2 1/2 gulden 1978

Common. The 1978 issue of the 2½ Gulden (Pick-118b) is a regular-issue denomination with substantial print runs. Market data from eBay demonstrates consistent availability at modest prices, with PMG 67 examples selling for approximately $23 USD as of May 2024, and lower grades trading at $10-13 USD. The 2019 catalogue value for UNC was $4.50 USD, and numerous auction sales from 2015-2024 show regular supply, indicating no scarcity. This is a collector-grade example of a circulation-period issue rather than a rare variety.

This 1978 banknote was issued under the legal authority established by the Law of April 8, 1960 (Official Gazette No. 38), during Suriname's post-independence era. The prominent feature of endemic bird species and the Afobaka Dam on the reverse reflect Suriname's emphasis on celebrating its natural heritage and modern infrastructure development in the late 1970s, a period of relative economic stability before subsequent political upheaval.

The obverse features a meticulously rendered Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus), a species native to Suriname, perched naturistically on an ornamental branch with flowering botanical elements rendered in reddish-brown tones against a cream background. The reverse depicts the Afobaka Dam, Suriname's significant hydroelectric infrastructure project, integrated into a stylized landscape design with curved green botanical elements and geometric patterns, accompanied by a lizard motif. Both sides employ elaborate geometric guilloche patterns and ornamental frames in cream, red-brown, and green, with a shell-or lotus-shaped denomination cartouche on the reverse. The serial number format 'L/2' indicates the series designation for this 1978 printing.

FRONT SIDE: 'SURINAME' (Country name); 'MUNTBILJET' (Banknote); 'TWEE EN EEN HALVE GULDEN' (Two and a Half Guilders); 'UITGEGEVEN KRACHTENS WET VAN 8 APRIL 1960 (G.B. No.38)' (Issued under the law of April 8, 1960 [Official Gazette No. 38]); 'GEREGISTREERD PARAMARIBO 1 AUGUSTUS 1978' (Registered Paramaribo 1 August 1978); 'De Minister van Financien,' (The Minister of Finance); Serial number 'L/2 002800'; Denomination '2½'. REVERSE SIDE: 'SURINAME' (Country name); 'WETTTIG BETAALMIDDEL' (Legal Tender); 'TWEE EN EEN HALVE GULDEN' (Two and a Half Guilders); Denomination '2½'; 'AIRHARA DARA' (indigenous/local language reference, likely Arawakan origin).

Intaglio (engraved) printing on cotton-fiber banknote paper, evidenced by the fine line work, intricate guilloche patterns, and precise detail visible throughout both sides. The superior quality of impression and sharpness of security features suggests production by a specialized security printer; BWC (Bradbury Wilkinson & Company) is documented as the printer for the P-118s2 variant, and likely printed this variant as well. Watermarking is present, visible in the right margin area of the obverse.

This note is identified as Pick-118b, part of a three-variant series catalogued by PMG (P-118a, P-118b, and P-118s2). The P-118s2 variant is documented as printed by BWC (Bradbury Wilkinson & Company). The serial number prefix 'L/2' may indicate series designation, though full understanding of Surinamese serial numbering conventions for this period would be required for definitive variety classification. The 1 August 1978 registration date confirms this as an authentic 1978-dated issue, distinguishing it from the 1973 variant also noted in catalog references.