According to an article on the Jamaica Information Service dated 19 June 2012, the Bank of Jamaica has unveiled a new family of banknotes commemorating the country’s Golden Jubilee. Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, said the notes are not only being launched to celebrate the 50th year of Jamaica’s political independence, but “we are also witnessing the launch of a new generation of banknotes.
“The 2012 commemorative banknote series consist of five denominations – $5,000, $1,000, $500, $100, and the $50 note, with modifications to their original design. The modified design includes the Jamaica 50 logo superimposed on the watermark on the front of each note,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the unique image, which is normally on the reverse side of each note, has been replaced by a photograph of a group of children from Central Branch Primary School, from 1962. “That serves to depict the national motto, out of many one people. It formally appeared on the back of the $2.00 note, which was in circulation from 1969 to 1994,” Mr. Wynter said.
He added that the integrity of the commemorative banknotes has been protected, as the security features are the same as those on the regular banknotes. The new notes will circulate alongside the old notes, and both series are legal tender. “We expect the public to accept them with the same level of confidence that is associated with the regular banknotes,” the Governor said.
The notes bear the signature of the Governor of the Bank of Jamaica, Brian Wynter, are dated 06.08.2012, and will be released into general circulation on 23 July 2012. Currently, Jamaican banknotes are printed on a cotton material which has a relatively short useful life in the country’s tropical climate and other circulation conditions, but the new notes will come on enhanced substrates.
$100 on Hybrid
The 100-dollar (US$1.15) banknote, the most widely-used denomination, is printed on a material known as Hybrid, made by the German security paper manufacturer, Louisenthal, a subsidiary of the Munich-based technology company, Giesecke and Devrient GmbH. Hybrid is a combination of protective polyester film layered around a cotton fibre core. The cotton core will continue to be embedded with the usual security features, such as the watermark and security thread, to ensure that the banknote remains secure against counterfeiting. The combined weight and thickness of the finished material is the same as that of conventional banknote paper, that is, 95 grams per square metre. The polyester film in Hybrid makes banknotes more durable and the notes stay clean longer and remain firm even in extreme circulation conditions. Hybrid therefore, improves soiling resistance while continuing to give the same touch and feel as notes printed on only cotton.
Varnished Cotton for $1000, $500 and $50
To enhance the durability of these denominations, the $1000, $500 and $50 notes are printed on a varnished cotton substrate, that is, the traditional cotton treated with a varnish after the notes have been printed. Varnishing creates a moisture -proof layer to protect the banknotes against surface soiling and reduces the extent to which they will absorb moisture, contaminant particles and microorganisms.
$5000
The $5000 (US$57) denomination remains on regular cotton substrate as the main security thread, Optiks, is compatible only with the cotton-based material.
Courtesy of Claudio Marana and TDS.