Cayman Islands 1 dollar 1971

A 1 dollar banknote issued by the Cayman Islands Currency Board in 1971 — among the first banknotes of the new Caymanian currency. The Cayman Islands introduced their own currency in 1971 after separation from Jamaica, initially issuing banknotes in denominations of 1, 5, 10 and 25 dollars. The banknote was printed by Thomas De La Rue in England. The A/1 prefix indicates the very first issue — among the earliest ever released.

On the obverse — portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the right, the coat of arms of the Cayman Islands in the upper center, an open treasure chest on the left, denomination in the corners. The background is in blue tones on a multicolored underprint. The Queen’s portrait is based on the work of Anthony Buckley — she is depicted wearing the Alexandra Kokoshnik tiara, necklace and royal orders.

On the reverse — fish and a coral reef in the center, inscription at the top and denomination at the bottom.

Security feature — solid security thread and watermark with a turtle image.

The Cayman dollar was named a dollar due to its comparable value to the US dollar. The 1974 Currency Law pegged it to the US dollar at a rate of 1:1.2 — a ratio that remains to this day. The A/1 series banknote is a rarity for collectors, representing the very beginning of the monetary history of the Cayman Islands.