Tongan pound facts for kids
The pound was the money used in Tonga, a country in the Pacific Ocean, until 1967. It was divided into smaller parts: 20 shillings made one pound, and each shilling was made of 12 pence.
History of Tonga's Money
At first, Tonga used British money. Then, starting in 1921, the Tongan government began printing its own banknotes (paper money). These notes were also called "sterling" and even included an unusual 4-shilling note.
Things got a bit confusing during the Great Depression in the 1930s. The Australian pound became worth less than the British pound. People in the Pacific islands, including Tonga, weren't sure if their money was worth the same as British money or Australian money.
To fix this, in 1936, Tonga decided to make its pound equal to the Australian pound. This meant one Tongan pound was now worth 16 British shillings. Older Tongan banknotes had the word "sterling" stamped over them to show this change. Newer notes didn't have the word "sterling" at all.
Finally, in 1967, Tonga changed its money system completely. The pound was replaced by a new currency called the pa'anga. One Tongan pound became worth two Tongan pa'anga.
Tongan Banknotes
The first Tongan banknotes were introduced in 1921, with a value of £5. Later, in 1933, notes for 4 shillings, 10 shillings, and £1 were also printed. These four types of banknotes were used in Tonga until 1966, just before the currency changed.
See also
- British currency in Oceania
- Economy of Tonga
