St Helena issued its first polymer banknotes on January 22, 2026, replacing the paper currency that had circulated on the remote South Atlantic island for decades. The new series features a portrait of King Charles III in place of the late Queen Elizabeth II, and includes three denominations: £5, £10, and £20. Printed by De La Rue on SAFEGUARD polymer substrate, the notes bring enhanced security features and longer durability to the St Helena pound.
What Are the St Helena 2026 Polymer Banknotes?
The St Helena 2026 polymer banknotes are the first polymer currency issued by the St Helena Government, replacing the previous paper note series that featured Queen Elizabeth II. The three denominations (£5, £10, £20) entered circulation on January 22, 2026, following an official announcement on January 12 and a handover ceremony on January 16.
Work on the new series commenced in 2024. De La Rue, the British currency printing firm, partnered with the St Helena Government from the initial design phase through printing and shipment to the island. The notes use De La Rue's proprietary SAFEGUARD polymer substrate, the same material used by the Bank of England and dozens of other issuing authorities worldwide.
The transition carries dual significance. It modernizes the currency's physical substrate from paper to polymer, delivering improved durability and counterfeit resistance. It also updates the monarch's portrait from Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away in September 2022, to King Charles III, aligning St Helena's currency with the new reign.
The £1 note was discontinued and withdrawn from circulation with the introduction of this new series.
Design Details
All three denominations share a consistent design language while maintaining distinct color schemes carried over from the previous series.
Obverse (Front): King Charles III
Each note features a portrait of His Majesty King Charles III. The portrait is rendered in raised ink, creating a tactile element that serves both as a security feature and an accessibility aid. Official signatures appear alongside the portrait, also in raised ink.
Reverse (Back): Jonathan the Tortoise and St Helena Ebony
The reverse of all three notes features two icons deeply connected to St Helena's identity.
Jonathan the Tortoise is believed to be the oldest known living land animal on Earth. Born around 1832, Jonathan has lived on the grounds of Plantation House, the Governor's residence in St Helena, since 1882. His image on the currency reflects his status as a beloved national symbol and a global ambassador for the island.
The St Helena Ebony (Trochetiopsis ebenus) is an endemic plant species found only on St Helena. Once thought extinct, it was rediscovered in 1980 and has since been the subject of conservation efforts. Its inclusion on the banknotes underscores the island's commitment to preserving its unique biodiversity.
Visual Security Features
1. Clear window. Each note contains a transparent polymer window with an integrated coat of arms design. The window is visible from both sides of the note when held to light. This feature is impossible to replicate on paper and serves as the quickest way to verify authenticity.
2. Shimmer effect. When the note is tilted under light, a metallic shimmer moves around the clear window. The movement should be smooth and dynamic. A static or absent shimmer indicates a potential counterfeit.
3. Microtext. The denomination value is printed in extremely small text visible only under magnification. The characters should appear sharp and well defined. Blurred or irregular microtext suggests the note is not genuine.
4. Negative raised ink. The words "ST HELENA GOVERNMENT" appear when the note is held at an angle to a light source. The text is created using a negative relief technique that produces sharp, legible lettering.
Tactile Security Features
5. Raised portrait. The King Charles III portrait is printed in noticeably thick, tactile ink. Running a fingertip across the portrait should produce a distinct raised texture.
6. Raised signatures. The official signatures on the obverse are also printed in raised ink, providing a secondary tactile checkpoint.
7. Tactile denomination dots. Raised dots in the bottom right corner allow identification by touch. Each denomination uses a different geometric shape (square, triangle, circle).
Ultraviolet Security Features
8. UV fluorescent waves. Under ultraviolet light, wave patterns appear across the note in two distinct fluorescent colors. These patterns are invisible under normal lighting.
9. UV denomination block. A solid, brightly fluorescent block displaying the denomination value becomes visible only under UV light.
Why St Helena Switched from Paper to Polymer
The transition from paper to polymer addresses several practical challenges specific to St Helena's circumstances.
Durability in a humid climate
St Helena sits in the tropical South Atlantic, where humidity and moisture degrade paper banknotes faster than in temperate climates. Polymer notes are fully waterproof and resist the wear that shortens paper currency lifespan in island environments. Globally, polymer banknotes last 2.5 to 4 times longer than their paper equivalents.
Supply chain logistics
St Helena is one of the most remote inhabited islands on Earth. Replacing worn out banknotes requires shipping new stock thousands of miles by sea. Longer lasting polymer notes reduce the frequency and cost of these resupply shipments.
Counterfeit resistance
The clear window, shimmer effects, and layered optical features possible on polymer substrate are significantly harder to reproduce than the ink and watermark combinations used on paper notes.
Global alignment
St Helena joins a growing list of British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies using polymer currency. The Bank of England completed its own polymer transition with the £50 note in 2021. Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar, and the Falkland Islands have also adopted polymer banknotes in recent years.
Recyclability
At end of life, polymer notes can be granulated and repurposed into non-currency plastic products, offering a more sustainable disposal path than paper notes.
Are Old St Helena Banknotes Still Valid?
Yes. The St Helena Government has confirmed that all existing paper banknotes remain legal tender. Old and new notes circulate side by side, and no merchant or institution may refuse the older paper notes.
The Bank of St Helena will gradually withdraw older and damaged paper notes as they are received through normal banking operations. There is no forced exchange deadline or expiration date for the paper series.
The £1 note is the one exception. It was discontinued with the launch of the new polymer series and is being withdrawn from circulation.
For visitors arriving on St Helena, both paper and polymer notes are fully accepted. Currency exchange through the Bank of St Helena handles both formats.
Collector Value and Numismatic Significance
The St Helena 2026 polymer series holds notable collector interest for several reasons.
1. First polymer issue. These are St Helena's inaugural polymer banknotes. "First polymer" notes from any issuing authority consistently attract collector attention, as they mark a one-time transition in a territory's currency history.
2. Monarch transition. The switch from Queen Elizabeth II to King Charles III on St Helena's currency reflects a historic change of reign. Collectors of British and Commonwealth currency actively seek first-issue King Charles III notes from each territory.
3. Remote territory premium. St Helena's small population (approximately 4,500 residents) means limited print runs compared to larger nations. Small-issue territory banknotes tend to carry higher numismatic premiums due to natural scarcity.
4. Jonathan the Tortoise. Featuring the world's oldest known living land animal on a banknote is highly unusual. This distinctive design element gives the series crossover appeal beyond traditional currency collectors to wildlife and conservation enthusiasts.
5. Complete set potential. With only three denominations, a complete uncirculated set is relatively accessible for collectors. Matched serial number sets across all three notes would command additional premiums.
Collectors can acquire notes through numismatic dealers specializing in British Overseas Territory currency, online platforms with authentication services, and directly through the Bank of St Helena for visitors to the island.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the St Helena polymer banknotes enter circulation?
The St Helena polymer banknotes entered circulation on January 22, 2026. The St Helena Government announced the new series on January 12, 2026, with a formal handover ceremony held on January 16. De La Rue printed the notes on SAFEGUARD polymer substrate.
Why did St Helena change from Queen Elizabeth II to King Charles III?
Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 and the accession of King Charles III, British Overseas Territories have been updating their currency to reflect the new monarch. St Helena's 2026 polymer series is the island's first currency to feature King Charles III.
What denominations are available in the St Helena polymer series?
Three denominations were issued: £5, £10, and £20. Each note maintains its existing color scheme from the previous paper series. The £1 note was discontinued with the introduction of the new polymer series.
The St Helena 2026 polymer banknotes accomplish two transitions simultaneously. They modernize the physical currency from paper to polymer, delivering the durability and security advantages that dozens of countries have already adopted. And they introduce King Charles III to the island's banknotes, closing the Queen Elizabeth II era on St Helena's currency.
The design choices tell a distinctly St Helenian story. Jonathan the Tortoise, approaching two centuries of life on the island, and the St Helena Ebony, saved from extinction through local conservation, represent the natural heritage that defines this remote territory. Combined with De La Rue's security technology, the series balances national identity with modern currency standards.
For collectors, the combination of first polymer issue, monarch transition, remote territory scarcity, and the unique Jonathan the Tortoise design makes this one of the more distinctive Commonwealth currency releases of 2026.