On 18 August 2024, Trindad and Tobago announced plans to revise the island’s coat of arms for the first time since its creation in 1962 to remove references to European colonization. Christopher Columbus’ three ships — the Pinta, the Niña, and the Santa María — will be replaced with the steelpan, a popular percussion instrument that originated in the eastern Caribbean island. Due to the change in the coat of arms, the introduction of the revised 100-dollar note has been postponed until September 2025. The new note will also have a larger simulated windowed security thread, and the Bird of Paradise in iridescent ink in a larger see-through window with holographic elements.
Courtesy of Chris Huff and Capt. Albert Sydney.