In Other News…

• The Bermuda Monetary Authority’s (BMA) new $5 polymer banknote has won the International Bank Note Society’s (IBNS) Bank Note of the Year Award for 2024.

Designed and printed by De La Rue on SAFEGUARD® polymer substrate, the banknote incorporates innovative security features including an ARGENTUM™ tuna fish and Enhanced GEMINI™ patterns that appear under ultraviolet light. The note, issued as part of the BMA’s ‘Same look, Smarter design’ campaign emphasising the increased durability and security of Bermuda’s currency, was among the first to feature a portrait of King Charles III.

The new polymer note has a half window that is fully and partially transparent, depicting a cloudy sky and an underwater scene viewable from both sides.

Surrounding the window, security features such as ILLUMINATE™ and ROTATE™ are fully integrated into the iridescent ink design of waves, multiple fish, and a sun, which appear when the notes are tilted.

With almost 100 new banknotes released worldwide during 2024, only 21 were deemed of sufficiently new design to be member nominated. Almost from the onset of voting the Bermuda $5 note was the overwhelming favourite among the 2,000 IBNS members eligible to vote.