ECCB plans to feature regional figures on EC dollar, replacing Queen Elizabeth II

Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Timothy N.J. Antoine, announced that the bank is moving closer to replacing the British monarch’s image on EC dollar notes with regional figures.

Speaking after the 112th meeting of the ECCB Monetary Council, Antoine said the transition will occur in phases rather than all at once.

“We expect in all likelihood that the first set of notes will be revealed and made available in 2027,” he said.

For decades, the late Queen Elizabeth II has appeared on EC$5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 notes, reflecting the Eastern Caribbean’s historical ties to Britain, similar to other Commonwealth nations recognizing the British monarch as head of state.

The move to redesign currency began in 2023 during the 105th ECCB Monetary Council meeting in St Vincent and the Grenadines, when the council approved replacing the monarch’s image with the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) logo, subject to public consultation.

Antoine hinted the public may get an early preview of the new notes, possibly tied to the 50th anniversary of the EC dollar peg in July.

He also emphasized that introducing new notes will not immediately withdraw existing currency. “Because some of our notes are new, we did not want to simply just take them out of circulation,” Antoine explained. “But as they come in and they get retired because they’re mutilated and so on, then we will introduce the new notes with our regional heroes, our regional images.”