New $7 note and commemorative coin to be launched on Thursday

The new $7 note and commemorative coin to commemorate the Vodafone Fiji 7s team’s Olympic gold medal win will be launched on Thursday.

As earlier highlighted by Fijivillage, the Reserve Bank of Fiji has announced that the commemorative circulation banknote and coin will be officially unveiled by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama at 7pm this Thursday at the Grand Pacific Hotel.

The note and coin will feature the Olympic gold medal winning team.

Former coach Ben Ryan will also be at the official launch.

RBF Governor Barry Whiteside says 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. 

Whiteside says 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. 

Governor Whiteside says the design and production works which usually take a good 12 to 18 months has been achieved in 8 months, with truly remarkable results. 

He says they are pleased that they 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.

Only a limited number of this commemorative banknote and coin have been produced. 

They will be issued through commercial bank branches from this Friday.