Antarctica Banknotes
Welcome to the Antarctica banknotes page! Here you will find
all seven current Antarctica banknotes.
Security Features: There are numerous aesthetic and security-related features on
every Antarctica banknote. The most obvious security feature is the unique
serial number printed on each note. No two banknotes will ever have the same
serial number. Also somewhat noticeable is the denomination printed in the upper
left corner on the reverse (back side) of each note. This number is "metal
stamped" (printed in a sort of gold-colored foil). Another security feature
is the scrambled indicia on the right side of the reverse (back side) of each
note. The $2 through $100 notes are also printed on high-quality paper (the $1
note is not, however). Although some images below do not show these features (ie.
they are blank or white in the security area), all banknotes that you order WILL
have all of these listed features.
You can read more about Antarctica banknotes at
the bottom of this page.
I also have sets of 1996
Antarctica banknotes and specimen notes
available.
Antarctica One Dollar
The
one dollar note is the most popular Antarctica banknote. It has images of
penguins on both sides. The face of the note shows penguins on Peterman Island,
while the reverse shows diving Adelie Penguins on Paulet Island.
Antarctica Two Dollars
The
face of the two dollar note shows two penguins in a rocky area. The reverse has
faint facial images in the flag area below Mount Erebus. This is in
commemoration of New Zealand Air Flight 901, which was a tourist flight that
crashed into Mount Erebus in 1979 with no survivors.
Antarctica Five Dollars
The
five dollar note features Roald Engelbregt Amundsen (1872-1928) on the face and
an albatross on the reverse.
Antarctica Ten Dollars
The ten
dollar note features Captain Robert Falcon Scott (1868-1912) with a grave in the
background and a quote from him ("Great God! this is an awful place... for
God's sake look after our people!"), along with a reproduction of his
signature ("R. Scott") on the face. The reverse shows a map of
Antarctica and indicates the locations of various scientific and research
stations.
Antarctica Twenty Dollars
The
twenty dollar note is the only one that has the reverse side with a vertical
image rather than a horizontal one. Attention: This note is
no longer available from the AOEO, and there is only ONE left in my stock. For
this reason, the price has gone up.
Antarctica Fifty Dollars
Pictures
a scientific base on the front, and a flag and dog sled/camp scene on the back.
The back also has a quotation from a treaty related to Antarctica.
Antarctica One
Hundred Dollars
The
$100 note is the only note that has a seal on the front as an extra security
feature. (Note: This banknote looks much more bright and has more vibrant colors
in actuality. This image does not do justice to the banknote!)
Also available is a 1996 set of Antarctica banknotes (no
longer being issued and no longer able to be redeemed). You can get the entire
set of 1996 banknotes for $286, including postage!
Information
about redeeming your Antarctica banknotes
All banknotes have instructions for redemption on the reverse.
Here is the information directly from the $1 and $2 notes: "On presentation
and surrender of this document, THE ANTARCTICA OVERSEAS EXCHANGE OFFICE LTD.
will refund the bearer one United States dollar at anytime up to midnight
December 31st, 2008. This is a separate series to which different seigneurage
terms apply. Box 61, Custer WA 98240. Antarctic@uniserve.com.
Redemptions paid upon receipt by mail." The other notes have these same
terms, but the deadline is midnight on December 31st, 2010. If you have any
questions about this, please feel free to ask.
Redeeming your banknotes in Antarctica
According to
David J. Hamilton, "We encourage you to buy and use your Antarctican notes
in transactions between collectors or on your next visit to Antarctica.
Representatives of the territorial governments now in Antarctica may not
recognize these notes, even in Antarctica, so please ask first before attempting
to use them in a transaction on Antarctica." Source: Antarctica Banknote Informational Brochure. Antarctica
Overseas Exchange Office.
Antarctica
banknote history
"From day one, the aim of this project has been to raise
funds for Antarctican research and humanitarian projects. Fully 80%* of all
proceeds from the sale of these notes will be donated directly to organizations
seeking such funding; only 20% will be retained by the company to cover
marketing costs and other administrative expenses.
"D.J. Hamilton first had the idea to produce a series of
commemorative, collectible notes for Antarctica in 1992. Since then, he has been
in contact with various Antarctic institutions, security printers, photographers
and designers, culminating in the birth of the Antarctica Overseas Exchange
Office Ltd....
"You may redeem [Antarctica banknotes] at any time for the
full face value, before the six year expiry date lapses. We encourage you to buy
and use your Antarctican notes in transactions between collectors or on your
next visit to Antarctica. Representatives of the territorial governments now in
Antarctica may not recognize these notes, even in Antarctica, so please ask
first before attempting to use them in a transaction in Antarctica."
Source: Antarctica Banknote Informational Brochure. Antarctica
Overseas Exchange Office.
*For the more recent (1999 and 2001) issues, at least 50% of the
lower-value note proceeds will be donated to such organizations.
Related
links
New Zealand Wine
Post "The New Zealand Wine Post is the Official issuer of the
postage stamps of the World's Most Southern Winery." This website is pretty
neat! It has all sorts of unique Antarctica-related stamp and philatelic items,
which they issue themselves. There are also a ton of links to other sites
concerning Antarctica. There are some really neat stamps, which would be fun to
display alongside your Antarctica banknotes!
Antarctica Post
A site related to the one above. The best description of this site comes from
the site itself:
"Since 1987 New Zealand has abandoned its claim in
Antarctica. And no longer is there a Post office or polling booth there. There
is no Government run mail service from New Zealand across the great South
Ocean to Antarctica. Antarctica Post mail is exclusively sent from the South
Pole Station to Dunedin New Zealand, where it is packaged and sent to your
address. Antarctica Post is concerned only with providing special postal
services to and from Antarctica- as defined by the Antarctic Circle."
As you can see, it's based in New Zealand, but it's still
available to those outside New Zealand. Just think, you could own a piece of
postal history that's been to Antarctica!
Last Updated 10/24/2006
© Stacy M. Knutson | 
