Type details
| Country | Antarctica |
| Currency | Antarctica Dollar |
| Denomination | 2 |
| Series | Commemorative Issue |
| Series range | 1999–1999 |
| Issue year | 1999 |
| Issuer | Antarctica Overseas Exchange Office Ltd. |
| Signatures | Comptroller: D. John Hamilton |
| Printer | British American Banknote Co. |
| Front portrait | Gentoo penguins |
| Reverse subject | Mount Erebus |
| Themes | wildlife,commemorative |
| Security features | microprint, uv |
| Colour palette | #5a7a8a,#d4a574,#3d3d3d |
| Material | paper |
| Language / script | Latin |
| Languages | en |
| Rarity | common |
| Legal status | not_legal_tender |
| Era | 1990_present |
| Default value (low) | 3.0 |
| Default value (high) | 8.0 |
| Value currency | USD |
Front
Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) in their natural Antarctic habitat against a rocky outcrop at sunset. These medium-sized penguins are among the most common Antarctic species, known for their distinctive white stripe across the crown and bright orange-red bill. The note is dated November 28, 1999, and issued by Antarctica Overseas Exchange Office Ltd., a private entity that produced fantasy banknotes for collectors and Antarctic tourism.
Back
Mount Erebus, the southernmost active volcano on Earth, located on Ross Island in Antarctica at 3,794 meters elevation. The note commemorates the 'Tragedy of 901' — the crash of Air New Zealand Flight 901 on November 28, 1979, which killed all 257 people aboard when the aircraft flew into the slopes of Mount Erebus during a sightseeing flight. The back displays horizontal bands in blue, gray, and gold, with the Southern Cross constellation and New Zealand flag visible. The date 28.11.1979 marks the anniversary of the disaster.
History
This is a fantasy or private commemorative issue produced by Antarctica Overseas Exchange Office Ltd., not legal tender of any recognized government. Antarctica has no official currency or monetary authority, being governed by the Antarctic Treaty System. Such privately-issued 'Antarctica Dollars' were produced from the 1990s onwards as collectibles and souvenirs, often sold to tourists visiting Antarctic research stations or aboard expedition cruise ships. This particular note commemorates one of New Zealand's worst peacetime disasters, the Mount Erebus crash of 1979, which occurred exactly 20 years before the note's nominal issue date. Printed by British American Banknote Co., these notes have no purchasing power but serve as commemorative pieces related to Antarctic history and exploration.
