...South Africa - 2023 Series Full Set Of Five Notes

 Republic of South Africa

iRiphabhuliki yaseNingizimu Afrika

South African Reserve Bank (est. 1921)

Currency - Rand (ZAR)

This is a full set of five notes all released on 03.05.2023. The themes for these notes are basically the same as the 2013-2016 series but with updated security features. However, the designs on the back are completely new but still maintain the theme as per previous issues. On the front it still depicts the portrait of the late Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. However, the Orion patterns security features previously printed on the 2016-2016 series have been omitted from the 2023 series. The Orion patterns feature is to prevent unauthorised or illegal reproduction of the banknote by a colour photo copier machine. However, I understand that there are other security features added to the designs to prevent this from happening.  

Ten Rand

Nelson Mandela (b.1918-2013)

Front - The portrait of Nelson Mandela. Nelson Mandela was born on 18.07.1918 in a village of Mvezo, Umtata (almost 1,000 kilometers south of Pretoria). His birth name was Rolihlahla Mandela. He became the first democratically elected President of South Africa after his party, the African National Congress (ANC) won the first fully democratic general election held on 27.04.1994, thus formally ending the apartheid era in South Africa. However he only served for one 5-year term as President and retired from politics in June 1999. He died on 05.12.2013, aged 95 years old.

 

Governor - Lesetja Kganyago (since 09.11.2014)

Watermarks - Rhinoceros's head and electrotype 10

Dimensions - 129.5mm x 70.5mm

Back - A rhinoceros with a calf.

 

A rhinoceros with a calf

Twenty Rand

Nelson Mandela (b.1918-2013)

Watermarks - Elephant's head and electrotype 20

Dimensions - 130mm x 71mm

Back - An elephant herd.

 

An elephant herd

 

Fifty Rand

Nelson Mandela (b.1918-2013)

Watermarks - Lion's head and electrotype 50

Dimensions - 141mm x 71mm

Back - A lion with a cub.

 

A lion with a cub

One Hundred Rand

Nelson Mandela (b.1918-2013)

Watermarks - Cape buffalo's head and electrotype 100

Dimensions - 147mm x 70mm

Back - Cape buffalo with a calf.

 

Cape buffalo with a calf

Two Hundred Rand

Nelson Mandela (b.1918-2013)

Watermarks - Leopard's head and electrotype 200

Dimensions - 153mm x 71mm

Back -  A female leopard with a cub.

 

A female leopard with a cub

...Egypt - 10 Pounds ND2022 Polymer Notes Series

 جمهورية مصر العربية

 (Arab Republic of Egypt)

البنك المركزي المصري

 (Central Bank of Egypt, est.1898)

Currency - Pound (EGP)

 

Below is a 10 pounds polymer banknote released on 05.07.2022 by the Central Bank of Egypt. After the release of this note, a reprint for the 10 pounds polymer was also issued in 2023. Here, I have only posted the first issue of this polymer banknote.

 

The design for this series is completely new and this is also the first time Egypt has issued a polymer banknote. This note is reportedly printed in Egypt by The Printing House of the Central Bank of Egypt.

Egypt is the 69th counrty/bank in the world to release a polymer banknote since 1988.

 

Ten Pounds

Al Fatah al-Aleem mosque

 

Front - On the front is the Al Fatah al-Aleem mosque located in the new administrative capital in Cairo. This mosque was built in 2019 and has a capacity of almost 17,000 people. This mosque is considered the largest ever built in Egypt.

 

Governor - Tarek Hassan Amer (tenure 2015-2022)

Dimensions - 133mm x 69.5mm

 

Back - The main feature on the back is the statue of Queen Hatshepsut (b1507-1458 BC) and was the fifth Egyptian Pharaoh from 1478 to until her death in 1458 BC. She was married to Thutmose ll who was her half-brother. Thutmose ll was the fourth Pharaoh from 1493 to 1478 BC. To her right is an image of a pyramid, and below that is the Great Library of Alexandra.

The statue of Queen Hatshepsut (b1507-1458 BC)

...Mauritania - 1000 Ouguiya x 2 Unissued Notes Dated 1981 And 1989

 الجمهورية الإسلامية الموريتانية

(The Islamic Republic of Mauritania)

 

البنك المركزي الموريتاني

 (Central Bank of Mauritania, est.1973)

Currency - Ouguiya (MRU)

These two banknotes of 1000 ouguiya were reported recently and were printed with the date of 1981 and 1989. Both notes were not issued then, but it is now available to collectors. I bought them just out of curiosity despite it's pricey price tag, as I like collecting official and unissued banknotes, just like those 1990 Poland unissued sets.

The two notes posted here are both printed with the value of 1000 ouguiya, one with the date of 28.11.1981 which would form part of the unissued 1975 series of four notes. It is not sure if the remaining unissued for the 1975 series will also be made available to collectors at a later date. The other three unissued notes for this series are the 100, 200 and 1000 ouguiya. The other one dated 28.11.1989 would have formed part of the 1974-2002 series. It is not sure why both banknotes were printed but not issued then. 

 

The 1975 unissued series are very attractive banknotes and I am sure many collectors would like to get them for their collection, including me.

To me, these two notes are considered large sized notes and as such and in my opinion, if anyone gets hold of it would immediately fold them into half and tuck them into their wallet or purse, unless you are a collector. As per all banknotes issued back in the 1980s, these two notes are printed with white borders on all sizes.

One Thousand Ouguiya

An elderly man

Front - Image of an elderly bearded man

Treasurer General - Unknown

Governor - Dieng Boubou Farba (tenure 1978-1981; 1983-1987)

Watermarks - Image of an elderly bearded man

Dimensions - 161mm x 92mm

Back - Palm trees, camel, mining plant and farmers working in a field.

 

Palm trees, camel, mining plant and farmers working in a field

Note: Governor Dieng Boubou Farba was born in Senegal in 1942. He was appointed by the Mauritania Military as the Governor of the Central Bank from 1978 to 1981, and again from 1983 to 1987. He died in 2021. 

One Thousand Ouguiya

Geometric pattern design

Front - Geometric pattern designs.

Treasurer General - Unknown

Governor -Ahmed Quld Zein (tenure 1988 - 1992)

Watermarks - Image of an elderly bearded man

Dimensions - 161mm x 91mm

Back - Camel, ship, harbour with port gantry cranes and warehouses, fish. 

Camel, ship, port with gantry cranes, fish

...eSwatini - 200 Emalangeni Central Bank of eSwatini Series 2023 Hybrid

Umbuso weSwatini

Kingdom of eSwatini

 

Central Bank of eSwatini (est.1974)

Currency - Lilangeni (SZL)

Here is a 200 emalangeni banknote printed with the date of 06.09.2023. This is the reprint of the 2017 issue but with a new date and new signatures. This note was reportedly released on 11.09.2023. The date printed on the note is also the nation's independence day. The country was previously occupied by the United Kingdom until 06.09.1968. The British occupation of Eswatini started in 1903 after the end of the Second Boer War (1899-1902).

In April 2018, the country changed its name from the Kingdom of Swaziland to the Kingdom of Eswatini.

This 200 emalangeni banknote is printed on hybrid material.

Two Hundred Emalangeni

King Mswati lll (b.1968-)

 

Front - King Mswati lll. King Mswati was crowned King of Swaziland on 25.04.1986 at the age of 18. The Kingdom of eSwatini is ruled by an absolute monarch/subnational monarchs* and is one of the only 12 remaining absolute nations in the world.

 

Signatures

Minister For Finance - Neal K, Rykenberg (since 2018)

Governor - Dr Philemon F Mnisi (since 2022)

Watermarks - Portrait of King Mswati lll and electrotype 200

Dimensions - 161mm x 71mm

 

Back - A zebu head (cattle), two goats, local native huts with a man and two women.

Zebu head and native huts

Footnote *:-

Brunei, Emirate of Sharjah, Emirate of Fujairah, Emirate of Ajman, Kingdom of Eswatini, Emirate of Dubai, Emirate of Umm al-Quwain, Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah, Vatican City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of Oman and Emirate of Dhabi.

 

...Kenya - 2019 Series Full Set Of Five Notes

The Republic of Kenya

(Jamhuri ya Kenya)

Central Bank of Kenya (est. 1966)

(Banki Kuu ya Kenya)

Currency - Shilling (KES)

 

Here is a full set of five notes all printed with a year dated of 2019. These notes were released to the public for circulation on 31.05.2019. This is the fifth series of banknotes issued since 1966. Kenya became an independent nation in 1963, after 62 years of British occupation.

The theme for this series showcases the richness of the people and the nature of Kenya. The design on the fronts are all the same depicting the Kenyatta International Convention Center and on each note is printed with a wild animal's head on the denomination value of '0' - 50 shillings (Buffalo); 100 shillings (Leopard); 200 shillings (Rhino); 500 shillings (Lion); and 1000 shillings (Elephant).

According to Kenya's constitution amendment, the printing of all new banknotes forbids the inclusion of any portraits of political or any historical figures on the notes. Whilst this 2019 series depicts Jomo Kenyatta's statue, the Supreme Court judges dismissed the lawsuit by 2 to 1 that the statue was an integral part of Kenyatta International Convention Center and as such it was not intentionally depicting Jomo Kenyatta. The court case was filed by activists who were against the designs on the front of the notes, claiming that the print of Kenyatta's statue is the same as having a politician printed on the 2019 series.

 

This series was printed by De La Rue's factory at Ruaraka in Nairobi. This series was introduced to stamp out corruption/embezzlement and to tackle counterfeiting especially for the 1000 shilling notes. According to a report, it appears that these notes wear out easily after a short period in circulation.

 

Fifty Shillings

Jomo Kenyatta statue and the Kenyatta International Convention Center

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).

 

Governor - Patrick Ngugi Njoroge (tenure 2015 - 2023)

Member - Dr Kamau Thugge*

Watermarks - Lion's head and electrotype CBK & 50

Dimensions - 124mm x 63mm

 

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. 

Green energy (Wind Power, Geothermal Power, Solar Power)

 

 One Hundred Shillings

Jomo Kenyatta statue and the Kenyatta International Convention Center

 

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).

 

Governor - Patrick Ngugi Njoroge (tenure 2015 - 2023)

Member - Dr Kamau Thugge*

Watermarks - Lion's head and electrotype CBK & 100

Dimensions - 128mm x 64mm

 

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

Maize, farmer harvesting tea leaves, livestock

 

Two Hundred Shillings

Jomo Kenyatta statue and the Kenyatta International Convention Center

 

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).

 

Governor - Patrick Ngugi Njoroge (tenure 2015 - 2023)

Member - Dr Kamau Thugge*

Watermarks - Lion's head and electrotype CBK & 200

Dimensions - 133mm x 66.5mm

 

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

Health services, education and athletes

 

Five Hundred Shillings

Jomo Kenyatta statue and the Kenyatta International Convention Center

 

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).

 

Governor - Patrick Ngugi Njoroge (tenure 2015 - 2023)

Member - Dr Kamau Thugge*

Watermarks - Lion's head and electrotype CBK & 500

Dimensions - 138mm x 69mm

 

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

 

Elephants, giraffes and lion

 

One Thousand Shillings

Jomo Kenyatta statue and the Kenyatta International Convention Center

 

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).

 

Governor - Patrick Ngugi Njoroge (tenure 2015 - 2023)

Member - Dr Kamau Thugge*

Watermarks - Lion's head and electrotype CBK & 1000

Dimensions - 143mm x 70.5mm

 

Back - Governance theme with Parliament house in Nairobi.

 

Parliament house

 

Footnote:

* Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya since 19.06.2023.