Commemorative banknotes

Commemorative banknotes are issued to mark an anniversary, a national event or a new millennium, often in small numbers and with unusual denominations.

Examples include Indonesia’s 75,000 Rupiah for 75 years of independence and anniversary notes from central banks around the world.

Most commemoratives are kept by collectors rather than spent, so this collection is mainly uncirculated.

History and frequently asked questions below ↓

About Commemorative banknotes banknotes

Central banks issue commemorative notes for anniversaries of independence, of the central bank itself, for royal events, sporting events such as the Olympics, or the turn of the millennium. Some carry odd denominations chosen to match the anniversary, like Pakistan's 75 rupees or Bangladesh's 60 taka. Many are legal tender but were printed in small numbers, so they rarely circulate.

See also: polymer banknotes, uncirculated banknotes and PMG-graded notes.

Frequently asked questions

Are commemorative banknotes legal tender?

Usually yes. Most are issued by the central bank as normal legal tender, although they are seldom spent because collectors keep them.

Why do some commemorative notes have strange values?

The value often matches the anniversary: 60 taka for 60 years of the Language Movement, 75 rupees for 75 years of Pakistan's central bank, 75,000 rupiah for 75 years of Indonesian independence.