Papua New Guinea marked its 50th Anniversary of Independence and the 50th Anniversary of the Kina and Toea with the launch of a commemorative K50 banknote and 50 toea coin, while also announcing plans for a new K100 note honouring the late Sir Julius Chan to be released in 2026.
The commemorative currency was unveiled on 28 and 29 August in a series of events led by Prime Minister James Marape and Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG) Governor Elizabeth Genia.
Commemorative K50 Note and 50 Toea Coin
The K50 note retains the image of Parliament House and the portrait of the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, with the addition of a golden 50th Anniversary emblem featuring the Raggiana bird of paradise in flight. The 50 toea coin maintains its seven-sided shape and national crest, now with a coloured inlay of the national flag.
The launch ceremony at the Stanley Hotel in Port Moresby on 29 August brought together Prime Minister Marape, Governor Genia, Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko, members of government, diplomats, business leaders, international partners and the families of Papua New Guinea’s founding statesmen.
In his keynote address, Prime Minister Marape said the release was a moment of national pride. “Currency is more than money, it is a symbol of identity, culture, and nationhood. For fifty years, the kina and toea have told our national story. This commemorative issue honours our journey as a sovereign nation and the resilience of our people,” Marape said.
He acknowledged the leadership of the nation’s founding fathers, particularly Sir Michael Somare and Sir Julius Chan, noting their central role in establishing the financial foundations of the new nation in 1975.
“Sir Julius embodied discipline, hard work, and humility in service to our nation. His contribution to the foundations of our economy will never be forgotten. It is fitting that his image will appear on our K100 note as a permanent reminder to future generations,” Marape added.
Sir Julius Chan Commemorative K100 Note for 2026
Governor Genia confirmed that the K100 commemorative banknote featuring Sir Julius Chan, PNG’s first Finance Minister and later Prime Minister, will be released in 2026.
“The new design celebrates our currency history and trading spirit, a fitting recognition of Sir Julius as our first Finance Minister and as a nation-builder who placed Papua New Guinea in the world,” she said.
Genia also paid tribute to the nation’s other founding leaders, including Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare and Sir Henry ToRobert, PNG’s first Central Bank Governor. “Fifty years ago, the notes and coins represented the first heartbeats of our nation. Today they are the backbone of our economy,” she said.
She reminded the public that when the kina was first introduced it was pegged at equal value to the Australian dollar and circulated alongside it until the end of 1975, with confidence in the new currency quickly growing among farmers, smallholders and businesses.
“The names themselves, kina (pearl shell) and toea (small trade shell), reflected ancient systems of value and exchange. By choosing these names, our leaders embedded culture into the heart of our economy. Every kina and toea carries our heritage into the modern economy,” Genia added.
Looking ahead
The BPNG said the commemorative K50 note and 50 toea coin officially entered circulation on 29 August 2025, while full details of the Sir Julius Chan K100 note will be released closer to its 2026 launch.
Genia reaffirmed the Central Bank’s priorities during the commemorative events.
“We will sustain price stability, manage exchange rates responsibly, and expand access to financial services to all Papua New Guineans. This is not just economic housekeeping. It is the unfinished business of independence. From now on, may every kina and toea carry our pride and our promise,” she said.
As the country prepares to celebrate its 50th Independence Anniversary in September, the commemorative notes and coins are expected to serve both as a means of exchange and as symbols of national pride.
Prime Minister Marape urged citizens to embrace them as reminders of unity and vision.
“May this currency inspire us to work harder for the prosperity of our country, as our founding fathers did fifty years ago. May God bless Papua New Guinea,” Marape said.
