20 dollars 1986 specimen
Market Prices
About This Note
This is a 1986 specimen banknote from the Central Bank of Solomon Islands in pristine uncirculated condition, featuring the national coat of arms on the obverse and a historical maritime scene on the reverse. The note displays the characteristic red 'SPECIMEN' overprint diagonal across both sides, indicating this was a presentation or archival piece not intended for circulation. The brown and orange color scheme with fine intaglio engraving and the falcon watermark represent quality currency production from this period.
Common. This specimen note appears frequently on the secondary market with eBay listings showing a typical price range of $3.70 to $9.99 USD for UNC examples, with one outlier at $36.00 likely representing a special collection or error. The 2019 catalog value of $25 USD for UNC examples further supports a common classification. Specimen notes from this period and issuer were produced in quantities sufficient for distribution to collectors and institutions, and multiple examples are readily available.
Issued in 1986 during the post-independence era of Solomon Islands, this banknote reflects the nation's sovereignty and cultural identity through its heraldic imagery. The reverse design depicting colonial-era maritime activity and coastal settlement with fortified structures illustrates the nation's maritime heritage and the historical contact period that shaped its development. The motto 'TO LEAD IS TO SERVE' visible on the coat of arms encapsulates the governance philosophy of the newly independent Central Bank of Solomon Islands.
The obverse features a formally arranged coat of arms centered on the note, displaying two dragons as heraldic supporters flanking a shield bearing geometric patterns representative of Solomon Islands cultural design. The arms are surrounded by decorative emblems in the corners and accompanied by signature lines for the Governor and Director of the Central Bank. The reverse depicts a historical scene of colonial-era maritime activity, showing multiple human figures in a boat with a coastal settlement backdrop including palm trees, fortified structures or cannon emplacements, and colonial-era buildings. Decorative architectural elements appear as corner vignettes, with a tower or beacon structure on the left margin and checkered ornamental patterns on the right side. The denomination numeral '20' appears prominently in multiple corners on both sides.
Front: 'SOLOMON ISLANDS' (country name), '20' and 'TWENTY DOLLARS' (denomination), 'THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER FOR' (legal tender declaration), 'Governor' and 'Director, Central Bank of Solomon Islands' (official titles for signatures), 'B000000' (specimen serial number), 'TO LEAD IS TO SERVE' (national motto), 'SPECIMEN' (specimen designation overprint). Back: 'SOLOMON ISLANDS' (country name), '20' and 'Twenty Dollars' (denomination), 'SPECIMEN' and 'SAFELY' (overprint text indicating specimen status and safe handling).
Intaglio engraving, as evidenced by the intricate fine line patterns, complex geometric security designs, and detailed background hatching visible throughout both sides. The printer is identified as TDLR (Thomas De La Rue) based on PMG catalog data for variant P-16s. The fine line engraving patterns, decorative security printing, and precision of the heraldic imagery are characteristic of De La Rue's high-security banknote production standards.
This is catalogued as Pick P-16s, the specimen variant of the 20 Solomon Islands Dollars. The serial number displays the pattern 'B000000' typical of specimen notes. PMG records indicate three variants exist for this base Pick number: P-16a (regular issue), P-16a* (replacement notes with Y/1 prefix), and P-16s (specimen). The red 'SPECIMEN' overprint and 'SAFELY' text on the reverse are consistent with official specimen designation. The replacement note variant (Y/1 prefix) represents a distinct variety from this base note.
