São Tomé and Príncipe — set of 5 banknotes 1996–2013
Complete set of the São Tomé and Príncipe banknote series, issued by the Central Bank of São Tomé and Príncipe fr om 1996 to 2013 (the last issues before the 2018 redenomination). Includes all main denominations in circulation during that period, printed by Thomas De La Rue on paper, with emphasis on national history, culture, and the archipelago's nature.
General series design On the obverse — portrait of Rei Amador (national hero, leader of the slave rebellion in 1595) on the right, coat of arms of the country in the upper center right, endemic bird on the left (different for each denomination). On the 100,000 dobras — portrait of Francisco José Tenreiro (20th-century poet and writer.
On the reverse — scenes of island life, bridges, towns, festivals, beaches, and cultural elements. Multicolored printing. The design highlights anti-colonial struggle, tropical fauna, and cultural heritage.
Security features (common to the series, with variations):
- watermark — portrait of Rei Amador (on all except 100,000, wh ere portrait of Tenreiro)
- solid security thread, visible on light
- microtext, intricate guilloche patterns
- fluorescent serial numbers under ultraviolet light
- see-through matching elements
The set is of interest to collectors of African banknotes from the late 20th – early 21st century, issues of small island nations, series with themes of anti-colonial struggle, endemic birds, and tropical landscapes.
