Note and Coin News

The Bank of China and Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU) – Macau’s two note issuing banks – have introduced new 50 and 100 pataca (MOP) banknotes. They are the third and fourth notes in the new Macau series, following the issue of new MOP 10 and 20 notes last year.

Both versions of the notes retain the same denominations, sizes and overall colour schemes as their predecessors, but include new images and notably more modern designs, along with more advanced security features.

Those features, which are common to the notes from both banks, include colour shifting micro-optics security threads on the front (replacing the holographic windowed threads on the reverse of the previous series), and SPARK. For the BNU notes, the SPARK image is in the shape of a lotus flower (Macau’s national floral emblem) and for the Bank of China notes, a Southern Lion mask.

The design of the BNU versions of the banknotes, which was undertaken by De La Rue working closely with BNU and the Monetary Authority of Macau, is inspired by the history and evolution of Macau, showcasing the territory during different eras and generations. The iconic BNU building takes centre stage on the front. On the reverse, the notes narrate the evolving geography of Macau through a series of historical maps, each accompanied by a vessel from the corresponding era, reflecting Macau’s maritime history.