From Corals to Cricket

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The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank’s (ECCB’s) new $2 commemorative banknote celebrates the currency union’s marine life and sporting legends.
The ECCB commissioned the note to mark its 40th anniversary in 2023.
The note is the ECCB’s first that does not feature the British monarch; the monarch remains head of state in all but one of the six nations and two overseas territories that use the East Caribbean dollar.

Artwork depicts sea turtles, brightly colored tropical fish, conch shells, and coral reefs alongside a portrayal of Sir Viv Richards playing a shot.
Security and design features combine to form a single scene showing hawksbill turtles and damselfish in a complex polymer window that spotlights the biodiversity of the archipelago’s reefs.
The ECCB worked with British company De La Rue, the world’s largest commercial printer of banknotes, on the commemorative bill.

The East Caribbean note won the International Bank Note Society 2023 Bank Note of the Year prize, selected from nearly 100 other candidates.
It was named best commemorative banknote by the International Association of Currency Affairs.
The note received a third award from High Security Printing Latin America.

The design aims to showcase the currency union’s exciting future, according to Camillo Gonsalves, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ finance minister.
At the launch in Antigua and Barbuda, ECCB governor Timothy Antoine said he hoped the new banknote would inspire people across the region to similar feats of fearlessness.

The banknote features Antiguan cricketer Sir Viv Richards, popularly known as the “Master Blaster.”
Career highlights cited:
- Helped the West Indies to victory against Australia in the 1975 Cricket World Cup.
- Achieved a similar World Cup victory against England four years later.
- Served as West Indies captain from 1984 to 1991.
- Led the West Indies in 50 test matches.
- Played a 17-year career without a helmet and remains the team’s only captain who never lost a series.

From Corals to Cricket — SALSA MAZLAN, F&D Magazine, December 2024.

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