Rio Heroes notes and coins to be unveiled tomorrow
The Reserve Bank of Fiji yesterday confirmed that the commemorative circulation banknote and coin commemorating Fiji Rugby 7s gold medal win at the Rio 2016 Olympics will be officially unveiled by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama at 7pm on Thrsday at the Grand Pacific Hotel, Suva. Governor Barry Whiteside said that these will be legal tender banknotes and coins. However, given that these will be truly iconic banknotes and coins in terms of their designs, form and other features, it is expected that they would fast become collectors’ items and would be rarely seen in circulation. It is expected that people would keep them as souvenirs.
These banknotes and coins will always hold a special place since they celebrate Fiji’s first ever Gold medal win at an Olympic event, a victory that was celebrated nation-wide by all Fijians as well as those abroad. Work on the banknote and coin began in August 2016, immediately after the Fiji Rugby 7s team won the Gold medal.
A lot of hard work has gone into this, not only by the Reserve Bank of Fiji but also by suppliers of this note, namely Oberthur Fiduciaire, a note printer based in France, and by the Royal Canadian Mint, working around extremely tight deadlines.
Governor Whiteside said that design and production works which usually take a good 12 to 18 months has been achieved in 8 months, with truly remarkable results.
“We are pleased that we are able to deliver to all Fijians a high quality banknote and coin that would mean a lot to many Fijians and an inspiration to aspiring sportsmen and women as well as our children”. Governor Whiteside said that only a limited number of this commemorative banknote and coin have been produced.
They will be issued through commercial bank branches from 21 April 2017, while special numismatic collector sets will be available through the Reserve Bank.