2019-01-14 Mon

Papua New Guinea, in the southwestern Pacific, encompasses the eastern half of New Guinea and its offshore islands. A country of immense cultural and biological diversity, it’s known for its beaches and coral reefs. Inland are active volcanoes, Granite Mt. Wilhelm, dense rainforest and hiking routes like the Kokoda Trail. There are also traditional tribal villages, many with their own languages.

Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, including mineral and renewable resources, such as forests, marine, and in some parts agriculture. The kina is the official currency of Papua New Guinea and is divided into 100 Toea. The kina was introduced on 19 April 1975 and circulated along with the Australian dollar until 1 January 1976, when the dollar ceased to be legal tender.

On 19 April 1975, notes were introduced for 2, 5 and 10 kina that replaced the Australian dollar at par, so the colour scheme was the same. Today, we are looking at a 5 Kina banknote issued in the year 1975. The note specifications are as follows:

The obverse has the Bird of Paradise - National Emblem symbolising National Unity. Spear and carved "hourglass" drum. The patterns surrounding the numerals are based on designs of a slaughtered pig. On the reverse are featured items of traditional Papua New Guinea "Currencies": Hombuli mask which is used for bridal payments in the Sepik area; Kina shell necklace woven with seeds found in the New Ireland Province. The background tints for this design have been composed of: Parliament House design; Northern Province Tapa cloth; Milne Bay shield tortoise shell bracelets from the Huon Gulf area. The patterns used to surround the numerals are based on a mask design together with an illustration of a bird.

Image Courtesy: https://www.banknotes.com/