100 Pa'anga

Tonga's shift to a hybrid substrate for this series reflected a broader Pacific regional trend — several small island economies made the move around the same time, partly driven by the practical reality that polymer and hybrid notes survive humidity and handling far better than cotton paper in tropical circulation. De La Rue's hybrid product sits between full polymer and traditional paper, using a paper core laminated with polypropylene film layers, which gives it better durability than conventional substrate without requiring the full infrastructure changes that pure polymer demands.

P#49 is the higher denomination in a modest series, and high-value notes in small Pacific economies typically see lower circulation velocity — held, saved, or used for large ceremonial transactions rather than daily exchange.