’s the 50 pesos and like the 100 and the 20 which we have already offered, they are printed on polymer in a vertical format. The theme is Old Mexico. The front has an illustration of the city of Tenochtitlan from Diego Rivera’s mural. An eagle on cactus is from a fragment of the monolith Teocali de la Guerra Sagrada. The back highlights the ecosystem of lakes and rivers with a Mexican salamander featured. Uncirculated.

Mexico 50 pesos 1981 P73 Blue on white Juarez at r and facade of building./Carved Aztec fugure Unc

Mexico 500 pesos 1983-4 P79 Green. Madero at l/Aztec frieze and Calendar Unc