The Buddhist Kingdom of Bhutan has put into circulation the first three denominations of its new generation of banknotes designed to commemorate the 70th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo. The new notes, in denominations of 1,000, 500, and 100 ngultrum (ng), are the first in Bhutan’s new mixed substrate banknote series to be released.
The notes were unveiled in November 2025 and were put into circulation on January 2, 2026, according to the Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) of Bhutan. The visual design of the notes is a respectful nod to Bhutan’s national legacy and leadership, while the use of modern day materials and technology to protect and strengthen the currency.
Meanwhile, all previously issued ngultrum in circulation shall remain as legal tender.
A significant partnership with De La Rue
The RMA has forged a special partnership with De La Rue, with the latter designing and printing the first three banknotes on their Safeguard® recyclable polymer substrate. The notes are more durable and environmentally sustainable than traditional paper-based currency.
Visual design depicts Bhutan’s heritage and history
Each of the three new banknotes illustrates a story in the nation’s rich history, while their designs harmonize with each other. The visual design and color schemes of these new notes represent quite a departure from previous series of Bhutan banknotes.
The Nu. 1,000 Banknote: Honoring the Founding Father
The highest denomination pays homage to the roots of the monarchy. The face of the Nu. 1000 note features a dignified portrait of His Majesty King Ugyen Wangchuck, the first King of Bhutan, against the Wheel of the Universal Ruler. The reverse side depicts Tongsa Dzong, the ancestral seat of the Wangchuck dynasty and the historical home of the Tongsa Penlop.
The Nu. 500 Banknote: A Tribute to a Visionary Monarch
On the face of the Nu. 500 note is a portrait of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Singye Wangchuck. The reverse side of the note illustrates Bhutan’s spiritual soul, with an illustration of the Punakha Dzong, built in 1638, the final resting place of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the founder of Bhutan.
The Nu. 100 Banknote: Celebrating the Present & the Protector
The Nu. 100 banknote celebrates the enduring reign of His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the Fifth Druk Gyalpo. The front side features His Majesty wearing the Raven Crown, set against the intricate and cosmic mandala. The reverse design centers on Tashicho Dzong, the majestic fortress that serves as the seat of the Royal Government of Bhutan.
Enhanced security features to fight counterfeiting
The new Bhutan banknotes feature cutting-edge security technologies to help prevent counterfeiting.
The RMA emphasizes that, “Across all denominations, unifying elements bind the series together.” The 500 and 1,000 ng. notes feature a sophisticated foil stripe depicting a dragon grasping a jewel in each of its claws—a symbol of prosperity, power, and the fulfillment of wishes. The watermarks on all three notes feature the portrait of His Majesty the King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, on one side and the enduring cross-vajra on the other, reinforcing the themes of stability and continuity.
Other security features in the banknotes include:
- A highly reflective silver ink (ARGENTUM™)
- A see-through register. The two image outlines are perfectly aligned, front and back, but with non-identical images within the outline (ROTATE™)
- UV-reactive hidden images with two colors (Enhanced GEMINI™)
- Sophisticated holographic optical security stripe with DEPTH™ (three dimensional movement) and SPOTLIGHT® (an interactive effect with rotating images).
A feature to benefit visually impaired customers
To help visually impaired consumers, all of the new banknotes contain embossed (raised) dots in different geometric shapes, denoting the denomination. The dots are located at the bottom right on the face of each banknote.
Sources/References:
Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan
Banknote Industry News
Polymernotes.org
The Keesing Platform team brings you the latest in various fields, including security documents, security printing, banknotes, identity management, biometrics, blockchain, crypto technology and online onboarding.
