Cook Islands P-11 W11 B111 3 Dollars (2021) UNC Polymer Woman/Shark

Variety: P-11, TBB# 111 — Signatures: Mark Brown, Minister of Finance Catalog Numbers: Pick P-11, The Banknote Book (TBB) #111 Color: Multicolor Front: Ina, nude, holding a coconut, riding Mango the shark Back: Fishing canoe Te-Rongo, God of agriculture and peace Security Features: UV Activity: Yes Serial Number Prefix: AA (standard issue) Currency: Cook Islands Dollar (ISO code: NZD, 1972–date) Denomination: 3 Dollars Composition: Polymer Size: 140 × 67 mm Printer: De La Rue, London, United Kingdom Country: Cook Islands — British protectorate (1888–1901); annexed to New Zealand (1901–1965); self-governing in free association with New Zealand (1965–present) Ina & Mango the Shark: A Polynesian Legend on the Obverse The front of this Cook Islands 3 Dollar polymer banknote, issued by the Ministry of Finance of Cook Islands and printed by De La Rue, depicts one of the most beloved legends of Polynesian mythology: Ina, a beautiful young woman who embarks on a daring ocean voyage to find her lover in the land of the gods. In the legend, Ina is aided by Mango, a great shark who carries her across the vast Pacific. She holds a coconut — a gift and a symbol of sustenance for the journey. The image of Ina riding Mango is one of the most iconic in Cook Islands cultural identity, representing courage, the bond between humans and the ocean, and the spiritual power of the sea. Te-Rongo & the Fishing Canoe: Tradition on the Reverse The reverse features Te-Rongo, the Polynesian god of agriculture, cultivated plants, and peace, revered across the Pacific under various names (Roʻo in Hawaii, Lono in some traditions). His presence alongside a traditional fishing canoe — the vaʼa, the vessel that connected Pacific peoples across thousands of miles of open ocean — grounds this collectible Cook Islands banknote in the deep maritime heritage of the Pacific. The World’s Only Circulating 3-Dollar Banknote The Cook Islands 3 Dollar note holds a unique distinction: it is one of the very few — and arguably the most widely circulated — 3-dollar denomination banknotes in the world. Most currency systems use denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, and so on; the 3-dollar note is a deliberate anomaly, making it a standout piece for any world banknote collection. Combined with its striking polymer construction, vivid mythological imagery, and the cultural weight of its subjects, this note punches well above its face value as a collectible. A Final Reflection: The Girl, the Shark, and the God This 3 Dollar UNC polymer banknote is a small rectangle of extraordinary storytelling. On one side, a young woman rides a shark across the open Pacific, armed with nothing but courage and a coconut. On the other, a god of peace watches over a canoe that has crossed more ocean than most ships ever will. Together, they speak to a people who have always known that the sea is not a barrier — it is a road. For collectors of Pacific banknotes, polymer currency, world mythology on currency, or simply the unusual, this Uncirculated example — Pick P-11, TBB# 111 — is one of the most visually and culturally compelling notes in any collection.

Cook Islands P-11 W11 B111 3 Dollars (2021) UNC Polymer Woman/Shark

  • Variety: P-11, TBB# 111 — Signatures: Mark Brown, Minister of Finance
  • Catalog Numbers: Pick P-11, The Banknote Book (TBB) #111
  • Color: Multicolor
  • Front:
    • Ina, nude, holding a coconut, riding Mango the shark
  • Back:
    • Fishing canoe
    • Te-Rongo, God of agriculture and peace
  • Security Features:
    • UV Activity: Yes
  • Serial Number Prefix: AA (standard issue)
  • Currency: Cook Islands Dollar (ISO code: NZD, 1972–date)
  • Denomination: 3 Dollars
  • Composition: Polymer
  • Size: 140 × 67 mm
  • Printer: De La Rue, London, United Kingdom
  • Country: Cook Islands — British protectorate (1888–1901); annexed to New Zealand (1901–1965); self-governing in free association with New Zealand (1965–present)

Ina & Mango the Shark: A Polynesian Legend on the Obverse

The front of this Cook Islands 3 Dollar polymer banknote, issued by the Ministry of Finance of Cook Islands and printed by De La Rue, depicts one of the most beloved legends of Polynesian mythology: Ina, a beautiful young woman who embarks on a daring ocean voyage to find her lover in the land of the gods.

In the legend, Ina is aided by Mango, a great shark who carries her across the vast Pacific. She holds a coconut — a gift and a symbol of sustenance for the journey. The image of Ina riding Mango is one of the most iconic in Cook Islands cultural identity, representing courage, the bond between humans and the ocean, and the spiritual power of the sea.

Te-Rongo & the Fishing Canoe: Tradition on the Reverse

The reverse features Te-Rongo, the Polynesian god of agriculture, cultivated plants, and peace, revered across the Pacific under various names (Roʻo in Hawaii, Lono in some traditions). His presence alongside a traditional fishing canoe — the vaʼa, the vessel that connected Pacific peoples across thousands of miles of open ocean — grounds this collectible Cook Islands banknote in the deep maritime heritage of the Pacific.

The World’s Only Circulating 3-Dollar Banknote

The Cook Islands 3 Dollar note holds a unique distinction: it is one of the very few — and arguably the most widely circulated — 3-dollar denomination banknotes in the world. Most currency systems use denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, and so on; the 3-dollar note is a deliberate anomaly, making it a standout piece for any world banknote collection. Combined with its striking polymer construction, vivid mythological imagery, and the cultural weight of its subjects, this note punches well above its face value as a collectible.

A Final Reflection: The Girl, the Shark, and the God

This 3 Dollar UNC polymer banknote is a small rectangle of extraordinary storytelling. On one side, a young woman rides a shark across the open Pacific, armed with nothing but courage and a coconut. On the other, a god of peace watches over a canoe that has crossed more ocean than most ships ever will. Together, they speak to a people who have always known that the sea is not a barrier — it is a road.

For collectors of Pacific banknotes, polymer currency, world mythology on currency, or simply the unusual, this Uncirculated example — Pick P-11, TBB# 111 — is one of the most visually and culturally compelling notes in any collection.

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  • You will receive (a) banknote(s) similar to the one in the picture, in the condition mentioned in the listing title such as UNC, VF, etc. See below for definitions.
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Banknote Grading Guide

Grades reflect overall market perception, not rigid defect counting alone. Notes sold from grouped inventory may vary slightly within grade. Individual defects such as foxing, writing, or small marks may be reflected in the grade rather than always itemized separately. Buyers may return any note within 14 days of receipt; satisfaction is guaranteed.

  • UNC (Uncirculated ~60-70): folds none; handling none to trace; paper crisp; corners sharp; splits/tears none; missing pieces none; surface clean; impressions (counting-band or security-thread half-moon) permitted if there is no paper break, fiber disturbance, or ink/design loss.
  • AU/UNC (Almost Unc. Plus ~55-58): folds 1 very light fold (soft bend, no sharp crease, no design break) or up to 3 corner bends; handling trace; paper crisp; corners nearly sharp.
  • AU (Almost Unc. ~50-53): folds 1 light fold or 2 very light folds; handling light; paper crisp to slightly relaxed; corners slightly rounded.
  • XF+ (Extra Fine Plus ~45-48): folds 2-3 light folds; handling light; paper crisp to regular; edges minor wear begins.
  • XF (Extra Fine ~40-44): folds 3-4 light to moderate folds; handling moderate; paper crisp to regular; edges/splits minor splits may appear.
  • VF+ (Very Fine Plus ~35-39): folds 4-6 moderate folds; handling moderate; paper regular to semi-limp; splits minor and more common.
  • VF (Very Fine ~30-34): folds 6-8 moderate to heavy folds; paper semi-limp; splits small but typical; surface light soiling visible.
  • VFâ (Very Fine Minus ~25-29): folds 8-12 heavy folds; paper semi-limp to limp; splits moderate; surface duller; foxing/writing may be present and reflected in grade without separate notation.
  • F (Fine 15-20): folds 12-15 heavy folds, may include very heavy folds; paper limp; splits frequent; tears up to 10 mm, limited in number; missing pieces up to 3 small edge/corner pieces, each up to about 3Ã3 mm; foxing/writing may be present and reflected in grade without separate notation.
  • Fâ (Fine Minus ~12-14): folds numerous very heavy folds; paper limp; splits common; tears up to about 15 mm; missing pieces up to 5 small pieces, each up to about 5 mm; foxing/writing may be present and reflected in grade without separate notation.
  • VG/F (Very Good to Fine ~10-12): folds dense network of very heavy folds; paper very limp; splits heavy; tears common; missing pieces multiple; foxing/writing may be minor or significant and reflected in grade without separate notation.
  • VG (Very Good ~8-10): folds severe overlapping very heavy folds; paper very limp; splits heavy with edge damage; missing pieces multiple; surface poor eye appeal; foxing/writing may be minor or significant and reflected in grade without separate notation.

Definitions

  • Handling: surface fatigue without structural change; loss of crispness, slight dulling, and/or micro-flexing; not a true fold.
  • Fold severity: very light = bend only, no sharp crease, no ink disturbance; light = thin crease, clean line, no ink loss; moderate = visible pressure, slightly widened line; heavy = broad crease, may vary slightly in placement; very heavy = thick, uneven, with weakened or partially lost design along the fold.
  • Half-moon / band impression: curved pressure mark from a counting strap or internal security thread; acceptable in UNC if the paper is not broken and there is no fiber or design disturbance; if flattening or disturbance is visible, the note is typically AU/UNC or lower. A simple central-bank band impression is generally less serious than a mark that visibly disturbs the printed design.
  • Foxing: age-related spotting. Minor foxing typically lowers a note about one grade step; major foxing lowers it multiple steps.
  • Pen marks / writing: minor means under about 2 cm² total visible writing; major means more than ~2 cm² or visually dominant writing. Minor writing lowers a note one grade step; major writing lowers it multiple steps.
  • Tears / splits / missing pieces: structural defects. These must remain within the limits of the assigned grade; excessive size, count, or severity forces a downgrade.
  • When foxing, writing or tears downgrade a note, the issue may be absorbed into the assigned grade without explicit mention.