Currencies do reflect a country's history. For those whose currencies reflect the current head of state, they are faced with the problem of having to reissue new bills when the government is changed. In 1996, as Col. Yahya Jammeh was sworn in as President of the Gambia, this problem also became history. The new bills do not carry the face of the new head of state. Instead, all four denominations (D5, D1O, D25, and D50) have faces of the typical Gambian citizens, consistent with the new government's pledge to work for the citizens and residents of the Gambia.

The dalasi, the currency now used in the Gambia, was introduced at the end of the British colonial era when the new republic gained independence. During the regime of Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, the currency was changed twice. The first one bearing his face was introduced in the aftermath of independence on February 18, 1965. At that time, there were three denominations-D5, D10, and D25. With the second change in the late eighties/early nineties, the D50 was also added. The bills currently used were introduced by the Central Bank on September 5, 1996.

More discussion of the currency transition over three periods will be done by looking at the changes of D25 bill. On the face of the first one is the portrait of Sir Dawda Jawara and a boat on the River Gambia; the back has two men and a milling machine in front of a tree. This note was 155mm x 9Omm. The second depicts Sir D.K. Jawara and the Carmine Bee-eater; the back shows the State House in the capital, Banjul. It was dark blue and multicolor and its dimensions were 144mm x 75mm. The third, now in use, is greenish blue and multicolor and of the same size as the previous one. It shows a Gambian man and the Carmine Bee-eater, the back also carries a picture of the State House. The note bears the signatures of the governor and the general manager of the Central Bank, Momodou Clark Bajo and Junkung Bayo respectively.

The State House is the official residence of the president. It was built in colonial days and was the abode of the governor of the Gambia. Then known as the Government House, it became the residence of the Governor General following Independence before republic status was attained. The

Carmine Bee-eater is a bird seldom seen within 50 miles of the sea but mostly encountered in open country scattered with trees. Its entire head is black with green metallic reflections. Apart from the nimp and the vent which are pale blue, the remaining plumage is carmine red. The central tail features extend as much as 3 inches beyond the rest of the tail.

The notes feature several modern security devices. They are in beautiful multicolors different for each denomination. The notes have crocodile watermarks, metallic threads with microprinting repeating "The Gambia" and additional microprinting above and below the title of the bank. The microprinting repeats "Central Bank of the Gambia." Also the notes have both horizontal and vertical serial numbers. The 25 dalasis note has an additional security feature: a security pattern imbedded into the note's paper which is only observable from its face. It is a repeating pattern of geometrical diamondlike structures.

The new D5 note is red and multicolor. On the anterior is a young Gambian girl and the Giant Kingfisher-a mostly grey-brown bird with wings and tail spotted white, the largest of the known African Kingfishers and can be seen traveling singly or in pairs around the vicinity of lakes and streams. The posterior bears an agricultural scene in the Gambia. It is 132mm x 69mm. The new D1O is green and multicolor. On it is a young Gambian boy and the Sacred Ibis. In outline, this bird is similar to the curlew but is much larger and is usually seen in small flocks in muddy and shallow water. The rear shows the earth satellite station at Abuko. Its dimensions are 138mm x 72mm. The violet blue and multicolor D50 features a Gambian woman and two birds. It also features the stone circles at Wassu in the Central River Division. These stone circles have been identified as burial grounds and are more than 1200 years ago. It measures l5Omm x 78mm. The only difference between these notes and the previous ones is the replacement of the ex-president's face by people who represent the entire populace. It is only very fitting that birds are depicted on all the new Gambian notes. The Gambia is the orinthologist's dream come tru~ more than 400 bird species have been idenfified.

References:
Birds of The Gambia, The Second Hundred.
Compiled by T. Simms and 0. Andrews. Q969)