Guyana’s Celebration of Independence

The Bank of Guyana has launched a new $2,000 banknote to mark the 55th anniversary of Guyana’s independence from the UK, in 1966.

The release, which was delayed by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, is the first Guyanese banknote to use polymer substrate.

The design of the multicoloured note incorporates themes that look to both the country’s past and its future and environment. Images include a map of Guyana and its natural resource, the Bank’s crest and the country’s national animal – the jaguar – on the front. The reverse features the slogan ‘One Guyana’ surrounded by the faces of children representing Guyana’s six ethnicities.

Security features built into the commemorative note, which will circulate alongside the rest of the Guyanese banknote family, include both a large and a small transparent window. The large transparent window features an image of the jaguar, whereas the secondary smaller window is overprinted with SPARK® with a rolling bar effect.

For accessibility, the note also includes TOUCH™, a tactile feature for the blind and partially sighted that was developed by Canadian Bank Note.

The note was designed, originated and printed by Canadian Bank Note on CCL Secure’s GUARDIAN™ substrate.

Its issue follows the release last year of a $100 circulation coin and a $10,000 commemorative coin to mark the anniversary. The former, produced by the Royal Canadian Mint, is the second coloured coin to be issued by the Bank.