The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) has unveiled redesigned banknotes that honour the heroes, heritage and achievements of the eight member countries of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU), marking a historic shift in the region's currency.
According to Antigua News Room, ECCB Governor Timothy N.J. Antoine revealed the new designs at a ceremony held at the InterContinental Dominica Cabrits Resort in the Commonwealth of Dominica. For the first time, the banknotes will no longer carry the likeness of the late Queen Elizabeth II. In her place, distinguished national heroes and prominent figures from across the ECCU will appear on each denomination.
Antigua and Barbuda's own Sir Vere Cornwall Bird Sr. and Dame Mary Eugenia Charles are among the icons selected, and will feature on the new $20 banknote.
The $100 note will honour Nobel laureate in economic sciences Sir William Arthur Lewis alongside The Right Honourable Sir John George Melvin Compton. The $50 note features former ECCB Governor Sir K. Dwight Venner, who served from 1989 to 2015, and The Right Excellent Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw.
The $10 banknote features The Most Excellent William Henry Bramble and The Honourable James Ronald Webster, while the $5 note honours The Right Honourable Robert Milton Cato and Sir Kirani James, LLD (Hons).
The path to the redesign began at the Monetary Council's 105th Meeting on 21 July 2023, when the Council approved replacing the Queen's image on EC currency and directed the ECCB to conduct public consultations. Those consultations, carried out between July and December 2023, confirmed strong public support for featuring national heroes and nation builders on the new notes.
The ECCB described the new series as a significant step in the evolution of EC currency — one that honours the cultural diversity and enduring legacy of the people who shaped the Eastern Caribbean, while preserving the security, integrity and trust that have long defined the EC dollar.
