The Reserve Bank of Fiji unveiled the complete family of Fiji banknotes printed on GUARDIAN™ polymer on 2nd December, marking the official transition of the $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 denominations. CCL Secure congratulates the Reserve Bank of Fiji on this milestone and applauds the decision to adopt polymer to improve durability, reduce lifecycle costs and support environmental objectives.
The Reserve Bank of Fiji has emphasised that the transition supports its long‑term currency management goals, including extending note life, lowering replacement costs and promoting Fiji’s biodiversity through durable, high‑quality banknotes. This full‑series launch follows the bank’s established review cycle for currency design and issuance and builds on the nation’s 2012 redesign that emphasised local flora and fauna.
Design
GUARDIAN is engineered to deliver extended circulation life and reduced replacement frequency. To optimise these qualities, the new notes retain the familiar colours of Fiji’s existing banknotes to avoid confusion, while incorporating accessibility features such as varied sizes, tactile lines and dot patterns for the vision-impaired.
The front of the notes continues to showcase Fiji’s flora and fauna, while the reverse has been redesigned to highlight national heritage:
FJD5: Features the endangered Vonu Dina (green turtle), one of the world’s few herbivorous sea turtles, symbolising the importance of biodiversity conservation.
FJD10: Depicts children planting mangroves — “climate heroes” that reduce carbon and protect coastlines — underscoring Fiji’s commitment to resilience against climate change.
FJD20: Showcases the Reserve Bank of Fiji building, now a prominent landmark in Suva and a symbol of national financial stewardship.
FJD50: Highlights a Girmitiya woman alongside the vessel Leonidas, recognising the enduring contribution of the Girmitiya community to Fiji’s development.
FJD100: Portrays an iTaukei gentleman in traditional attire holding a yaqona bowl, reflecting the yaqona vakaturaga ceremony and its cultural significance.
Security and collaboration
The new series incorporates advanced GUARDIAN™ polymer security features to provide strong counterfeit resistance while preserving Fiji’s vibrant designs:
Spot Colour: Distinctive coloured elements printed around the secondary window.
G‑SWITCH™: Colour‑shifting effects on the window, visible when the note is tilted — each note shifts to a different colour.
CAMEO™: Showcasing Fijian artifacts, visible through the window and adding depth to the design.
Shadow Image: A subtle shadow image of the iTaukei man embedded into the reverse of the note.
IRISWITCH™: Patterned bands at the top and bottom of the notes that reveal a pearlescent sheen when viewed at different angles.
It was a pleasure to collaborate with Crane Currency on the new series. This partnership underscores the effective cooperation between the Reserve Bank of Fiji, Crane Currency and CCL Secure, and highlights how GUARDIAN polymer works seamlessly with global printing expertise to deliver secure, high‑quality banknotes that reflect Fiji’s national identity. As Neil Sanders, Vice President and Managing Director of CCL Secure, noted: “We congratulate the Reserve Bank of Fiji on this landmark achievement. Moving the full banknote family to GUARDIAN polymer reinforces the bank’s commitment to durability, cost efficiency and environmental stewardship. We are proud to support Fiji and the Pacific region with a substrate designed for long service life and strong security.”
This launch marks Fiji’s first full family on GUARDIAN polymer, following the introduction of a single polymer $5 note in 2021. The transition is significant for Fiji and the Pacific region, joining Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.
CCL Secure is a global provider of polymer banknote substrate and security solutions for banknotes. GUARDIAN polymer is designed to extend note life, reduce lifecycle costs and enable advanced security features for central banks worldwide.