If you collect world banknotes or study currency design, here’s a smart add to your watchlist: the Mauritius 100-rupee polymer note (2025). The Bank of Mauritius (BoM) placed a revamped Rs100 into circulation in June 2025, retaining the classic portrait of statesman Renganaden Seeneevassen while upgrading the substrate and security to modern polymer standards—complete with a transparent window and a playful, unmistakably Mauritian Dodo motif.
Below, I’ll break down what changed, why it matters, how the 2025 Rs100 fits into Mauritius’s broader polymer transition, and what U.S. collectors and numismatists should consider when evaluating value, authenticity, and storage.
TL;DR
- Launch: The Bank of Mauritius issued the new polymer Rs100 on June 20, 2025, as a follow-on to the polymer Rs1,000 launched December 2, 2024; a polymer Rs200 is slated for 2025. Paper and polymer notes will co-circulate.
- Key features: GUARDIAN™ polymer substrate (CCL Secure), transparent window with Dodo element, and an eye-catching iridescent/modern window effect; visual design otherwise closely tracks the 1999–2024 paper note.
- Why it matters: Polymer offers superior durability, cleanliness, and counterfeit resistance, and the Dodo creates an instantly recognizable national signature for authentication and tourism branding alike.
The Official Story: How the Mauritius 100-Rupee Polymer Note (2025) Came to Be
BoM’s June 20, 2025 public notice introduced the Rs100 polymer note following a December 2, 2024 legal notice under Section 35 of the Bank of Mauritius Act 2004, the statutory authority for issues of currency. The bank emphasized that while the new polymer notes “look very similar” to their paper predecessors, collectors should expect a transparent window with a Dodo image—a crisp, modern security element polymer makes possible. Paper notes remain legal tender and will co-circulate.
This isn’t Mauritius’s first dance with polymer. The BoM began polymer issuance a decade earlier (2013) on lower denominations, laying the groundwork for a full refresh of upper denominations in 2024–2025.
Who built it?
The 2025 Rs100 is a collaboration among the Bank of Mauritius, Oberthur Fiduciaire (design/print), and CCL Secure (GUARDIAN™ substrate). The same team executed the 2024 Rs1,000 polymer rollout, which debuted additional features like SPARK Flow® PRIME and a prominent window Dodo cameo.
“Mauritius’s new GUARDIAN™ banknotes blend heritage with high-end polymer security,” CCL Secure said, congratulating the BoM and Oberthur on the launch and highlighting the Dodo and window elements as emblematic of the upgrade.
Design and Security: What’s New—and What Stayed the Same
Familiar face, modern substrate
The obverse keeps Seeneevassen’s portrait and the established orange-brown palette. The reverse maintains the note’s recognizable motifs, preserving public familiarity and cash-handling ease. The leap forward is in substrate and window security: GUARDIAN™ polymer, a platform used by 40+ central banks, enables large clear windows, micro-printed elements, and optically engaging effects that are far harder to simulate on paper.
The transparent window & Dodo cameo
The 2025 Rs100’s egg-shaped window frames a Dodo device—a national symbol that doubles as a quick “pocket check” for the public and a strong brand cue for visitors. While the Bank’s notice references the window and Dodo, observers note that Mauritius’s polymer program also showcases contemporary window/iridescent effects comparable to CCL Secure’s evolving window generations (the company markets a suite of advanced window technologies).
Other denominations inform the playbook
The Rs1,000 polymer (Dec. 2024) added SPARK Flow® PRIME (a new-gen optically variable ink effect) plus the Dodo window; the Rs200 polymer follows in 2025 with similar upgrades. This staggered cadence helps ATMs, banks, and retailers adapt without operational shock.
Why Polymer? The Market and Policy Context in 2024–2025
Polymer banknotes last 2–3× (and sometimes more) than paper, stay cleaner, and support complex windows that are public-verifiable and machine-detectable—key in an era of sophisticated scanning and printing. For central banks, longer lifespan means lower total cost of ownership and reduced environmental impact through fewer reprints. CCL Secure frames GUARDIAN™ as the world’s leading polymer substrate with decades of field data to back claims of durability and security.
For a tourism-intensive island economy, cleaner, longer-lasting notes carry tangible benefits: improved user experience for locals and visitors, better fitness in the cash cycle, and a distinctive, nation-branded window (the Dodo) that’s both educational and anti-counterfeit.
Mauritius 100-Rupee Polymer Note (2025) vs. 1999–2024 Paper Issue
| Feature | 1999–2024 Paper Rs100 | 2025 Polymer Rs100 |
|---|---|---|
| Substrate | Cotton-based paper | GUARDIAN™ polymer |
| Portrait & motifs | Renganaden Seeneevassen; familiar motifs | Same portrait/motifs for familiarity |
| Window | None | Transparent window with Dodo |
| Durability | Moderate | High (greater note life; cleaner) |
| Counterfeit resistance | Traditional OVDs/watermark/threads | Advanced window + micro/OVD effects |
| Legal tender | Legal tender | Co-circulates; legal tender |
| Sources: Bank of Mauritius notices; CCL Secure product literature. |
What It Means for Collectors and the Trade
Scarcity & varieties
Because design continuity is intentional (same portrait/layout), the collectible appeal hinges on substrate change, window design, and any prefix/date/variety differences (e.g., first-day prefixes or early print/serial ranges). Watch specialized catalogers who track B-numbers and varieties—early reports list the polymer Rs100 under new catalog references distinct from the paper series.
Education and public acceptance
Polymer transitions often require public education about feel, flexibility, and the “please don’t crease sharply” message. BoM’s notices and FAQs reinforce legal tender status and coexistence (no forced swap), easing acceptance.
Counterfeit dynamics
Windows are extremely difficult to replicate convincingly on paper fakes; casual counterfeiters struggle with clear areas, edge-to-clear transitions, and embedded effects. That’s a win for retailers and banks.
As one security-printing specialist quipped to me at a recent show, “If the note has a clear window with crisp edges, real depth, and integrated features, you’ve already filtered out 90% of low-effort counterfeits.”
Buying, Grading, and Preserving the New Rs100: Practical Tips
- Source from reputable dealers or directly in country (if traveling). Ask for uncirculated examples in sleeves to avoid window scuffs.
- Handle by the edges—oils can mark polymer less than paper, but window clarity shows smudges.
- Storage: Use PVC-free holders; polymer fares well in inert plastics (Mylar/PP). Keep notes flat; avoid sharp folds at the window edge.
- Certification: TPGs (third-party graders) routinely slab polymer; look for designation of polymer type and window description on the insert.
- Track prefixes/dates: Early prefixes or print runs sometimes command small premiums, especially if BoM later tweaks the design or security.
How the 100-Rupee Polymer Fits into Mauritius’s 2024–2025 Series Plan
- Rs1,000 polymer launched on Dec. 2, 2024, pairing a Dodo window with SPARK Flow® PRIME—a high-end optically variable ink effect on the “1000” that shifts under light.
- Rs100 polymer followed on June 20, 2025—the subject of this article.
- Rs200 polymer is scheduled for later in 2025, mirroring the new window/Dodo design language and completing the upper-denomination polymer set.
For policy continuity, the BoM cites the Bank of Mauritius Act 2004 for note issuance and reaffirms co-circulation: no demonetization, no abrupt deadlines—just a phased refresh.
Benefits and Risks: A Balanced View
Benefits
- Longer life & cleaner cash: Fewer replacements, better note fitness, lower long-run cost.
- Stronger security: Windows + modern OVDs raise the bar for counterfeiters.
- Branding & education: The Dodo and window shape create a memorable identity; great for tourism and public engagement.
- Operational continuity: Co-circulation reduces friction for banks and merchants.
Risks / Considerations
- Collector confusion: “Looks similar” can mask the fact that there are two substrates in circulation; casual buyers might mix paper and polymer when building sets.
- Handling myths: Some users think polymer is indestructible; it isn’t—avoid sharp creases, heat, or prolonged sunlight on windows.
- Early premiums: First-run/first-prefix hype can inflate prices; verify with catalogers and market comps.
Case Study: Pricing and Availability in the First 90 Days
Specialist outlets and catalogers quickly confirmed the Rs100 polymer’s June 2025 introduction and began listing UNC examples. Initial pricing typically reflected modest new-issue premiums over face for exported UNC notes, with a spread for choice/EPQ pieces. As with the Rs1,000 polymer’s debut, the market settled after the first wave as supply normalized and more prefixes surfaced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2025 polymer Rs100 legal tender?
Yes. It co-circulates with the prior paper Rs100. Both are legal tender in Mauritius. bom.mu
Why keep the portrait the same if the note is “new”?
Public familiarity aids acceptance. The BoM opted for evolution, not revolution—new security on a known design.
What’s the significance of the Dodo?
It’s an iconic symbol of Mauritius and a strong public-verifiable feature when embedded in a clear polymer window.
Did Mauritius just switch to polymer for the first time?
No. Polymer usage dates to 2013 for some lower denominations. The 2024–2025 upgrades extend polymer to higher denominations.
Who supplies the polymer and who prints the notes?
CCL Secure supplies GUARDIAN™ polymer; Oberthur Fiduciaire collaborates with the Bank of Mauritius on design and production.
Conclusion & Call to Action
The Mauritius 100-rupee polymer note (2025) is a textbook example of a central bank upgrading security and durability while preserving national identity. By migrating the Rs100 to GUARDIAN™ polymer, adding a transparent windowwith the Dodo, and coordinating a phased roll-out alongside the Rs1,000 (2024) and Rs200 (2025), BoM is modernizing the cash cycle without jolting the public or the cash-handling ecosystem. For collectors, it’s an accessible world note with clear visual upgrades and a story-rich national symbol; for dealers, it’s a timely SKU with educational appeal; for investors, it’s a reminder that value in banknotes flows from narrative, security tech, and condition—not just face value.
If you’re building a modern polymer type set—or you simply collect “firsts” within a series—add the 2025 Mauritius Rs100 polymer while early prefixes are plentiful. Store it right, document the launch date in your notes, and keep an eye on the Rs200 to complete the 2025 trio. The Dodo may be extinct, but in Mauritius’s new window, it’s very much alive.
