Country overview

Polymer overview

General information

Haiti S3R1, 50 Gourde note with the prefix letter C, has been issued in 1980 and is thus the first circulating polymer bank note in the world. All other Haitian polymer bank note denominations have been issued in 1982 or 1983.

Banque de la République d'Haïti (française)

History of Tyvek® bank notes

The beginning and the end of Tyvek® bank notes

Tyvek® bank notes of the Banque Nationale de la République d'Haïti

Haitian Tyvek® bank notes have been issued for the general circulation by the Banque de la République d'Haïti in 1980 and later. There are, however, proof notes known with the title of the Banque Nationale de la République d'Haïti. See Promotional notes / ABNC—Haiti for more information.

Fixed exchange rate to US Dollar

As explained on the back of each note, the notes are payable by the Banque de la République d'Haïti to the bearer at an exchange rate of 5 Haitian Gourdes per 1 US Dollar.

Bank notes

Issued in 1982 and 1983. An estimated 5 million S1R1 and 5 million S1R2 notes were printed.

Issued in 1982 and 1983. An estimated 9 million S2R1 notes were printed.

Refer to Promotional prints / Haiti propaganda for information on overprinted 2 Gourde notes.

Haiti S3R1 is the first circulating polymer bank note in the world. S3R1 was released in 1980 (until 1982), S3R2 was released in 1982 (until 1983). An estimated 1 million S3R1 notes and 3 million S3R2 notes were printed.

For Haitian 50 Gourdes Tyvek® bank notes with the title of the Banque Nationale de la République d'Haïti, refer to Promotional notes / ABNC—Haiti.

Changes from S3R1 to S3R2:

(1) signature change from Martineau-Berret-Lafontant to André-Nolte-Sannon;

(2) serial number prefix change from C to D, E, or F;

(3) serial number font change;

(4) serial number size (height) change from 3.5 mm to 4.5 mm;

(5) watermark omitted;

(6) red background patterns on obverse more defined and emphasised.

Haiti, 50 Gourdes, issued in 1980. This is the first polymer bank note in the world. Front: Louis Lysius Félicité Salomon Jeune (1815-1888), the President of Haiti from 1879 to 1888. He also served as a Minister of Finance in the 1850s. Salomon is best remembered for his lively enthusiasm to modernise the country. He implemented populist reforms, instituted Haiti's first postal and telegraph system, established the National Bank, and rural school system. He was reelected President in 1886, but left Haiti in 1888 because of widespread rebellion and attempted coups. He died in Paris the same year. Back: The Coat of Arms of Haiti.

Louis Lysius Félicité Salomon Jeune (1815-1888)

Issued in 1982 and 1983. An estimated 2 million S4R1 notes were printed.

Prefixes C, D or E appear on S4R1.

Haiti, 100 Gourdes, issued in 1982. Front: Henri Christophe (1767-1820). He was born as a slave on the island of Grenada. He fought in several wars and was made a General by Dessalines. Haiti was declared an independent republic in 1803 and was divided into two states; Christophe was elected President of the Northern State in 1807. His major concern in office was the defence of his country from internal and external aggression. His second priority was the education of his people. In 1811, he declared Haiti a kingdom with himself as King Henri I. He became the first black king in the Western hemisphere. Back: The Coat of Arms of Haiti.

Issued in 1982 and 1983. An estimated 100,000 S5R1 notes were printed.

Haiti, 250 Gourdes, issued in 1982. Front: Jean Jacques Dessalines (1758-1806). Born as a slave. His excellence in the battles against the French earned him a nickname Tiger. Dessalines was illiterate, but an excellent orator. He became leader of the revolution and, after defeating the French troops sent by Napoleon in 1803, he declared Haiti independent in 1804. He assumed the office of Governor General, but then declared himself Emperor of Haiti in 1805. He is also notorious as a genocidist who wiped out Haiti's white population. The national anthem of Haiti, La Dessalinienne, is in his honour. Back: The Coat of Arms of Haiti.

Jean Jacques Dessalines (1758-1806)

Issued in 1982 and 1983. An estimated 80,000 S6R1 notes were printed.

Haiti, 500 Gourdes, issued in 1982. Front: François Duvalier (1907-1971). Under his rule as President, the GDP and the living standard plummeted. Intellectuals and educated professionals fled Haiti in droves, creating a massive brain drain. Peasant land holdings have been confiscated, the miserable slums in Port-au-Prince swelled with the homeless and desperate country folk who fled to the capital seeking meagre incomes to feed themselves. Malnutrition and famine became endemic. He managed to bring an already poor nation into unimaginable poverty and misery as Haiti became the poorest country in the Americas. Back: The Coat of Arms of Haiti.

François Duvalier (1907-1971)