...Zimbabwe - 2026 Series of 3 Notes ZiG Second Series

Republic of Zimbabwe

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (est.1956)

(The King of Funny Money)

Currency : Zimbabwe Gold (ZWG)

 

 

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) released two new banknotes on 08.04.2024 with the denominations of 10 and 20 Zimbabwe Gold or ZiG. This new currency was launched on 05.04.2024 with the intention to release this in a full set which would also include the values of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 100 and 200 ZiG. The design for this series was supposed to be all the same, front and back, albeit different colours and denomination values. However, since then only two notes of 10 and 20 Zig have been released. It is not sure what will happen to the rest of the unissued notes. It is believed that some or all the remaining notes were printed. 

Obviously, as we all know, RBZ decided to redesign this ZiG series with improved security features and to have them printed on better substrate. The reason for the redesign of the ZiG series was that there were complaints from the public about the poor quality of those 2024 notes issued and as such RBZ decided to redesign and reissue them again. The initial ZiG series was to cover all 8 denominations. It appears that this new ZiG series only comes in 5 denominations, without the lower 3 values of 1, 2 and 5 ZiG. 

On 07.04.2026, RBZ released the first 3 notes of 10, 20 and 50 ZiG for circulation, and the remaining two notes, 100 and 200 ZiG will be released at a later date. The designs on all the five notes are not the same this time. On the front, each note depicts a wildlife animal of Zimbabwe and on the back, each note features a famous landmark of Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe banknotes have come a long way over the past 25 years or so. When the country experienced hyperinflation in the second half of 2000s and early 2010s, the people in Zimbabwe nicknamed their currency as the King of Funny Money. I am not sure if this title still holds in Zimbabwe, but since the 2000s, RBZ has issued more than 80+ banknotes of various denominations, ranging from 1 cent to 100 trillion dollars. Whilst the people in Zimbabwe were experiencing hyperinflation on an hourly or daily basis, these banknotes were in high demand for overseas collectors as these notes were very affordable due to their weak value and also a good opportunity for collectors to build up their collection too. Since then, a few of these notes are selling quite expensive, and because of this, various forgeries are also available in the market. If you are looking for these hyperinflation notes, especially those high value types (100 trillion) beware of the fakes!

 

Ten ZiG 

Front - To the left is a standing Cape buffalo. The Cape buffalo is a native animal of eastern and southern Africa. To the right is an image of the Chiremba balancing rock formation. A couple of gold ingots are also printed on the bottom right corner 

Governor - John Mushayavanhu

Date - Harare 2026

Watermark - Stone-caved Zimbabwe bird and electrotype 10

Sizes - 130.5mm x 65mm

Back - The Malopo hills balance rock formation located in the Matobo National Park in southwestern Zimbabwe, about 35 kilometers south of the city Bulawayo. Bulawayo is the second-largest city in Zimbabwe.

 

Twenty ZiG 

Front - Image of an elephant to the left. The Chiremba balancing rock formation is printed on the right. Two gold ingots at the bottom right corner.

Governor - John Mushayavanhu

Date - Harare 2026

Watermark - Stone-caved Zimbabwe bird electrotype 20

Sizes - 138mm x 65mm

Back - The main feature on the back is the image of Zimbabwe's new Parliament building. This building is located northwest of the capital city Harare. It is about 30 minutes drive from the city center of Harare. The new parliament is situated on 50,000 square meters of land. Construction for the new parliament building started in 2018 and completed in 2022. 

 

Fifty ZiG 

Front - A standing rhinoceros. The Chiremba balancing rock formation is printed on the right. Two gold ingots at the bottom right corner.

Governor - John Mushayavanhu

Date - Harare 2026

Watermark - Stone-caved Zimbabwe bird electrotype 50

Sizes - 144.5mm x 65mm

Back - An aerial view of Kabira dam. This is a massive hydroelectric dam built on the Zambezi River bordering between north of Zimbabwe and Zambia. The Kabira dam was built in 1959. 

...Botswana - 50 Pula 2025 Commemorative Note 50th Year of Bank Of Botswana 1975-2025

Lefatshe la Botswana

(The Republic of Botswana)

 

Banka Ya Botswana

(Bank of Botswana, Est.1975)

Currency - Pula (BWP)

 

This is a new commemorative note of 50 pula reportedly issued on 19.09.2025 to celebrate the country's 50th year of the Bank of Botswana (Golden Jubilee - 1975 to 2025). The central bank was established on 01.07.1975 with its head office located in the capital city of Gaborone. 

Botswana became independent from the British on 30.09.1966. Following independence, the country continues to be part of the Rand Monetary Area (RMA) currency system. The RMA is a monetary union of Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland (now eSwatini) and was established to promote economic development between its member states. The South African Rand was the main currency but other member states also issued their own currencies and were exchangeable at par. 

In 1974, Botswana withdrew from the RMA system and established it's own central bank in 1975 with the new currency of Pula introduced in 1976. The word 'pula' literally means 'rain' in Setswana, a Bantu language indigenous to Southern Africa and spoken by more than 8 million people. The Bank's first governor appointed was Christopher H.L. Hermans (tenure 1975-1978). It should also be noted that he was reappointed as the bank governor from 1987 to 1997. In 1977, the central bank became a government fully owned institution.  

Whilst this banknote celebrates the 50th anniversary of the central bank, the theme on the back honors the achievement of it's athletics performance in the 2024 Paris Olympic games. Botswana has now joined the very few countries that have issued banknotes honoring the Olympic games or participants that won medals in an Olympic game. Other countries that have issued banknotes that are also related to this game are China, Hong Kong Bank of China, Fiji, Macau Bank of China, South Korea and Russia.

This is the first time that the Bank of Botswana has issued a commemorative banknote since the country gained independence in 1966. Hopefully, as a collector, we would like to see more commemorative notes in the near future.

 

Fifty Pula 

Front - On the front, the main design is the image of the Central Bank of Botswana's building. In the bottom center is the commemorative logo for the Golden Jubilee and in the top right corner is the country's Coat of Arms. 

Next to the 50 denomination value in the left corner is an image of a 2488 carats diamond called Motswedi, the second largest diamond ever found. This diamond was unearthed at Botswana's Karowe Diamond mine in August 2024 and is reportedly worth around US$100 million dollars. Next to this diamond, the following text is printed: -

"At 2488 carats, Motswedi, the second largest diamond ever 

found, was unearthed at Botswana's Karowe Diamond Mine."

 

Signatures

Minister of Finance - Ms Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe

Governor - Cornelius Dekop

Date - 2025 (1975-2025)

Watermark - A rearing zebra and electrotype 50

Sizes - 144mm x 71mm 

Back - On the bank, the note honouring Botswana athletics that won medals in the 2024 Paris Olympics games. The main character is the Men's 200 meters gold medal winner, Letsile Tebogo, showing him holding up his winning gold medal. In addition to his gold medal, he also won a Men's 4 x 400 meters Relay Silver medal, together with Anthony Pesela, Busang Collen Kebinatshipi and Bayapo S. Ndori, as shown on the note after the medal presentation ceremony. Needless to say that the image of Letsile Tebogo appears twice on the same note. How lucky is that? Even the President of the country does not have such honour. Behind these athletics is a billowing Botswana's national flag. You can also see the large numeral '50' printed on the note too.

The Paris 2024 Olympic was not the first time that Botswana won any medals. In 2012, it won a silver medal in London and in 2020 (2021) a bronze medal in Tokyo. However, Paris 2024 was the first and only time that Botswana has ever won a gold medal in any sporting events in the Olympic games. In the background is printed with the large numerals of 50 in gold colour and the image of the national flag of Botswana.

Note* - The world largest diamond ever found was Cullinan Diamond, weighing 3,106.75 carats discovered in South Africa in 1905. Unfortunately since then, this diamond was then cut into smaller diamonds, including the Cullinan I weighing 530.2 carats, which is also the world largest colourless cut diamond. Guess who owns this stone now?  

...Ethiopia - Full Set Of Four Notes Dated 2020 To 2023

የኢትዮጵያ ፌዴራላዊ ዴሞክራሲያዊ ሪፐብሊክ

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

 

National Bank of Ethiopia (Est.1931)

Currency - Birr (ETB)

 

It has been a long time since I last purchased any Ethiopian banknotes, and here I have posted four notes from the current series. I bought these notes out of curiosity and also these are fairly cheap notes to collect. Ethiopian banknotes were not on my radar but when the dealers sold these in a set, I decided to get them. Whilst the signature on all the notes are the same, not all notes are printed with the same year. The 100 birr is printed with the 2023 year and the rest are printed with 2020. There are three varieties for the 100 birr notes printed with the year dates of 2020 x 1, and 2023 x 2.

This series of banknotes were first introduced on September 14, 2020. These new series of notes are all printed with enhanced security and other distinctive elements. These notes reflect the natural and historical features of Ethiopia. The 200 birr is a new denomination introduced, since the National Bank of Ethiopia was established in 1966. Other lower denominations, such as the 1 and 5 birr are not included in the series.

Ethiopia is one of the 16 landlocked countries in the African continent. The country used to have excesses to the Red Sea until Eritrea successfully gained independence in 1993.

I can say that the majority of the central banks print their banknotes with the national text on the front and then a foreign language on the back, like English, French or others. In some cases, only one national text is used on both and front, and a few print multiple texts due to the country's diversity. The Ethiopian uses a unique writing called the Ge'ez script. This is an ancient writing development in the 4th century AD. On these four notes that I have posted, both the Ge'ez script and English are printed on the front, and only the Ge'ez script on the back. 

 

Ten Birr 

Front - To the center left is the head of a lion. The Lion (Panthera leo) is the country's national animal. It represents strength, bravery, and the nation;s rich wildlife. To the center right is a man harvesting coffee beans, and a scene of a camel standing in the background. To the far left is an outline map of Ethiopia.

Governor - Dr Yinager Dessie (tenure 2019-2023)

Series - 2020

Watermark - Farmer harvesting coffee beans

Sizes - 142mm x 67mm

Back - Four adults (two women and two men) all stacking their hands on top of each other. It looks like a family of four with parents and two adults. Is this meant for unity? To the far right is a Mesob, an Ethiopian hand woven household utensil basket made of fibre of Raffia palm.

 

Fifty Birr

Front - Outline map of Ethiopia, a lion head and a man operating a tractor in an open field. 

Governor - Dr Yinager Dessie (tenure 2019-2023)

Series - 2020

Watermark - Farm tractor

Sizes - 145mm x 70mm

Back - A factory with three chimneys. I have no info as to what type of factory this is related to.

 

One Hundred Birr

Front - Outline map of Ethopia, a lion head and Enqulai Gemb fortress in Gondar. This fortress was founded in the 17th century and was once the home of the Ethiopian emperors. In 1979, this site was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Governor - Dr Yinager Dessie (tenure 2019-2023)

Series - 2023

Watermark - Enqulal Gemb fortress

Sizes - 147.5mm x 71mm

Back - The image of the Sof Omar caves located in the Oromia region. This cave is also Africa's longest cave system and it stretches 15.1km long. To the right is the City gate in Harar, also another UNESCO World Heritage site in Ethiopia.

Two Hundred Birr

Front - Outline map of Ethiopia printed with rolling colour effect and a Lion head next to it. In the center is a flying dove with an olive branch in its beak. I would see this theme as - Peace. 

Governor - Dr Yinager Dessie (tenure 2019-2023)

Series - 2020

Watermark - flying dove with olive branch in its beak

Sizes - 147mm x 72mm

Back - A Walia Ibex (Capricorn) grazing. The Walia Ibex is one of the very few animals that can only be found in Ethiopia. The Walia Ibex is believed to be around 500 existing in the wild and this is a protected animal in the country.

...Portuguese Guinea - 1971 Escudos Series

Província Portuguesa da Guiné

Overseas Province of Guinea

 

Banco Nacional Ultramarino (Est.1864 Lisbon Portugal)

Currency - Escudos (PTE)

 

Below are two notes issued by Banco Nacional Ultramarino and both notes are dated 17 de Dezembro de 1971 (17.12.1971). These are the last banknotes issued before the country gained independence in 1974 and called itself Guinea-Bissau. In general, the Overseas Province of Guinea is commonly known as Portuguese Guinea. Portugal had occupied Portuguese Guinea since 1588 and commenced issuing the Escudo currency in 1914. Following independence, the country issued it's own Peso currency and replaced the Escudos at par. 

Whilst there are a few varieties in signatures for this 1971 series, and in terms of denominations issued for this series, I am missing the 500 escudos piece. There are only two varieties for this 500 escudos issued but at the moment the selling price for one is a bit too expensive for me to get one.

These are the only two banknotes I have from Portuguese Guinea.

Fifty Escudos

Governador - Francisco Jose Vieira Machado

Administrador - Luis Esteves Fernandes

Watermark - Nuno Tristao

Dimensions - 162mm x 80.5mm

 

Front - The portrait of Nuno Tristao facing right. He was a 15th century Portuguese explorer and slave trader and was active in the early 1440s. Nuno Tristao was born in Porto Portugal to a wealthy merchant family. Given the past history and his activity in Africa, I am just wondering why they issued banknotes with the portrait of Nuno Tristao? Were the authorities deliberately insulting the Guinea's natives at that time? I personally find that honouring Nuno Tristao by printing his portrait note is a bit strange, even back in the early 1970s. To glorify a Slaves Trader even in 1971 should not be entertained. Furthermore, these banknotes were circulating in a territory where human beings were kidnapped during broad daylight and then shipped overseas just like animals or commercial goods. Was there a better reason than what I have mentioned?

 

Back - A bank coat of arms to the bottom left. A young woman with her back facing the front, looking over the open sea. I believe there are at least 8 or 9 ships built through various eras and I am unable to identify them all. It looks like one is a viking ship, a galleon, a caravel, an ocean steam liner, a tugboat, a Portuguese man-of-war etc. The galleon has been the favorite ship as the Portuguese used them to sail along the African coast for more than 300+ years for 'you know what' purpose. This ship has been used during conflict times as well as 'trade'.

 

As for the woman, I wonder if there was a reason to have a woman looking out to the sea that has any significant meaning to the design, or it is just an artist's impression to include a human being image on the note. Is she actually based on a real life person? 

 

One Hundred Escudos 

 

Governador - Francisco Jose Vieira Machado

Administrador - Luis Esteves Fernandes

Watermark - Nuno Tristao

Dimensions - 167mm x 86mm

 

...Kenya - 2019/2024 Series Full Set Reprints

The Republic of Kenya

(Jamhuri ya Kenya)

Central Bank of Kenya (est. 1966)

(Banki Kuu ya Kenya)

Currency - Shilling (KES)

Here are five notes from 50 to 1000 shillings all dated 2024. This series of notes were first introduced in 2019 and the full sets that I have posted here are the reprints of 2019. Apart from the new date and new signatures, the rest of the designs for these notes are the same as those first introduced in 2019.

 

Fifty Shillings

Front - Jomo Kenyatta statue and the Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC). Jomo Kenyatta (b.1897-1978 Kamau wa Muigai). He served as the Prime Minister of Kenya from 1963 to 1964, and then President until his death in 1978. The KICC was built in 1974. In the background is the silhouette of the city skyline and a mountain (Mount Kenya - the tallest mountain in Kenya).

 

Governor - Kamau Thugge (tenure 2023-)

Member - Dr Chris K Kiptoo (tenure 2022-)

Watermarks - Lion's head and electrotype CBK & 50

Dimensions - 123.5mm x 62mm

 

Back - Theme - Green energy (Wind Power, Geothermal Power, Solar Power). Kenya has one of the biggest wind farms in Africa and is located at Loiyangalani. 

 

 

One Hundred Shillings

 

Front - Jomo Kenyatta statue and the Kenyatta International Convention Center. Jomo Kenyatta (b.1897-1978 Kamau wa Muigai). Kenyatta served as the Prime Minister of Kenya from 1963 to 1964, and then President until his death in 1978. The KICC was built in 1974. In the background is the silhouette of the city skyline and a mountain (Mount Kenya - the tallest mountain in Kenya).

 

Governor - Kamau Thugge (tenure 2023-)

Member - Dr Chris K Kiptoo (tenure 2022-)

Watermarks - Lion's head and electrotype CBK & 100

Dimensions - 129mm x 64.5mm

 

Back - Agriculture theme, with maize, farmer harvesting tea leaves by hand, livestock.

 

 

Two Hundred Shillings

 

Front - Jomo Kenyatta statue and the Kenyatta International Convention Center. Jomo Kenyatta (b.1897-1978 Kamau wa Muigai). He served as the Prime Minister of Kenya from 1963 to 1964, and then President until his death in 1978. The KICC was built in 1974. In the background is the silhouette of the city skyline and a mountain (Mount Kenya - the tallest mountain in Kenya).

 

Governor - Kamau Thugge (tenure 2023-)

Member - Dr Chris K Kiptoo (tenure 2022-)

Watermarks - Lion's head and electrotype CBK & 200

Dimensions - 133.5mm x 67mm

 

Back - Social Services theme with health services, education (children working with laptops) and athletes.

 

 

Five Hundred Shillings

 

Front - Jomo Kenyatta statue and the Kenyatta International Convention Center. Jomo Kenyatta (b.1897-1978 Kamau wa Muigai). He served as the Prime Minister of Kenya from 1963 to 1964, and then President until his death in 1978. The KICC was built in 1974. In the background is the silhouette of the city skyline and a mountain (Mount Kenya - the tallest mountain in Kenya).

 

Governor - Kamau Thugge (tenure 2023-)

Member - Dr Chris K Kiptoo (tenure 2022-) 

Watermarks - Lion's head and electrotype CBK & 500

Dimensions - 138mm x 68mm

 

Back - Tourism theme with wild animals - elephants, giraffes and a lion. 

 

 

 

One Thousand Shillings 

Front - Jomo Kenyatta statue and the Kenyatta International Convention Center. Jomo Kenyatta (b.1897-1978 Kamau wa Muigai). He served as the Prime Minister of Kenya from 1963 to 1964, and then President until his death in 1978. The KICC was built in 1974. In the background is the silhouette of the city skyline and a mountain (Mount Kenya - the tallest mountain in Kenya). 

 

Governor - Kamau Thugge (tenure 2023-)

Member - Dr Chris K Kiptoo (tenure 2022-)

Date - 2024

Watermarks - Lion head and electrotype 1000 & CBK

Dimensions - 144mm x 70mm

Back - Governance theme with Parliament house in Nairobi.