Wednesday, 11 April 2018

694) Jamaica: 100 Dollar "Hybrid" Banknote issued by the Bank of Jamaica on 01.01.2014:

694) Jamaica: 100 Dollar "Hybrid" Banknote issued by the Bank of Jamaica on 01.01.2014:

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About Jamaica:

Jamaica is an island country located in the Caribbean Sea. Measuring about 11,000 sq. kilometres (or 4300 sq. miles) in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the fourth largest island country in the Caribbean.

It was previously inhabited by the indigenous Arawak and Taino people. The earlier indigenous name of this Island was "Xaymaca" (meaning the "Land of Wood and Water" or the "Land of Springs").

In 1494, it came under Spanish rule following the arrival of Christopher Columbus.

With the Spanish colonisation several African slaves were brought to this Island.

In 1655, England conquered this Island and named it "Jamaica". Under British Rule, the Island became a leading exporter of sugar. 

By 1838, all the slaves working on British plantations were freed, but continued to have subsistence farms (growing enough to feed them and their families, but little surplus) instead of working on plantations. 

By 1840s, Chinese and Indian indentured labour were brought to work on British Plantations.

On 06.08.1962, the Island gained its independence from British Rule.

With a population of about 30,00,000, Jamaica has several ethnic groups inhabiting it - Afro-Jamaican, Mixed, Indo-Jamaican, European, Chinese, Lebanese et al. The religion is predominantly Christianity, with almost one-fourth of the population following no religion. 

The country's capital is Kingston with a population of about 9,50,000.

Presently, Jamaica is a Comonwealth Realm. Its currency is the Jamaican dollar, subdivided into cents.

Early history of Jamaican Banknotes:

In 1904, the first government authorised Banknotes were issued in the denomination of 10 shillings, alongwith Banknotes of 1 and 5 Pounds by chartered banks.

In 1918, denominations of 2s 6d  (withdrawn in 1922) and 5s were issued. 

In 1940, the government issued 1 and 5 Pound Banknotes.

On 01.10.1960, the Bank of Jamaica was given the sole right to mint coins and issue Banknotes in Jamaica.

On 01.05.1961, the first Banknotes were issued by the Bank of Jamaica in the denominations of 5 s, 10 s, 1 and 5 Pounds.

About the Bank of Jamaica:

It was established in 1960 and started operations in May 1961, terminating the earlier Currency Board System which was in existence since 1939.

The Central Bank's establishment was in recognition of the need for an appropriately regulated financial structure to encourage the development process, particularly as Jamaica was about to embark on the road to political independence from the British Rule.

On 30.01.1968, the Jamaican Dollar was introduced replacing the Jamaican Pound.

On 08.09.1969, Banknotes of 50 cents (5 shilling, $1 (10 shillings), $2 (1 Pound) and $10 (5 Pounds) were introduced. The introduction of a decimal currency provided Jamaica with a complete Jamaican currency, as formerly, Jamaican coinage was the same as those used in the United Kingdom. The new Jamaican dollar differed from all the other dollars in the British West Indies in that it was essentially a half-pound sterling. All the other dollars were either based on the US dollar unit or the Spanish dollar unit.

On 20.10.1970, $5 Banknotes were introduced.

On 01.06.1976, $20 Banknotes were circulated. In the same year, 50 Cents Banknotes were replaced with coins.

On 02.12.1986, $100 Banknotes were issued.

On 27.07.1988, $50 Banknotes were circulated.

In 1990, the $1 Banknote was replaced with a coin.

In 1994, $5 Banknotes were replaced with coins. Also in the same year, $500 Banknotes were issued.

In 1999, $10 Banknotes were replaced with Banknotes.

In 2000, $20 Banknotes were replaced with coins. In the same year, $1,000 Banknotes were circulated.

On 23.07.2012, the Bank of Jamaica introduced a new family of Banknotes commemorating the country's "Golden Jubilee". The commemorative Banknotes are similar to its regular issue Banknotes, but on the Front, they feature the "Jamaica 50" logo superimposed on the watermark. On the Back, of each Banknote, the image was replaced by a photograph of a group of school-children from Central Branch Primary School from 1962.

These Banknotes are currently in circulation parallel  with the regular circulation issues.

About Jamaican Banknotes:

Jamaican Banknotes are issued in denominations of $50, $100, $500, $ 1,00 and $5,000.

The Banknotes are all of the same size (145mm x 68 mm).

Each note has a unique watermark, namely the portrait that is featured on the particular Banknote.

The serial number appears twice on the face of each Banknote, vertically to the left of the portrait and horizontally on the far right on the Banknote.

Each edition of the Banknote carries the date of printing and the signature of the Governor of the Bank of Jamaica.

Special symbols to aid the visually impaired persons appear on the Front of all Banknotes except $1,000 and $ 5,000. Instead, these high denomination/value Banknotes have their denomination printed in bold numerals to the bottom roght hand corner.

The Front of each Banknote bears a portrait of either a Jamaican National hero or a former Prime Minister, whereas local scenes and popular landmarks appear on the Back.

Printing material: Jamaican Banknotes are generally printed on a cotton material which has a relatively short life in the country's tropical climate and other circulation conditions, but the new Banknotes have been printed on enhanced substrates

For example, the 100 Dollars Banknote included in this post is printed on a material called "Hybrid", which is a combination of a protected polyester film layered on a cotton fibre core.

The $50, $500 and $1,000 Banknotes are printed on a varnished cotton substrate, that is, the traditional cotton treated with a varnish after the Banknotes 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 micro-organisms.

The 5,000 Banknote is issued on a regular cotton substrate as the main security thread, "Optiks" is compatible only with the cotton based material.

Thus, only the $100 Banknote issued by Bank of Jamaica on 01.01.2014 and the $50 Banknote issued on 24.03.2014 have been printed on the Hybrid Substrate, which makes this $100 Banknote included in this post quite interesting and unique.


Under the presently circulating Series, the following denominations have been issued:

$50 (Front: Samuel Sharpe, National Hero; Back: Doctor's Cave Beach, Montego Bay)

$ 500 (Front: Nanny of the Maroons; Back: Old Map of Jamaica highlighting Port Royal)

$ 1,000 (Front: Michael Norman Manley, ON OCC LL.D.; Back: Jamaica House)

The 100 Dollars Banknote from Bank of Jamaica issued on 01.01.2014, has been printed on Hybrid Substrate, instead of paper substrate and bears the following strengthened features:

On the Front of the 100 Dollars Jamaican Banknote is depicted a portrait of Sir Donald Sangster at left. Also  seen are images of Jacaranda or "Jackaranda mimosifolia" flowers, Map of Jamaica, the Jamaican Coat of Arms.

The serial number at right appears in a "wave pattern" with the last three digits set against a dark background using "LOOK" (Laser Originated Optical Key).

Blind Identification Features: On the right side of the Banknote are seen two vertical lines.

Sir Donald Sangster:

He was born on 26.10.1911 in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. After completing his studies in Law, he was admitted to the Court of Judicature in August 1937.

In 1949, he was elected a member of the House of Representatives and in 1950 he became a Minister of Social Welfare under the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). In the same year, he was elected the party's first Deputy Leader and in 1953 was appointed Minister of Finance.

In 1964, when Sir Alexander Bustamante, the then Prime Minister, fell ill, Donald Sangster acted in his position and eventually led his party to win the General elections and in February 1967 he became Prime Minister.

Sangster's tenure as Prime Minister was short-lived, as he passed away on 11.04.1967. He made a considerable contribution to the Commonwealth, race relations and the principles of parliamentary government.

In the centre are seen the Map of Jamaica & Jacaranda (Jacaranda Mimosifolia):

The Jacaranda family, native to South America, consists of more than fifty species of which J. mimosifolia is the most widely planted and admired. This deciduous tree grows very fast and likes fertile, sunny areas. The Jacaranda produces vivid lilac/purple-blue clusters of trumpet shaped blossoms, which appear in summer. The ferny leaves of the tree are reminiscent of those of the Mimiosa, thus its botanical name.

The Jamaican Coat of Arms


The Coat of Arms was first granted to Jamaica in 1661.

The present Coat of Arms was adopted in 1962.

Description:

Armiger - Elizabeth II in Right of Jamaica

Torse - Argent and Gules (Silver and Red)

Escutcheon - Argent on a Cross gules five pineapples slipped Or

Supporters: On the dexter side a West Indian Native Woman holding in the exterior hand a Basket of Fruits and on the sinister side a west indies Native Man supporting by the exterior hand a Bow all proper.

Interpretation: The supporters  are a male and female Taino Indian standing on either side of the shield, which bears a red cross with five golden pineapples superimposed on it. 

Crest: Upon a representation of the Royal Helmet  lambrequined Or doubled Argent, Upon a Log fesse wise a Crocodile Proper.

Interpretation: The Crest is a Jamiacan crocodile surmounting the Royal Helmet and Mantlings.

Motto: "Out of Many one people"

Interpretation: The original Latin motto "Indus Uterque Serviet Uni" ( meaning the "two Indians will serve as one" or "Both Indies will serve together", (standing for the collective servitude of the Taino and Arawak Indians to the colonisers) was changed to one in English, "Out of Many, One People", in 1962, the year of Jamaican Independence.

This is based on the lines of the US motto "E. Pluribus Unum" (meaning "Out of Many -One".

On the Back of the 100 Dollars Jamaican Banknote is seen the Dunn's River Falls with two climbers at right, and an Ackee fruit at left.

Dunn's River Falls:

Dunn's River Falls are located on the Dunn's River in Jamaica about one mile from the town of Ocho Rios, on the Northern coastline of Jamaica. At about 180 feet (or 55.0 metres high and 600 feet (180 metres) long, the waterfalls are terraced like giant natural stairs. Several small lagoons are interspersed among the vertical sections of the Falls.

Climbing the Waterfalls is a popular tourist activity. It takes about one hour to climb the Waterfalls. The Falls are bordered by lush green vegetation.

Dunn River Falls is one of the few "travertine" waterfalls in the world that empties directly into the Caribbean Sea at the Western end of a white-sand beach.

Ackee Fruit: is native to tropical West Africa and is an evergreen tree that grows about 10 metres tall. The fruit is pear-shaped. The fruit was imported to Jamaica from West Africa before 1778. Since then it has become a major feature of various Caribbean cuisines and is also cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical areas around the world. Its dried seeds, fruit, bark and leaves are also used for medicinal purposes.


Ackee is the National Fruit of Jamaica and Ackee and Salt-fish is the National Dish of Jamaica.

This Banknote has been printed by Giesenke & Devrient, the Banknote and Security paper printing major, whose name appears below the "One hundred dollars" inscription on the bottom of the Bank of the Banknote.

Other G & D's security features include:

Two security threads - one windowed with demetalised Bank of Jamaica "100". 

The watermark is of Donald Sangster, electrotype "100" and flower and Cornerstones.

The security features create laser-induced effects in the substrate, print colour, foil and varnish.

The Size of this Banknote is 145.0 mm x 68.0 mm.

Its Quality is Polymer Hybrid; Date of issue: 01.01.2014

Commemorative Banknotes:

On 24.09.2009, a $5,000 Banknote was introduced in general circulation bearing the portrait of Hugh Lawson Shearer, former Prime Minister of Jamaica.

On 15.11.2010, the Bank of Jamaica issued a $50 Commemorative circulating Banknote to celebrate the 50th Anniversary (Golden Jubilee) of its founding. The Banknote is similar in design and security features to its already circulating Banknote but bears the Bank's logo in blue, with the words, "50th Anniversary" and "1960-2010". printed above and below the logo. The Back of the Commemorative Banknote features the Bank of Jamaica's headquarters building in Nethersole Place set against the background of morning glory blossoms.




(The above 100 Dollars Banknote has come into my collection through the resources of Jayant Biswas. Post researched and written and Banknote scanned by Rajeev Prasad)



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