ECCB’s commemorative $2 bank note featuring Sir Viv wins awards from two prestigious international currency associations
A commemorative bank note featuring Antigua and Barbuda’s cricketing
legend and icon, Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards, has earned the Eastern
Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) two global awards.
The ECCB received the awards for its $2 commemorative bank note, which
was launched in Antigua and Barbuda on December 1 last year, in celebration
of the Bank’s 40th anniversary
The regional institution captured the 2023 “Bank Note of the Year” award
from the International Bank Note Society (IBNS). It also snagged an award
for “Best Limited Circulation/Commemorative Banknote” from the
International Association of Currency Affairs (IACA).
Reports say the $2 note was selected by the IBNS from a pool of almost 100
newly designed and widely circulated banknotes released in 2023.
The Central Bank says that notes from 15 countries representing three
continents – Africa, Asia and South America; five island-nations; and the
Middle East were nominated. However, according to IBNS, the EC$2 note was
the overwhelming favourite from the onset of voting.
For the IACA award, two other notes were selected as finalists in this category.
ECCB Governor Timothy Antoine, speaking on “ECCB Connects,” the Bank’s
weekly video programme, said these two awards encourage the management
and staff to work even harder to serve the people of the currency union.
He notes, too, that the $2 note is the very first issued by the Central Bank
without the image of the British monarch. Instead, Sir Vivian’s portrait is
prominently displayed on the note.
The ECCB designed and produced the commemorative note in collaboration
with its currency partner, De La Rue. The note features the latest in currency
security and innovation and celebrates the region’s heritage.
Richards is a legendary, former West Indies cricketer who is affectionately
known in the cricketing world as “The Master Blaster.” He is Antigua and
Barbuda’s only living National Hero.
The award-winning note is available at commercial banks throughout the
Eastern Caribbean Currency Union.
