The New Eastern Caribbean Dollar Banknotes 2026: History, Design, and Collector Value

On July 9, 2026, in Basseterre (St. Kitts and Nevis), the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) publicly unveiled the design of its new banknotes (known in technical numismatic terms as the "currency series"). This marks the most significant and historic update to the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$) since its inception. For the first time in the currency's history, the banknotes will no longer feature the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, making way for national heroes and prominent figures from the eight countries that comprise the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU). This is not an isolated commemorative note, but a complete series of four new denominations that will gradually replace the current banknote family, making it one of the most relevant emissions in Caribbean numismatics in decades.

If you are interested in the new Eastern Caribbean dollar banknotes 2026 for your collection or investment, at Iberoamericana Banknotes we have been closely following this issuance since its official presentation. Given that this is a phased launch with a circulation schedule yet to be fully confirmed, we are managing pre-orders for customers interested in acquiring the complete set as soon as it becomes available. Please contact us by email or WhatsApp to be notified with priority.

Historical Context: From Royal Portrait to Regional Heroes

The decision to replace Queen Elizabeth II on the Eastern Caribbean banknotes is not a sudden one: it dates back to the 105th meeting of the ECCB Monetary Council, held on July 21, 2023, where the replacement of the image of the British monarch, present on the EC$5, EC$10, EC$20, EC$50, and EC$100 banknotes for decades, was formally approved. Following that decision, the Council tasked the ECCB with conducting public consultations between July and December 2023, which confirmed strong popular support for the idea of the new banknotes featuring national heroes and nation builders.

As ECCB Governor Timothy N. J. Antoine explained during the presentation: "Recognizing that the currency belongs to the people of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union, the Monetary Council invited the public, through the Central Bank, to help shape this new chapter in our shared history." Antoine had announced in February 2026 that the change would be "a very important step to replace the image of the British monarch with regional figures, our heroes," calling it a "historic step to strengthen regional identity" and confirming that the introduction would be carried out in phases.

Design of the New Currency Series: A Tribute to Eight Nations

The new banknote series is comprised of four redesigned denominations, each of which pays tribute to two prominent figures from different ECCU countries. For the first time, the series also incorporates an element common to all banknotes: the ECCB logo surrounded by the flags of the eight ECCU member countries (the logo of the Union itself).

EC$100 Banknote:

• Sir William Arthur Lewis, Nobel laureate in Economic Sciences.
• Sir John George Melvin Compton (Saint Lucia).

EC$50 Banknote:

• Sir K. Dwight Venner, former ECCB Governor (1989-2015).
• Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw (Saint Kitts and Nevis).

EC$20 Banknote:

• Sir Vere Cornwall Bird Snr (Antigua and Barbuda).
• Dame Mary Eugenia Charles (Commonwealth of Dominica).

EC$10 Banknote:

• William Henry Bramble (Montserrat).
• James Ronald Webster (Anguilla).

EC$5 Banknote:

• Robert Milton Cato (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines).
• Sir Kirani James (Grenada), Olympic athlete.

With this composition, each of the eight ECCU territories (Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) is represented on at least one of the four denominations, in an exercise of regional balance rarely seen in world numismatics.

This new series of banknotes does not come out of nowhere: in 2024, the ECCB had already tested the concept of replacing the royal portrait with national figures with the commemorative EC$50 circulation banknote for Grenada's Golden Jubilee of Independence, presented by Governor Antoine in February of that year. That banknote, printed on Safeguard polymer, included iconic Grenadian images, two serial numbers (one horizontal fluorescent and one vertical magnetic), and a tactile relief in the shape of a triangle for visually impaired people, and served as a test bed for much of the technology that the new complete series of banknotes is expected to incorporate.

Polymer: The Substrate of the New Series

The ECCB is not new to this: since 2019, the central bank has already had its entire family of circulating banknotes (EC$5, EC$10, EC$20, EC$50, and EC$100) printed on Safeguard polymer, in collaboration with the British printing company De La Rue, under the motto "Cleaner, Safer, Stronger." The ECCB was, in fact, the first central bank in the Caribbean to issue a complete family of polymer banknotes, an achievement recognized with the Reconnaissance International Regional New Banknote Series Award.

The new series of banknotes featuring the national heroes of the ECCU will also be manufactured on polymer, thus continuing the technology already consolidated by the ECCB for more than half a decade.

Implementation Schedule

According to the ECCB, the introduction of the new banknotes will be carried out using a phased approach, with the first set of banknotes entering circulation starting in 2027. The July 2026 presentation corresponds only to the official design of the new series; the central bank has not yet published a detailed schedule of issue dates by denomination, print runs, responsible printing company, or serial numbering, data that we will update in this article as soon as the ECCB makes them public.

Numismatic and Collector Value

Several factors make this series one of the most relevant issuances for collectors of Caribbean numismatics in the coming years:

1. Unprecedented historical break — This is the first time the Eastern Caribbean dollar has done away with the image of a British monarch in its entire history as a common currency.
2. Complete series, not an isolated piece — Unlike most commemorative issues, here the four main denominations are renewed at once, which opens the door to collecting the complete set from its first printing.
3. High regional symbolic value — Each banknote directly connects with the identity of specific ECCU countries, which increases the interest of specialized collectors in each of the eight territories.
4. Documentable transition phase — The predictably progressive coexistence between banknotes featuring Queen Elizabeth II and the new designs will offer collectors a particularly interesting period to follow the denomination-by-denomination replacement.

At Iberoamericana Banknotes, we will closely follow each phase of this issuance and publish availability as soon as the ECCB confirms specific circulation dates.

Why is it Important for Collectors?

The presentation of this new series of banknotes marks a historic milestone in Caribbean numismatics:

• First renunciation by the Eastern Caribbean dollar of the image of the British monarchy since its creation.
• Complete series of four denominations, not an isolated commemorative issue.
• Direct result of an unprecedented public consultation process in the region.
• Uncommon issuer in Western numismatic catalogs, which reinforces the attractiveness of this series for collectors specializing in the Caribbean and the Commonwealth.

Why Reserve this Currency Series at Iberoamericana Banknotes?

• Guaranteed authenticity as soon as the series goes into circulation.
• Direct and personalized attention for tracking this phased issuance.
• Secure and discreet international shipping.
• Specialized support for collectors of Caribbean and Commonwealth banknotes.
• Reservation priority for customers who contact us in advance.

Don't miss the opportunity to acquire the first series of Eastern Caribbean dollar banknotes without the image of Queen Elizabeth II, a milestone that will mark a before and after in regional numismatics. Contact us by email or WhatsApp to be notified as soon as the ECCB confirms circulation dates.