Banknotes in circulation – Tonga

Official country name: Kingdom of Tonga

The Pa’anga is the currency of the Tonga since 1967 and is governed by the National Reserve Bank of Tonga. The Pa’anga is not convertible and is pegged to a basket of currencies including the Australian Dollar, New Zealand Dollar, US Dollar and the Japanese Yen.

1 pa’anga = 100 seniti; ISO code = TOP 776

31st July 2021, 1 USD= 2.31 pa’anga; 1 euro = 2.69 pa’anga;

Rare in circulation

1 Pa’anga P-37; B-212 Color: Green Dimensions: 150 x 70 mm Demonetized

Front: King George Tupou V; coat of arms.
Back: Whale leaping out of water; medallion.
Security thread : 1.4-mm windowed with demetalized NRBT.
Printer: De La Rue, London (England) - DLR.
Watermark: King George Tupou V, electrotype NRBT and Cornerstones.
Date: ND. Intro: 21.01.2009.
a. Prefix: A00001 - A958007. Sign 1.
b. Prefix: B577484 - B891850. Sign 2.

Signatures:

1. 2.
Feleti Vaka’uta Sevele / Siale ‘Ataongo Kaho, Lord Tu’ivakano /
Otenifi Afu’alo Matoto Lisiate ‘Aloveita ‘Akolo

2 Pa’anga (US$0.86; €0.74) P-38; B-213 Color: Light red Dimensions: 150 x 70 mm

Front: King George Tupou V; coat of arms.
Back: Children studying outside school building; two men playing rugby; medallion.
Security thread: 1.4-mm windowed security thread with demetalized NRBT.
Printer: De La Rue, London (England) - DLR.
Watermark: King Tupou, electrotype NRBT and Cornerstones.
Date: ND. Intro: 21.01.2009.
a. Prefix: A000001 - A605484. Sign 1.
b. Prefix: B275421 - B275802. Sign 2.

Signatures:

1. 2.
Feleti Vaka’uta Sevele / Siale ‘Ataongo Kaho, Lord Tu’ivakano /
Otenifi Afu’alo Matoto Lisiate ‘Aloveita ‘Akolo

5 Pa’anga (US$0; €1.86) P-39; B-214 Color: Purple Dimensions: 150 x 70 mm

Front: King George Tupou V; coat of arms.
Back: Langi; medallion.
Security thread: 1.4-mm windowed security thread with demetalized NRBT.
Printer: De La Rue, London (England) - DLR.
Watermark: King Tupou, electrotype NRBT and Cornerstones.
Date: ND. Intro: 21.01.2009.
a. Prefix: A000001 - A441144. Sign 1.
b. Sign 2.

Signatures:

1. 2.
Feleti Vaka’uta Sevele / Siale ‘Ataongo Kaho, Lord Tu’ivakano /
Otenifi Afu’alo Matoto Lisiate ‘Aloveita ‘Akolo

10 Pa’anga (US$4.32; €3.72) P-40; B-215 Color: Blue Dimensions: 150 x 70 mm

Front: King George Tupou V; coat of arms.
Back: Royal tomb; medallion.
Security thread: 2.0-mm red-to-green windowed security thread with demetalized NRBT.
Printer: De La Rue, London (England) - DLR.
Watermark: King Tupou, electrotype NRBT and Cornerstones.
Date: ND. Intro: 21.01.2009.
a. Serial: A000001 - A828705. Sign 1.
b. Serial: C420398 - C....... Sign 2.

Signatures:

1. 2.
Feleti Vaka’uta Sevele / Siale ‘Ataongo Kaho, Lord Tu’ivakano /
Otenifi Afu’alo Matoto Lisiate ‘Aloveita ‘Akolo

20 Pa’anga (US$8.65; €7.43) P-41; B-216 Color: Brown Dimensions: 150 x 70 mm

Front: King George Tupou V; coat of arms.
Back: NRBT building; medallion.
Security thread: 2.0-mm red-to-green windowed security thread with demetalized NRBT.
Printer: De La Rue, London (England) - DLR.
Watermark: King Tupou, electrotype NRBT and Cornerstones.
Date: ND.
a. Serial: A000001 - B261903. Sign 1. Intro: 21.01.2009.
b. Serial: C089211 - C089252. Sign 2. Intro: 2015.

Signatures:

1. 2.
Feleti Vaka’uta Sevele / Siale ‘Ataongo Kaho, Lord Tu’ivakano /
Otenifi Afu’alo Matoto Lisiate ‘Aloveita ‘Akolo

50 Pa’anga (US$21.61; €18.58) P-42; B-217 Color: Light green, yellow Dimensions: 150 x 70 mm

Front: King George Tupou V; coat of arms.
Back: Royal Palace building; medallion.
Security thread: 2.0-mm red-to-green windowed security thread with demetalized NRBT.
Printer: De La Rue, London (England) - DLR.
Watermark: King Tupou, electrotype NRBT and Cornerstones.
Date: ND. Intro: 21.01.2009.
a. Prefix: A000001 - A233296. Sign 1.
b. Sign 2.

Signatures:

1. 2.
Feleti Vaka’uta Sevele / Siale ‘Ataongo Kaho, Lord Tu’ivakano /
Otenifi Afu’alo Matoto Lisiate ‘Aloveita ‘Akolo

100 Pa’anga (US$43.23; €37.17) P-43; B-218 Color: Cherry red and white Dimensions: 150 x 70 mm

Front: King George Tupou V; coat of arms.
Back: Vava’u Harbor; medallion.
Security thread: Optiks security thread.
Printer: De La Rue, London (England) - DLR.
Watermark: King Tupou, electrotype NRBT and Cornerstones.
Date: ND. Serial: A000001 - A242601. Intro: 30.07.2008.
Signatures: Feleti Vaka’uta Sevele / Otenifi Afu’alo Matoto.

Current Banknotes

2 Pa’anga (US$0.86; €0.74) P-44; B-219 Color: Light red Dimensions: 150 x 70 mm

Front: King Tupou VI; coat of arms.
Back: Whale leaping out of water; medallion.
Security thread : 1.4-mm windowed with demetalized NRBT.
Printer: De La Rue, London (England) - DLR.
Watermark: King Tupou VI, electrotype NRBT and Cornerstones.
Date: ND. Prefix: A. Intro: 29.06.2015.
Signatures: Akilisi Pohiva / Aisake Valu Eke / Siosi Cocker Mafi.

5 Pa’anga (US$2.16; €1.86) P-45; B-220 Color: Purple Dimensions: 150 x 70 mm

Front: King Tupou VI; coat of arms.
Back: Langi; medallion.
Security thread : 1.4-mm windowed with demetalized NRBT.
Printer: De La Rue, London (England) - DLR.
Watermark: King Tupou VI, electrotype NRBT and Cornerstones.
Date: ND. Prefix: A. Intro: 29.06.2015.
Signatures: Akilisi Pohiva / Aisake Valu Eke / Siosi Cocker Mafi.

10 Pa’anga (US$4.32; €3.72) P-46; B-221 Color: Blue Dimensions: 150 x 70 mm

Front: King Tupou VI; coat of arms.
Back: Royal tomb; medallion.
Security thread : 2.0-mm red-to-green windowed with demetalized NRBT.
Printer: De La Rue, London (England) - DLR.
Watermark: King Tupou VI, electrotype NRBT and Cornerstones.
Date: ND. Serial: A000001 - B435867. Intro: 29.06.2015.
Signatures: Akilisi Pohiva / Aisake Valu Eke / Siosi Cocker Mafi.

20 Pa’anga (US$8.65; €7.43) P-47; B-222 Color: Brown Dimensions: 150 x 70 mm

Front: King Tupou VI; coat of arms.
Back: NRBT building; medallion.
Security thread: 2.0-mm red-to-green windowed with demetalized NRBT
Printer: De La Rue, London (England) - DLR.
Watermark: King Tupou VI, electrotype NRBT and Cornerstones.
Date: ND. Serial: A000001 - C057358. Intro: 29.06.2015.
Signatures: Akilisi Pohiva / Aisake Valu Eke / Siosi Cocker Mafi.

50 Pa’anga (US$21.61; €18.58) P-48; B-223 Color: Light green, yellow Dimensions: 150 x 70 mm

Front: King Tupou VI; coat of arms.
Back: Royal Palace building; medallion.
Security thread: Optiks.
Printer: De La Rue, London (England) - DLR.
Watermark: King Tupou VI, electrotype NRBT and Cornerstones.
Date: ND. Intro: 29.06.2015.
a. Serial: A000001 - A020865; w/ “Coronation of King Tupou VI” at upper back. Sign 1.
b. Serial: C970006 - C......; w/o “Coronation of King Tupou VI” at upper back. Sign2.

Signatures:

1. 2.
Akilisi Pohiva / Aisake Valu Eke / Siosi Cocker Mafi Akilisi Pohiva / Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa / Sione Ngongo Kioa

100 Pa’anga (US$43.23; €37.17) P-49; B-224 Color: Cherry red and white Dimensions: 150 x 70 mm

Front: King Tupou VI; coat of arms.
Back: Vava’u Harbor; medallion. With “Coronation of King Tupou VI” at upper back.
Security thread: Optiks.
Printer: De La Rue, London (England) - DLR.
Watermark: King Tupou VI, electrotype NRBT and Cornerstones.
Date: ND. Serial: A000001 - A021859. Intro: 29.06.2015.
Signatures: Akilisi Pohiva / Aisake Valu Eke / Siosi Cocker Mafi.

Commemorative banknotes

"Inauguration of National Reserve Bank of Tonga"
2009 Numismatic Products

20 Pa’anga (US$8.65; €7.43) P-30; B-201 Color: Brown and orange Dimensions: 150 x 70 mm

Front: King Siaosi (George) Taufa'ahau IV Tupou. Coat of arms. Commemorative overprint (Tongan) in watermark area "01 SIULAI 1989 - FOKUTU 'U PANGIKE PULE FAKAFONUA 'O TONGA".
Back:Tonga Development Bank building, Nuku'Alofa. Commemorative overprint (english) in watermark area "01 JULY 1989 - INAUGURATION OF NATIONAL RESERVE BANK OF TONGA" .
Security thread: Solid
Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited (England) - TDLR.
Watermark: King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV.
Date: 01 JULY 1989 Intro: 01.07.1989 Prefix: C/1
Signatures: Tu’i Pelehake / J. Cecil Cocker.

1-100 pa’anga P-NL; BNP201.
a. P-37; B212 - P-43; B218 (7 notes) with matching serial numbers in tri-fold album. Intro: May 2009.

Numismatic products – Collector series

1 pa'anga
2 pa'anga
5 pa'anga
10 pa'anga

1 Pa’anga PCS1; BNP101 Color: Green Dimensions: 150 x 70 mm

Front: King Siaosi (George) Taufa'ahau IV Tupou. Diagonal SPECIMEN overprint.
Back: Landscape. Diagonal SPECIMEN overprint.
Security thread: Solid.
Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited (England) - TDLR.
Watermark: None.
Date: 1st August, 1978. Maltese cross prefix. Intro: 30.08.1978.
Signatures: Selwyn Percy Jones / Tu’ipelehake / Sione Tapa.

2 Pa’anga PCS1; BNP101 Color: Red Dimensions: 150 x 70 mm

Front: King Siaosi (George) Taufa'ahau IV Tupou. Diagonal SPECIMEN overprint.
Back: Women making Tapa cloth. Diagonal SPECIMEN overprint.
Security thread: Solid.
Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited (England) - TDLR.
Watermark: None.
Date: 1st August, 1978. Maltese cross prefix. Intro: 30.08.1978.
Signatures: Selwyn Percy Jones / Tu’ipelehake / Sione Tapa.

5 Pa’anga PCS1; BNP101 Color: Purple Dimensions: 150 x 70 mm

Front: King Siaosi (George) Taufa'ahau IV Tupou. Diagonal SPECIMEN overprint.
Back: Ha'amonga stone gate. Diagonal SPECIMEN overprint.
Security thread: Solid.
Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited (England) - TDLR.
Watermark: None.
Date: 1st August, 1978. Maltese cross prefix. Intro: 30.08.1978.
Signatures: Selwyn Percy Jones / Tu’ipelehake / Sione Tapa.

10 Pa’anga PCS1; BNP101 Color: Blue Dimensions: 150 x 70 mm

Front: King Siaosi (George) Taufa'ahau IV Tupou. Diagonal SPECIMEN overprint.
Back: Royal Palace, Nuku'Alofa. Diagonal SPECIMEN overprint.
Security thread: Solid.
Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited (England) - TDLR.
Watermark: None.
Date: 1st August, 1978. Maltese cross prefix. Intro: 30.08.1978.
Signatures: Selwyn Percy Jones / Tu’ipelehake / Sione Tapa.

Other numismatic product

King Tupou VI set of 6 denominations 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 pa’anga with matching serial numbers.

History

The Pa’anga was introduced on April 3, 1967. It replaced the Pound at a rate of 2 Pa’anga = 1 Pound.
In September, 1974, the country’s first commercial trading bank, the Bank of Tonga, opened.
Until February 11, 1991 the Pa’anga was pegged to the Australian Dollar at par. Since then, it has been pegged to a basket of currencies and has steadily declined.

Terms of import and export of currencies

Currency Import regulations:
Local currency (Pa’anga-TOP) and foreign currencies: must be declared on arrival.

Currency Export regulations:
Local currency (Pa’anga-TOP) and foreign currencies: up to the amount declared on arrival. If the amount exceeds TOP 10,000.- or equivalent in foreign currencies, prior approval from the National Reserve Bank of Tonga is required.