Central bank highlights commemorative polymer banknotes on anniversary

Taipei, June 15 (CNA) The Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) on Wednesday celebrated the 73rd anniversary of when it first issued New Taiwan dollars by highlighting a commemorative polymer banknote that went into circulation 23 years ago.

At that time, Taiwan issued a polymer banknote for the first time with a value of NT$50 (US$1.7) to celebrate the 50th anniversary of New Taiwan dollar circulation, according to the bank.

The bill, printed in red, featured historic banknote versions and icons of Taiwan's economy, technology and transportation development on one side and illustrations of the central bank building and Chinese cultural symbols on the other.

The bank issued 30 million NT$50 polymer banknotes at the time, but most of them were kept as mementos and almost never used for transactions, the bank said on its Facebook page.

Polymer banknotes, first seen in Australia in 1988 and said to last longer and remain cleaner than standard paper notes, have become more popular in recent years, the bank said, with more than 30 countries having introduced them.

Taiwan, however, has not issued any other polymer banknotes since putting the NT$50 note in circulation in 1999.