Sierra Leone - 1980 The Organisation of African Union (OAU) Conference Commemorative

Sierra Leone

Bank of Sierra Leone

(Establish 27.03.1963)

Currency : Leone (SLL) since 04.08.1963

Here I have posted 4 commemorative notes issued in 1980 commemorating the 1980 Organisation of African Union (OAU) conference held in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. During the conference the then President of Sierra Leone Siaka Probyn Stevens was elected as the Chairperson of OAU for a year between 01.07.1980 to 24.06.1981.

To commemorate this special occasion, the central bank released a set of commemorative notes of 5 notes from 50 cents to 10 leones. Here I have only posted 4 notes as I do not have the 5 leones piece. At the time of the release, 10 leones was the largest denomination of banknote circulating in the country. Whilst these notes are all in uncirculated condition, most of it, if not all, have very light foxing on it, which is very disappointing. This is also the main reason that I have not sourced this missing note of 5 leones as chances are it too has foxing on it too.

The designs for this commemorative notes are the same as those previous issued banknotes which was first released in 1974, except that all notes were printed with the additional commemorative text on the front:

"Commemorating the Organisation Of African Unity Conference

Freetown 1980"  

The designs on the front of the notes all depict the portrait of Siaka Probyn Stevens who was the Prime Minister/President of Sierra Leone between 1967 to 1985. He died in 1988, three years after leaving office.

Fifty Cents

Dated 1980, President Siaka Probyn Stevens (b.1905-1988), P9

Reverse - Bank of Sierra Leone in Freetown

One Leone

Dated 1980, President Siaka Probyn Stevens (b.1905-1988), P10

Reverse - Bank of Sierra Leone in Freetown

Two Leones

Dated 1980, President Siaka Probyn Stevens (b.1905-1988), P11

Reverse - Bank of Sierra Leone in Freetown

Five Leones
(missing)

Ten Leones

Dated 1980, President Siaka Probyn Stevens (b.1905-1988), P11

Reverse - dredger for natural mineral (gold and diamond etc)

Footnote➯
I have these notes in my collections for many years now but could not decide if I want to post them until now. I was hoping to get the missing 5 leones piece but now more or less given this up due to reason as mentioned above.