The Cayman Islands dollar (KYD) was introduced in the early 1970s when the Cayman Islands Currency Board replaced circulating Jamaican and sterling-area paper with a distinct national issue. The CI dollar has maintained a stable peg to the U.S. dollar (KYD 1 = USD 1.20), reflecting the territory’s role as a regional financial centre and its deep links to the U.S. economy. In 1997 the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) assumed responsibility for issuance and regulation, continuing a design language that balances constitutional symbolism with tourism and marine heritage.
Security printing has been led chiefly by Thomas De La Rue, whose work combined classic British engraving with bright Caribbean palettes, complex guilloche, microtext, and optically variable devices. Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II anchor earlier series, while banknotes frequently feature the turtle watermark, reef life, and coastal vistas—motifs that reinforce national identity and public recognition. Modern releases (including 2010s reprints and later updates) enhanced counterfeit resistance without losing continuity across denominations. Specimens and proofs document plate states, prefix conventions, and printer controls; they also preserve designs that may have seen limited production. Use the filters above to pivot by type or year; the cards below highlight representative issues rather than repeating individual descriptions, connecting CIMA’s current notes back to their Currency Board origins and to De La Rue’s long technical stewardship.