Southeast Asian country unexpectedly wins the award for the world's most beautiful banknote

The Philippines' 1,000-piso polymer note has been voted the world's most beautiful banknote of 2022, according to the announcement of the International Banknote Collectors' Society (IBNS).

The Philippines' 1,000-piso bill was voted the world's most beautiful banknote in 2022. Photo: CNN Philippines.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the central bank of the Philippines, said it is the first Philippine banknote to win the award, beating notes from economies such as Algeria, Barbados, Egypt, Northern Ireland and Scotland, the Manila Times reported.

IBNS appreciated “the successful design of the Philippine banknote with its beautiful blue color that incorporates an endangered animal and an environmental theme.”

One of the requirements to participate in the IBNS vote is that the banknote must be issued for the first time to the public in the year of the award, must have artistic value and/or innovative security features and must be widely circulated.

Previous winners include the 2021 Mexican 50 peso note, the 2020 Mexican 100 peso note and the 2019 Aruba 50 florins note.

The reverse side of the 1,000-peso polymer note features the Philippine eagle and the national flower, sampaguita. Meanwhile, the front features the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, T'nalak weaving of the T'boli people and South Sea pearls.

The new 1,000-peso notes will be in circulation starting in April 2022. Printed by Note Printing Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Australia's central bank, they replace the old design that depicted Filipino heroes Jose Abad Santos, Josefa Llanes-Escoda and General Vicente Lim, according to CNN Philippines.

Polymer money is said to last 2.5 to 4 times longer than regular paper money and can be cleaned more easily.

Southeast Asian country unexpectedly wins the award for the world's most beautiful banknote

A £100 note honouring Bank of Scotland doctor Flora Murray. Photo: Bank of Scotland.

Each year, IBNS invites members in 60 economies to nominate newly designed banknotes that have been issued during the year.

Following the Philippines' 1,000-piso note in this year's ranking is the Ulster Bank (Ireland) 50-pound note.

In third place is the £100 note honouring Bank of Scotland doctor Flora Murray.

BBC on June 1 quoted a spokesman for the Bank of Scotland expressing pride that the Scottish polymer £100 note honoring the outstanding work of Dr. Flora Murray was among the most beautiful coins of IBNS.

The spokesman asserted that in addition to being a pioneer in the medical field, Dr. Murray devoted her life to fighting for women's rights.

Southeast Asian country unexpectedly wins the award for the world's most beautiful banknote