Catalog
2 Dollars
| Issuer | Central Bank of Solomon Islands |
|---|---|
| Year | 1997 |
| Type | Standard circulation banknote |
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| Obverse description | The National Coat of Arms occupies the central vignette, flanked by a stylised bonito fish and a food bowl with two porpoises rendered in traditional Melanesian artistic style. To the right appears the bokolo, a stylised frigate bird historically used as currency, set against a fine guilloche underprint. The legal tender inscription runs along the lower register in letterpress. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
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| Reverse lettering | SOLOMON ISLANDS Two Dollars |
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| Comments |
The 1997 Solomon Islands 2 Dollar note was printed during a period of relative monetary stability that would not last — the ethnic tensions between Guadalcanal and Malaita islanders escalated sharply after 1998, culminating in a coup in 2000 that severely disrupted the Central Bank's operations and the broader economy. Notes from the late 1990s series circulated through that turbulence and show wear patterns accordingly.
Thomas De La Rue's involvement here is unexceptional for the Pacific region; they held printing contracts across most of Melanesia through this period.