Official country name: Co-operative Republic of Guyana
The Guyanese Dollar is the official currency of Guyana, a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America. It is culturally identified with the English-speaking islands of the Caribbean because it was one of the territories, known as British Guiana, of the British West Indies.
Currency History
- In the 1800s, like other British West Indies territories, British Guiana used regular British coins, along with 2 and 4 pennies.
- The Guyanan Dollar shares the history of currency with other territories in the British West Indies, with a few exceptions: British Guiana continued to use the four-pence coin mill when other territories abandoned it, and used Dollar accounts in public and private sectors exclusively from 1839 (whereas other territories used a mix of accounts in Dollars and the British Pound until 1951).
- Between 1891 and 1916, four-cent coins were issued specifically for “British Guiana and the West Indies,” and between 1917 and 1945 for “British Guiana”.
- In 1916, paper money was first issued by the Government of British Guiana, in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 20 and 100 dollars.
- Guyana gained independence from United Kingdom on May 26, 1966, and became a republic on February 23, 1970.
- Banknotes were introduced in 1966 in denominations of 1, 5, 10 and 20 Guyanese Dollars. A second series was issued between 1989 and 1992 in denominations of $20, 100 and 500. The 1996-1999 series added a $1,000 bill. New $100 and $1,000 bills were issued in 2005 with added safety features.
1 Dollar = 100 Cents; ISO code = GYD 328
1st December 2024, 1 USD = 209.25 guyanese dollars; 1 Euro = 243.39 guyanese dollars
For earlier issues see:
Country state: Complete
BANK OF GUYANA
- ND (1966) “White Border” Issue
1 Dollar P-21; B-101 Color: Red Dimensions: 156 x 65 mm
Front: Bank logo; Kaieteur Falls.
Back: Black Bush Polder, rice harvesting.
Security thread: Solid.
Watermark: None.
Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited (England) – TDLR.
Date: ND (1966-1992) Intro: 15.11.1965.
| Description | VF | UNC |
| a. Prefix: A/1 – A/6. Sign 1. | 3.00 | 15. |
| b. Prefix: A/18 – A/26. Sign 2. | 3.00 | 15. |
| c. Prefix: A/28 – A/30. Sign 3. | 6.00 | 30. |
| d. Prefix: A/34 – A/42. Sign 4. | 6.00 | 30. |
| e. Prefix: A/49 – A/79. Sign 5. | 1.00 | 4.00 |
| f. Prefix: A/81 – A/96. Sign 6. Intro: 1983. | 0.25 | 1.50 |
| g. Prefix: B/1 – B/35. Sign 7. Intro: 1989. | – | 1.00 |
| h. Prefix: B/36 – B/41. Sign 8. Intro: 1992. | – | 0.75 |
| i. Prefix: B/42 – B/51. Sign 9. | – | 0.75 |
5 DollarS P-22; B-102 Color: Green Dimensions: 156 x 65 mm
Front: Bank logo; Kaieteur Falls.
Back: Cane sugar cutting, conveyor.
Security thread: Solid.
Watermark: None.
Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited (England) – TDLR.
Date: ND (1966-1992) Intro: 15.11.1965.
| Description | VF | UNC |
| a. Prefix: A/1 – A/3. Sign 1. | 9.00 | 45. |
| b. Prefix: A/7. Sign 2. | 9.00 | 45. |
| c. Prefix: A/10. Sign 3. | 10. | 55. |
| d. Prefix: A/12. Sign 4. | 10. | 55. |
| e. Prefix: A/15 – A/23. Sign 5. | 1.00 | 0.75 |
| f. Prefix: A/24 – A/26 Intro: 1983. Sign 6. | 0.50 | 5.00 |
| g. Prefix: A/27 – A/36 Intro: 1989. Sign 7. | – | 3.00 |
| h. Prefix: A/39 Intro: 1992. Sign 8. | – | 0.75 |
| i. Prefix: A/39 – A/42. Sign 9. | – | 0.75 |
10 Dollars P-23; B-103 Color: Brown Dimensions: 156 x 65 mm
Front: Bank logo; Kaieteur Falls.
Back: Bauxite mining, alumina plant.
Security thread: Solid.
Watermark: None.
Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited (England) – TDLR.
Date: ND (1966-1992) Intro: 15.11.1965.
| Description | VF | UNC |
| a. Prefix: A/1. Sign 1. | 10. | 75. |
| b. Prefix: A/4. Sign 2. | 10. | 75. |
| c. Prefix: A/5. Sign 3. | 10. | 75. |
| d. Sign 4. | 2.50 | 15. |
| e. Prefix: A/9 – A/12. Sign 5. | 2.50 | 15. |
| f. Prefix: A/13 – A/14. Intro: 1983. Sign 6. | 1.25 | 7.50 |
| g. Prefix: A/16 – A/20. Intro: 1989. Sign 7. | – | 1.00 |
| h. Intro: 1992. Sign 8. | – | 15. |
| i. Prefix: A/22 – A/26. Sign 9. | – | 1.00 |
20 Dollars P-24; B-104 Color: Purple Dimensions: 156 x 65 mm
Front: Bank logo; Kaieteur Falls.
Back: Ship building, Ferry vessel “Malali”.
Security thread: Solid.
Watermark: None.
Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited (England) – TDLR.
Date: ND (1966-1989). Intro: 15.11.1965.
| Description | VF | UNC |
| a. Prefix: A/1 – A/2. Sign 1. | 10. | 50. |
| b. Prefix: A/3 – A/6. Sign 2. | 10. | 50. |
| c. Prefix: A/7. Sign 3. | 10. | 50. |
| d. Prefix: A/7 – A/11. Sign 4. | 3.00 | 15. |
| e. Prefix: A/13 – A/26. Sign 5. | 3.00 | 15. |
| f. Prefix: A/28 – A/42. Intro: 1983. Sign 6. | 2.50 | 12. |
| g. Prefix: A/42 – A/64. Sign 7. | – | 1.50 |
Signatures:
- ND (1989-1992) “Equal Size Serial #” Issue
20 Dollars P-27; B-105 Color: Brown Dimensions: 156 x 65 mm
Front: Bank logo; Kaieteur Falls.
Back: Ship building, Ferry vessel “Malali”.
Security thread: Solid with printed GUYANA.
Watermark: None.
Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited (England) – TDLR.
Date: ND (1989) Intro: 10.10.1988.
| Description | VF | UNC |
| a. Prefix: A/70 – A/76. Sign 1. | FV | 2.50 |
| b. Prefix: A/79 – A/87. Sign 2. | FV | 2.50 |
100 Dollars P-28; B-106 Color: Purple, blue Dimensions: 156 x 65 mm
Front: Bank logo. Map.
Back: St. George’s cathedral, Georgetown.
Security thread: Windowed with demetalized GUYANA.
Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited (England) – TDLR.
Watermark: Red Macaw parrot head.
Date: ND (1989). Intro: 10.10.1988.
| Description | VF | UNC |
| a. Prefix: A/1 – A/40. Sign 1. | FV | 6.00 |
| b. Prefix: A/40 – A/47. Sign 3. | FV | 6.00 |
500 Dollars P-29; B-107 Color: Purple Dimensions: 156 x 65 mm
Front: Bank logo. Map.
Back: Parliament House, Georgetown.
Security thread: Solid security thread with printed GUYANA.
Watermark: Red Macaw parrot head.
Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited (England) – TDLR.
Date: ND (1992) Intro: 02.07.1992.
| Description | VF | UNC |
| a. Prefix: A/1 – A/6. Sign 3. | FV | 35. |
| b. Prefix: A/10 – A/27. Sign 2. | FV | 10. |
Signatures:
- ND (1996-2018) “Ascending Size Serial #” Issue
100 Dollars P-31; B-109 Color: Purple, blue Dimensions: 156 x 65 mm
Front: Bank logo. Map.
Back: St. George’s cathedral, Georgetown.
Security thread: Windowed with demetalized GUYANA.
Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited (England) – TDLR.
Watermark: Red Macaw parrot head.
Date: ND (1999-2005). Intro: 16.03.1998.
| Description | VF | UNC |
| a. Prefix: A/49 – A/51. Thin security thread. Sign 1. | FV | 4.00 |
| Description | VF | UNC |
| b. Prefix: A/52 – A/67. Wide security thread. Sign 2. | FV | 4.00 |
| c. Prefix: A/75 – A/92. Sign 3. | FV | 4.00 |
500 Dollars P-32; B-110 Color: Purple Dimensions: 156 x 65 mm
Front: Bank logo. Map.
Back: Parliament House, Georgetown.
Security thread: Windowed with demetalized GUYANA.
Watermark: Red Macaw parrot head.
Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited (England) – TDLR.
Date: ND (1996). Intro: 11.10.1996.
| Description | VF | UNC |
| a. Prefix: A/28 – A/32. Sign 1. | FV | 10. |
P-34; B-112.
Front: Bank logo; map; holographic map patch.
Security thread: Wide windowed with demetalized GUYANA.
Printer: De La Rue, London (England) – DLR.
Date: ND (2000). Intro: 24.01.2000.
| Description | VF | UNC |
| a. Prefix: A/33 – A/40. Sign 2. | FV | 8.50 |
| b. Prefix: A/41 – A/48. Sign 3. | FV | 8.50 |
1 000 Dollars P-33; B-111 Color: Pink and purple Dimensions: 156 x 65 mm
Front: Bank logo. Map, OVD map.
Back: Bank of Guyana, Georgetown.
Security thread: Windowed.
Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Companhia, Lda. (England) – TDLR.
Watermark: Red Macaw parrot head.
Date: ND (1996).
| Description | VF | UNC |
| a. Prefix: A/1 – A/20. Intro: 23.12.1996. Sign 1. | FV | 15. |
P-35; B-113.
Front: Bank logo. Map, holographic crest patch.
Printer: De La Rue, London (England) – DLR.
Date: ND (2000-2005).
| Description | VF | UNC |
| a. Prefix: A/22 – A/32. Intro: 16.12.1999. Sign 2. | FV | 15. |
| b. Prefix: A/40 – A/62. Sign 3. | FV | 15. |
Signatures:
Current banknotes
20 Dollars (US$0.10; €0.08) P-30; B-108 Color: Brown Dimensions: 156 x 65 mm
Front: Bank logo. Kaieteur Falls.
Back: Ship building, Ferry vessel “Malali”.
Security thread: Solid with printed GUYANA.
Watermark: None.
Dates: ND (1996-2018)
a. Prefix: A/89 – A/98. GOVERNOR (ag). Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited (England) – TDLR. Sign 1. Intro: 16.09.1996.
b. Prefix: B/6 – B/24. Sign 2.
c. Prefix: B/26 – B/50. Sign 3.
d. Prefix: B/54 – B/60. Sign 4.
e. Prefix: B/64 – B/79. GOVERNOR. Sign 4.
f. Prefix: B/79 – B/85. Printer: De La Rue, London (England) – DLR. Sign 5.
g. Prefix: B/88 – B/93, C/03 – C/07. Printer: Canadian Bank Note Company (Canada) – CBNC. Sign 5.
h. Prefix: C/36. Printer: De La Rue, London (England) – DLR. Sign 6.
i. Prefix: C/51. Sign 7.
100 Dollars (US$0.48; €0.41) P-36; B-114 Color: Purple, blue Dimensions: 156 x 65 mm
Front: Bank logo. Map.
Back: St. George’s cathedral, Georgetown.
Security thread: Windowed with demetalized GUYANA.
Printer: De La Rue, London (England) – DLR.
Date: ND (2005-2016).
a. Prefix: A/94. Sign 4. Watermark: Red Macaw parrot head with map (1).
b. Prefix: B/12 – B/16. sign 5.
c. Prefix: B/30 – B/31. Watermark: Red Macaw parrot head with 100 (2).
d. Prefix: B/60 – B/62. Sign 6.
e. Prefix: B/77 – B/81. Sign 7.
f. Prefix: B/92. Sign 8.
(1) 
(2) 
500 Dollars (US$2.39; €2.05) P-37; B-116 Color: Lilac and purple Dimensions: 156 x 65 mm
Front: Bank logo. Map.
Back: Parliament House, Georgetown.
Security features: Holographic stripe with bank logo, macaw, and BOG. Windowed security thread with demetalized GUYANA.
Printer: Giesecke & Devrient (Germany) – G&D.
Watermark: Red Macaw parrot head and electrotype 500.
Date: ND (2011-2019).
a. Prefix: AA – AE Intro: 11.2011. Sign 5.
b. Prefix: AM – AN. Sign 7.
1 000 Dollars (US$4.78; €4.11) P-38b; B-117 Color: Pink and purple Dimensions: 156 x 65 mm
Front: Bank logo. Map.
Back: Bank of Guyana, Georgetown.
Security features: Holographic stripe with bank logo, macaw and BOG. Windowed security thread with demetalized GUYANA 1000.
Printer: Giesecke & Devrient (Germany) – G&D.
Watermark: Red Macaw parrot head and electrotype 1000.
Date: ND (2011). Prefix: AA – AV. Intro: 22.11.2011. Sign 5.
P-38b; B-120a.
Security features: 6-mm wide blue RAPID security thread with the denomination and the Victoria Regia Lily (national flower). Solid security thread.
Printer: Crane Currency (Sweden) – CC.
a. Prefix: BC – BD. sign 7.
P-39; B-B115.
Security features: Windowed security thread with demetalized GUYANA 1000.
Printer: De La Rue, London (England) – DLR.
Watermark: Red Macaw parrot head, electrotype map and Cornerstones.
Date: ND (2005-2009).
a. Prefix: A/64 – A/81. Intro: 29.03.2006. Sign 4.
b. Prefix: A/83 – A/104. Intro: 2009. Sign 5.
5 000 Dollars (US$23.90; €20.54) P-40; B-118 Color: Green Dimensions: 156 x 65 mm
Front: Spark giving value and changing colour from magenta to green at upper left. BOG logo and map of Guyana.
Back: Rainforest and national bird Hoatzin.
Security features:
- Spark: When tilted the colour of the value shifts from Magenta to green and the rolling bar moves up and down.
- Holographic Stripe: When tilted at an angle the image of a Jaguar can be seen.
- See- through: The value of the note ($5000) appears when the note is held up to the light.
- Latent Image: At a certain angle the value 5000 can be seen.
- Blind Mark: Mark for the visually impaired and partially sighted. (Right of note).
- Dual Track: Two track thread with optically variable and metallic print properties (Back).
- Intaglio Print: A distinctive raised feel.
- Novel Numbering: Progressively larger numbers.
- Watermark: Red Macaw with electrotype showing value “5000” vertically.
Dates: ND (2011-2018).
a. Printer: Oberthur Technologies (France) – OT. Prefix: AA – AT. Intro: 09.12.2013. Sign 5.
b. Printer: Francois-Charles Oberthur Fiduciaire (France) – FCOF Prefix: AQ – AV. Intro: 2018. Sign 7.
P-40c; B-122. Leopard head on leaf as gold-to-green SPARK Live Truspin feature.
Security thread: Pulsar windowed security thread.
Printer: Oberthur Technologies (France) – OT.
Date: ND. Intro: 20.12.2022. Sign 8.
Signatures:
Commemorative issues
50 Dollars (US$0.24; €0.21) P-41; B-119 Color: Brown and red Dimensions: 156 x 65 mm
Front: Arms, map.
Back: National flower Victoria amazonica (giant waterlily), tree branch, map on flag, doves in flight.
Security features:
- Watermark: Macaw and the value of the note (50).
- Windowed Security Thread: Text reads “Guyana 50”.
- Intaglico Print: A distinctive raised feel.
- Novel Number: Progressively large numbers.
Printer: De La Rue, London (England) – DLR.
Date: 2016. Prefix: AA. Intro: 12.05.2016.
Signatures: Bobind Ganga & Winston Jordan.
2000 Dollars (US$9.56; €8.22) P-42; B-121 Color: Multicolor Dimensions: 156 x 65 mm Polymer: GUARDIAN™
Front: The Bank of Guyana’s logo in the foreground and the national flag in the background. Guyana’s country outline at right. Guyana’s national flower, Victoria amazonica, is a color-changing security device at lower center right. At lower center left is the logo of this year’s anniversary: “55TH ONE GUYANA Independence Anniversary”.
Back: Six faces of children from Guyana’s six ethnic groups. A Wai-Wai pattern at left.
Security features:
- A large transparent window lets you see through the note. Within this window, you can see “$2000” in transparent text, as well as the image of a jaguar.
- Colour-changing ink partially overprints the smaller transparent window and can be seen through the back of the note, producing a colour-changing effect.
- Raised printing is featured on the large multi-colour numerals or the text reading “Bank of Guyana”. The raised printing can be detected by running a finger across these areas.
- Tactile identification is available to the blind or partially sighted, with a TOUCH™ tactile element indicating the note’s denomination.
- A colour-changing flower on the front of the note changes from gold to green as you tilt the note. Also, a rolling bar pattern moves across the flower as the note is tilted.
- A bright gold pattern can be seen around the large window on the back of the note as it is tilted in the light.
- UV light will reveal some of the note’s features. On the front, the vertical serial number and a hidden numeral will appear, while on the back you will find the text “One Guyana”.
- Magnification some areas which appear to be simple lines will reveal the word “GUYANA” in a repeating pattern on the edges of the note.
Printer: Unknown.
Watermark: None.
Date: ND. Prefix: AA. Intro: 02/2022.
Signatures: Bobind Ganga & Bharrat Jagdeo.
Terms of import and export of currencies
Currency Import regulations:
Local currency (Guyana Dollar-GYD) and foreign currencies: no restrictions. However, amounts over USD 10,000.- (or equivalent) must be declared.
Currency Export regulations:
Local currency (Guyana Dollar-GYD) and foreign currencies: no restrictions. However, amounts over USD 10,000.- (or equivalent) must be declared.