Tonight’s note comes from the South American country of Ecuador located between Colombia and Peru on the Pacific coast. The republic of Ecuador straddles the Equator and thus the name. It is the world’s largest exporter of bananas; other exports are balsa wood, coffee, cacao and shrimp.

The note chosen tonight is the 1999 5,000 Sucres. The front has the image of Juan Montalvo and is also the watermark. The back has images of the flightless cormorant, Galapagos penguin, and Galapagos tortoise. The note was designed in Mexico but printed and issued by BCdE or Banco Casa de Ecuador. The note is no longer current and valued by collectors at $7.50 UNC.

Since September 7, 2000 the US Dollar (USD) has become legal tender, and the sucre is no longer used but was redeemable at a rate of 25,000 sucres per US Dollar until March 30, 2001. ENJOY!