Below is a 50 dobras commemorative polymer note released on 21st August 2026. This note was issued to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the independence of Sao Tome and Principe. Independence was granted by the Portuguese on 12th July 1975, after 505 years of occupation from 1470 to 1975. However, it should be noted that the Dutch briefly also occupied Sao Tome and Principe from 1641 to 1648.
This note is predominantly printed in green and gold colours, and it was reported that only 60,000 pieces have been issued. In addition to the 60,000 notes, folders are also available but I am not sure if the folders are sold with or without the note. Due to the quantity issued, letter 'A' is the only printed, and I do not know if replacement notes are also available for this series.
Fifty Dobras Polymer
Front - The theme featuring Fauna and Flora of Sao Tome and Principe. To the far left is printed with a Peregrine Falcon and next to it is an African Grey Parrot. In the background it features tropical ferns, forest foliage and a scene of a waterfall - Cascata Mioba. To the top center right is the bust of Rei Amador, the national hero of Sao Tome and Principe. Rei Amador (Amador Viera) led a major 1595 slave rebellion in Sao Tome and Principe against Portuguese occupation and proclaimed himself the King of the Angolares and liberator of the enslaved. He was captured on January 4, 1596 and was later executed by the Portuguese. Today, January 4 is a public holiday in his honour, first celebrated in 2005.
Date - Decreto No. 09/2025
Quantity - 60,000 pieces
Watermark - half cut Cocoa fruit with cocoa beans inside
Sizes - 150mm x 67mm
Back - Partial outline maps of South America and Africa and an aerial view of Sao Tome and Principe islands with the equator running across Ilhéu das Rolas (Rolas Islet). The Marco do Equador monument is also featured on the note. The monument marks the path of the equator and features a large tile mosaic map of the world on the ground.
Folder Issue
In addition to the 60,000 pieces of notes, the bank also released 1000 sets of this note in a folder with an unique prefix of STP (Sao Tome and Principe), and it comes in two varieties: -
VIP Folders - 100 sets with serial numbers from STP 0001 to 0100; and
Standard Collectors Folders - 900 sets with serial number from STP 0101 to 1000.
The following text are printed inside the standard collectors folders,
"Message from the governor
Fifty years after the proclamation of independence on 12 July 1975, Sao Tome and Principe looks back with gratitude and pride on the path travelled by our people, Independence gave us the sovereign right to define our destiny, to build national institutions, to protect our culture and to give voice to the aspirations of the islands of Sao Tome and Principe.
The commemorative banknote is issued in honour of that historic anniversary. It recalls the courage, dignity and unity of those who worked for freedom, and it celebrates the natural and cultural wealth that continues to define our nation. Our history has been shaped by the ocean and surrounds us, by the fertile land that sustains us, by cocoa and agriculture, by education, by faith in progress, and by the resilience of our citizens.
As the Central Bank, we also look to the future. The next fifty years must be guided by stability, confidence, responsible development and greater opportunity for every Santomean. Our islands possess extraordinary biodiversity; a strategic geographic identity services and value-added agriculture.
May this banknote service not only as a collector’s piece, but also as a symbol of national memory and ambition: a tribute to independence, a celebration of identity, and a commitment to a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable future for Sao Tome and Principe.
Fifty Dobras Folder Note - Prefix STP
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| Prefix STP |
Sizes - 150mm x 67mm
"About the Banknote
The 50 Dobras commemorative banknote has been created to mark the 50th anniversary of the independence of Sao Tome and Principe, celebrated from 1975 to 2025. Its design brings together history, geography, nature and national identity in a single visual narrative.
The front of the note features two emblematic birds of the islands, the falcon and the parrot, presented against a richly layered tropical landscape. Their presence reflects the exceptional biodiversity of the archipelago and the importance of protecting its natural heritage for future generations. The national coat of arms, the official signatures and the anniversary inscription reinforce the solemn character of the issue. Cocoa imagery recalls one of the country’s most important agricultural symbols and a product closely linked to its economic and cultural history.
The reverse side highlights Sao Tome and Principe’s remarkable position on the Equator. A world map, equatorial markings and the reference to the geodesic and astronomical work of Gago Coutinho, carried out between 1916 and 1918, connect the banknote to science, navigation and the country’s unique place on the globe. The Equator Monument on Ilheu das Rolas appears as a central symbol of this geographic identity.
The green and gold colour palette evokes the islands’ lush vegetation, sunlight and natural abundance, while transparent and decorative elements give the note a modern commemorative character. Together, these motifs honour the past fifty years and look forward to a future built on heritage, knowledge, sustainability and national pride."
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| 195mm x 109mm |
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