Saint Helena Pound

The St. Helena pound (Saint Helena pound in English) is the currency used in Saint Helena, the main island of a British overseas territory made up of several islands located in the South Atlantic. The territory is completed by the islands of Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, in which the United Kingdom pound sterling is used as currency.

The main island territory where this currency is used is the island of Saint Helena. The St. Helena pound is on par with the pound sterling, although it has its own notes and coins in the same denominations.

History

The British pound sterling was initially introduced subdivided into 20 shillings, each with 12 pence.

This was supplemented by occasional paper coins with local themes. A copper halfpenny coin, it was also minted specifically for use in the islands in 1821, intermingling British currency. The notes were denominated in pounds and shillings and valued at par with the pound sterling.

Prior to February 1961, the South African pound, which then had the same value as the pound sterling, was also accepted on the island, but this stopped with the introduction of the new South African rand.

In 1976, the government of Saint Helena began issuing new banknotes, for use on the island, with the introduction of coins into circulation intended for use on Saint Helena Island, as well as Ascension Island beginning in 1984. The The use of these coins and banknotes was also extended to Tristan da Cunha.

Coins

The first coins were first introduced in 1821 by the British East India Company. Until before 1984 British banknotes and coins were in circulation, and later coins were minted under the names of Saint Helena and Ascension in the denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 50 pence and 1 pound. All coins are of the same size and composition as the corresponding British coins and valued at par with the British pound. Each coin shows the unique flora and fauna of the islands.

Currently, the coins still do not include Tristan of Cunha, which continues to use the pound sterling at the same time, along with unofficial coins that have been minted there.

In addition, all circulation coins have a portrait of the head of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom on the obverse. Over the years, coin designs have changed (one version included the St. Helena plover, endemic to the island) and several commemorative coins have been created. These are the current ones:

Tickets

From 1716, the Governor and Council of the Island of Saint Helena issued notes of 2½ and 5 shillings and 1 and 2 pounds. These were issued until the 18th century. In 1976, the Saint Helena Government Currency Council began issuing 1/5 pound notes, followed by 50 pence and 10 pound notes in 1979. The 50 pence and 1 pound notes were withdrawn and replaced by coins in 1984. £20 notes were then issued in 1986.

In 2004, a new series of £5, £10, and £20 notes was introduced with a new design and newer security features, produced by De La Rue. One pound notes were withdrawn from circulation.