IBNS Banknote of the Year

The IBNS Banknote of the Year award is an initiative of the IBNS to recognize an exceptional banknote issued each year.

IBNS Members can nominate a Banknote for the award by contacting the Banknote of the Year Co-Ordinator (banknoteoftheyear@theibns.org). Banknotes nominated must have been issued to the public (specimens and non-circulating currencies are inelligble) for the first time during the year of the award, and must have artistic merit and/or innovative security features, and be in general circulation. When nominating a note, please provide your reasons for nomination, and if possible, a scan of the front and back of the note. Nominations for the award will be accepted up to the 31st January of the following year. For full terms & conditions of the award, please see here.

Once nominations have closed, the winner will be decided by a vote of the IBNS, who will consider the artistic merit, design, use of colour, contrast, balance, and security features of each nomination.  The winner will be announced at the the first IBNS Board meeting of the year.

Bermuda's 5-Dollar Note voted 2024 IBNS Bank Note Of Year

The International Bank Note Society (IBNS) announces that its voting membership has for the second time selected the Bermuda Monetary Authority to receive its annual prestigious “Bank Note of the Year Award” for 2024.

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 favorite.

The Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) “Oscar winning banknote” was printed by De La Rue on polymer substrate (Safeguard). The front of this predominantly pink note with purple highlights features a blue marlin, dolphins and tuna fish as well as a profile of new monarch King Charles III. The back of the vertically designed note combines butterflies, flora, Horseshoe Bay, and a boat passing beneath Somerset Bridge.

The note was issued as part of the BMA’s “Same look, Smarter design” campaign which emphasized the increasing durability and security of Bermuda’s currency.  Although there is no watermark or security thread, other advanced security features include an Argentum tuna fish and enhanced Gemini patterns visible under UV light.  The tactile markings help the visually impaired to easily identify the note which is signed by Donald Scott (as Chairman) and Karel Van Hulle (as Director). 

Banknote of 2025 Nominations

Do you know of a Banknote which will be introduced into circulation in 2024 that has

Then why not nominate that note by email to banknoteoftheyear@theibns.org including your IBNS Membership number and if possible, a scan of the front and back of the note.

Previous IBNS Banknote of the Year Winners