Click on the Map for a larger view

The coast of Guyana was sighted by Chritsopher Columbus in 1498. The Dutch established three separate settlements in Guyana around 1600. Berbice, Demarara and Essequibo fell under British rule three times between 1781 and 1803, and in 1814 the settlements were ceded to Britain. Berbice was united with Demerara-Essequibo on July 21, 1831 to form British Guyana. Guyana gained internal self government in 1952, became an independent constitutional monarchy on May 26, 1966 and became a republic on February 23, 1970.

Guyana had originally been settled by the Dutch West India Company, so accounts were kept in Guilders until the British monetary system became predominant in the 19th Century. Although Dutch currency was standard, Spanish silver and Portuguese gold also circulated. The shortage of coins led to the introduction of paper money as well. The West Indies Joe (XWIJ) was equivalent to the Dobra of 8 Escudos, and was divisible into 22 Guilders or 12,800 Reis. Between 1809 and 1836, the British issued coins denominated in stuivers and guilders.

In 1839, Dollars and cents replaced guilders and stuivers as the unit of account for British Guiana, though Spanish, Mexican and Colombian coins circulated as legal tender until 1876 when British coins became standard. The most popular coin was the silver fourpence since this was equivalent to 1 bitt or ¼ guilder. Coins were periodically issued for British Guiana between 1856 and 1945.

After Guyana fell under British rule, United States Dollars (USD) and British Pound Sterling (GBP) circulated in Guyana until the creation of the British West Indies Dollar (XBWD) in 1935. The Government of Guyana issued banknotes (GYD) from 1916 until 1951. On August 1, 1951, the Board of Commissioners of Currency, British Caribbean Territories (Eastern Group) became the sole note-issuing authority for the British West Indies Dollar. Guyana withdrew from the British West Indies Board in 1962, and on November 15, 1965, Guyana introduced the Guyana Dollar at par with the British West Indies Dollar. The Bank of Guyana issues the Guyana Dollar.

This is a 1 Dollar note and is undated, but printed between the years 1966 and 1992. The note is red on multicolored underprint. The obverse features the Bank Coat of Arms in the center and Kaieteur Falls to the right. Kaieteur Falls is 226 meters (741 ft) when measured from its plunge over a sandstone cliff to the first break. It then flows over a series of steep cascades that, when included in the measurements, bring the total height to 251 meters (822 ft). The reverse depicts Black Push Polder (a location of water pumping stations on the Canje River) to the left and a rice harvesting scene to the right, denomination in the center. The reverse states 'Thomas Del La Rue & Company Limted' to the bottom. I see no watermark on this note.

• Krause# Pick-21f
• Signature: 7

Here is an undated 5 Dollar note that was printed in the years between 1966 and 1992. The note is dark green on multicolored underprint. The obverse features the Bank Coat of Arms in the center and Kaieteur Falls to the right. Kaieteur Falls is about five times higher than the more well known Niagara Falls, located on the border between Canada and the United States and about two times the height of the Victoria Falls located on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe in Africa. The reverse depicts a Caner sugar harvesting scene to the left and a conveyer processing wheat to the right. The reverse states 'Thomas Del La Rue & Company Limted' to the bottom. I see no apparent watermark on this note.

• Krause# Pick-22e
• Signature: 7

Here is a note that is undated, printed from 1966 through 1992 and valued at 10 Dollars. The note is dark brown on multicolored underprint. The obverse features the Bank Coat of Amrs in the center and Kaieteur falls to the right, which is a single drop waterfall which is the 123rd tallest (single and multi-drop waterfall) in the world and is the 19th largest waterfall in terms of volume, according to the World Waterfalls Database. The reverse states 'Thomas Del La Rue & Company Limted' to the bottom. I see no apparent watermark on this note.

• Krause# Pick-23f
• Signature: 9

This 20 Dollar note is undated and printed in 1996. The note is brown and purple on multicolored underprint. The obverse features the Bank Coat of Arms int he center, and Kaieteur Falls to the right. The falls have a unique combination of great height and large volume, averaging 663 cubic meters per second (23,400 cubic feet per second).The reverse depicts a shipbuilding scene to the left and the Malali Ferry to the right. The reverse states 'Thomas Del La Rue & Company Limted' to the bottom. I see no apparent watermark on this note.

• Krause# Pick-30
• Signature: 12

Here is a 20 Dollar note that is undated. The note is brown and purple on multicolored udnerprint. The obverse features the Bank Coat of Arms and Kaieteur Falls. The reverse depicts a ship building scene and Malali Ferry. The reverse states 'Del La Rue' to the bottom. I see no apparent watermark on this note.

• Krause# Pick-Not yet listed
• Signature: Not yet listed

Here is a 20 Dollar note that is undated. The note is brown and purple on multicolored udnerprint. The obverse features the Bank Coat of Arms and Kaieteur Falls. The reverse depicts a ship building scene and Malali Ferry. The reverse states 'Thomas Del La Rue & Company Limted' to the bottom. I see no apparent watermark on this note.

• Krause# Pick-Not yet listed
• Signature: Not yet listed

Here is a 20 Dollar note that is undated. The note is brown and purple on multicolored underprint. The obverse features Kaieteur falls, which is on the Potaro River in central Guyana, to the right, the national coat of arms in the center and an ascending serial number in the upper right corner. The reverse depicts a ship building factory to the left and the ferry Malali to the left. The reverse states 'Thomas Del La Rue & Company Limted' to the bottom. I see no apparent watermark on this note. The signature combo is not yet listed in krause. I do not know if the placement of the security thread is important, but this note has a security thread behind the S in Dollars, while the other 20 Dollar notes have the thread just to the left of the Falls vingette.

• Krause# Pick-Not yet listed
• Signature: Not yet listed