Collection Inspiration: Orchids
Posted on 9/23/2025
Orchids are symbols of resilience, beauty and cultural pride across continents. From the Vanda Miss Joaquim of Singapore to Colombia’s Cattleya trianae, each species carries a story of botanical achievement and regional identity.
These flowers captivate gardeners and collectors alike, their petals and colors reflecting both natural wonder and human cultivation. In honor of International Orchid Day in September, we’re featuring banknotes that celebrate the diversity and elegance of orchids, whose beauty resonates across cultures and generations.
Ten banknotes featuring orchids
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Brunei 2017 50 Dollars: Vanda Miss Joaquim
This 2017 Brunei 50 Dollar note, which was issued to celebrate a currency agreement with Singapore, highlights the Vanda Miss Joaquim, a striking pink orchid admired for its resilience and ability to bloom year-round. As Singapore’s national flower, it appears on the note alongside Brunei’s bright yellow Simpur flower, creating a visual pairing of elegance. The Vanda Miss Joaquim’s slender petals and vibrant hues give the design a sense of motion and life, serving as a reminder that this orchid is more than a botanical marvel.
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Singapore 1967 Orchid series: Vanda Janet Kaneali
Singapore’s first series of banknotes is known as the Orchid Series, and the lowest denomination of the initial notes released in 1967 showed the Vanda Janet Kaneali, a bold hybrid that set the tone for the entire collection. This deep magenta orchid, named after the wife of a Hawaiian horticulturist, was chosen for its striking color and sturdy form, qualities that reflected the young nation’s determination to stand firm on the world stage. Its presence on the inaugural Dollar note carried symbolic weight, merging Singapore’s identity with its horticultural achievements.
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Costa Rica 2019 10,000 Colones: Eriopsis Wercklei
The back of this 2019 Costa Rica 10,000 Colones note presents Eriopsis wercklei, an orchid native to the country’s highland forests and a quiet treasure of its biodiversity. This rare species, with its cascading clusters of pale yellow blooms marked by delicate speckles, thrives in the misty canopy where sunlight filters through in fragments. Its inclusion on the currency is more than decoration; it is a declaration of Costa Rica’s pride in preserving one of the richest orchid populations in the world.
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Colombia – 1973-74 50 Pesos Oro – Cattleya Trianae
Colombia’s 1973-74 50 Pesos Oro note honors the Cattleya trianae, the orchid that carries the distinction of being the country’s national flower. Named after 19th century botanist José Jerónimo Triana, this orchid dazzles with lavender petals and a golden throat that seems to glow from within. Native to the high Andes, it has become a symbol of Colombia’s immense biodiversity and its reputation as the world’s orchid capital.
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Suriname 2000 5,000 Gulden: Oncidium Papilio
The 2000 Suriname 5,000 Gulden note showcases the Oncidium papilio, often called the butterfly orchid for its fluttering, wing-like petals. This tropical native brings a lively energy to the currency, its golden yellow blooms flecked with rich brown markings that mimic a butterfly in mid-flight. Celebrated for its whimsical appearance, the Oncidium papilio embodies both elegance and playfulness, capturing attention without overwhelming the eye. Featuring this delicate yet striking flower on the note serves as a reminder that cultural identity can bloom as vividly as the landscapes it inhabits.
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Venezuela – 1990 500 Bolivares: Catasetum Pileatum
The 1990 Venezuela 500 Bolívares note highlights the Catasetum pileatum, an orchid known for its dramatic, sculptural flowers and unusual growth habits. Native to tropical forests, the Catasetum pileatum is remarkable for its resilience and for the way it attracts pollinators with both scent and shape. By featuring this orchid on the note, Venezuela celebrated the uniqueness of its flora, showing that national pride can take the form of subtle elegance as much as grand imagery.
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Cayman Islands 2010 10 Dollars: Wild Banana Orchid
The 2010 Cayman Islands 10 Dollars note presents the wild banana orchid, a delicate native species that thrives along the islands’ rocky shores and wooded slopes. Its pale petals and slender form give it a subtle elegance, contrasting with the vibrant marine and tropical imagery elsewhere on the note. Holding the note invites a closer look at the flora that defines the Cayman Islands and the understated charm that thrives there.
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Brazil ND (1990) 500 Cruzados Novos: Cattleya Warneri
Brazil’s ND (1990) 500 Cruzados Novos note spotlights the Cattleya warneri, a variety prized for its large, fragrant blooms. Native to Brazil’s Atlantic forests, this orchid exudes both elegance and presence, its petals unfolding like a carefully arranged fan. Known as the “queen of Brazilian orchids,” it has long captured the attention of horticulturists and collectors for its bold colors and refined form.
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Switzerland 1976 500 Franken: Purple Orchid
Switzerland’s 1976 500 Franken note features a purple orchid alongside Albrecht von Haller, a nod to his lifelong fascination with botany. Haller’s studies of plant life are subtly echoed in the orchid’s careful depiction, highlighting both its delicate structure and the broader wonder of alpine flora. By including this bloom, the note becomes more than currency; it celebrates the intersection of intellect and nature, honoring the way observation and appreciation can elevate even the smallest details into symbols of national pride.
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Netherlands Indies 1948 Half Gulden: Moon Orchid
The Netherlands Indies 1948 Half Gulden note showcases the moon orchid, also known as the moth orchid, celebrated for its smooth, rounded petals and elegant, symmetrical form. Native to tropical Asia, this orchid has long been prized for both its beauty and its adaptability, thriving in cultivated gardens as well as natural forests. Featuring the moon orchid on the currency reminds holders that even small, often overlooked species can carry a sense of wonder and cultural significance.
If these notes inspired you, check out our other Collection Inspiration columns for more collecting ideas, including hummingbirds, butterflies and amazing plants. Also, be sure to follow PMG on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for articles and interesting notes posted daily.
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