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Sao Tome and Principe

Sao Tome and Principe banknotes are shaped by Rei Amador and a modern reform that unites island identity with polymer security and endemic life.

1982 | Dobra Issue

1989 | Dobra Issue

1996–2013 | Dobra Issue

2016–2024 | Dobra Issue

2020 | Dobra Issue

2025 | 50th Anniversary of Independence Commemorative Issue

Design & Visual Identity

Rei Amador, leader of the 16th-century slave revolt, remains the central visual anchor, appearing as portrait and watermark across successive issues, linking historical resistance with contemporary design.

The modern series introduces Safeguard® polymer on lower denominations, integrating transparent security windows with butterfly motifs rather than a single fixed species, embedded directly into the structure of the note.

Endemic fauna replaces generic imagery: the Principe kingfisher and Sao Tome shrew are rendered with controlled scientific detail, establishing biological specificity as a defining design principle.

Cacao pods and plantation scenes reference the islands’ “Chocolate Islands” identity, engraved in textured intaglio with clearly structured botanical forms.

Historical & Cultural Context

The 2018 redenomination (1000:1) created a clear structural division between legacy high-denomination issues and a modern, scaled currency system aligned with a euro-linked framework.

This reform introduced a more durable, visually precise series while preserving key national symbols such as Rei Amador and endemic biodiversity.

For Collectors

For collectors, Sao Tome and Principe stands out for the continuity of Rei Amador, the introduction of polymer notes with butterfly-shaped windows, species-specific island fauna, and a clean redenomination break, forming one of the most refined modern island series in Africa.

Quick Facts

Currency: Sao Tome and Principe Dobra

Issuer: Central Bank of São Tomé and Príncipe