Caribbean Icons on Paper

The member countries of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines) will replace Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait with prominent Caribbean figures on future bank notes. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank’s (ECCB) monetary council first approved the change on July 21, 2023. Timothy Antoine, the governor of the ECCB, expects that group will reveal and make available the first set of notes in 2027.

Beginning next year, the ECCB will feature Grenada’s first Olympic medalist, Kirani Zeno James, on the $5. Born on September 1, 1992, James won the 400-meter race at the World Championships in 2011. He won the gold medal at the London Olympics the following year.