A spokesperson for the Reserve Bank said that the new $100 pa'anga note, the first note with the image of King George Tupou V, was launched at the end of July to mark the coronation on August 1, but the remaining smaller denomination pa'anga notes were to be released to the public in January 2009.

The new $100 pa'anga note features the Port of Refuge, Vava'u; $50 the Palace; $20 is the NRBT Building; $10 the Royal Tombs; $2 Education and Sport; and $1 whale watching.

Printed by De La Rue Currency Printer in the United Kingdom, a state of the art security technology featured has been embedded in the new notes to discourage counterfeiters.

The old notes will remain in circulation but they will be gradually phased-out.

The coins will remain in circulation.