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| 2 Dollars Solomon-Islands's Banknote, Queen Elizabeth II. |
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| Solomon Islands 2-dollar note |
Solomon Islands Banknotes 2 Dollars banknote 1977 issued by the Solomon Islands Monetary Authority.
Obverse: Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and sundry embellishments of Solomon Islands "custom" designs & artifacts.
Portrait of Queen Elizabeth in an evening dress, wearing a diamond necklace and diamond earrings. The diamond necklace was presented to Elizabeth in April 1947, while she was still a princess, as a gift from the people of South Africa. The necklace was originally constructed with twenty-one large diamonds, connected by links that contained two small brilliant-cut diamonds mounted to either side of a baguette diamond. Shortly after Elizabeth ascended the throne, she had the necklace shortened to fifteen large stones, with the remaining stones being made into a matching bracelet. The necklace worn in this portrait is the shortened version. The earrings worn by Queen Elizabeth are Queen Mary’s Cluster Earrings, with each earring holding a large brilliant-cut diamond set in platinum and surrounded by two circles of small diamonds. The original photograph, on which the engraving are based, was an official portrait taken around 1962 by Anthony Buckley.
Reverse: Traditional Methods of Fishing in Solomon Islands - Vine fishing scene, and sundry embellishments of Solomon Island "custom" designs and artifacts: On the left side are, again, bokolo. Denominations in numerals are in top and lower left corners, in words and in numeral in lower right corner.
Watermark: Falcon landing.
Original Size: 140 × 70 mm.
Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Company Limited, London, England.
Signatures: Chairman: Mr. John Palfrey; Member Monetary Authority: Mr. Jezriel Korinihona.
Solomon Islands Banknotes - Solomon Islands Paper Money
Solomon Islands Monetary Authority
1977-1981 "Queen Elizabeth II" Issue
2 Dollars 5 Dollars 10 Dollars 20 Dollars
Bokolo
The bokolo is a form of money which natives of Solomon Islands used to pay for bride price, buy land, tribal reconciliation and compensation.
Bokolo is made of clam shell and normally, collectors from overseas are the main people to buy this artifact because of its uniqueness.
Apira (Ceremonial Food Bowl)
This ornate ceremonial food bowl was used for offerings and displayed during other traditional occasions and celebrations. Skilled craftsmen carved the soft wood Alstoiaa Scholaris that was then darkened by a mixture of charcoal and natural plant sap and inlaid with nautilus shell. Traditional motifs appearing on the apiras may include those of fish, birds, other animal and human figures.