...eSwatini - 50 Emalangeni Central Bank of eSwatini Series 2018 Hybrid

Umbuso weSwatini

Kingdom of eSwatini

 

Central Bank of eSwatini

Currency - Lilangeni (SZL)

On 19 April 2018, the King of Swaziland, Mswati lll, renamed the country from the Kingdom of Swaziland to the Kingdom of eSwatini. The word eSwatini means the “land of the Swazis” in Swazi. The Kingdom of eSwatini was also the original name of this African nation prior to British colonisation in the early 1900s. The renaming of the country also changed the central bank to the Central Bank of eSwatini as well.

The King announced the changes during his celebrations of his birthday, and the 50th anniversary of gaining independence from the British. Independence was achieved on 06.09.1968. The King explained that the name Swaziland had caused confusion around the world as the African nation had been mistakenly referred to as Switzerland on many occasions. King Mswati lll is Africa’s last reigning absolute monarch, and has referred to the nation as eSwatini several times in the past. Notably, the King used the name when he addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2017. The Kingdom of eSwatini is a landlocked country, sharing a common boundary with South Africa to the left and Mozambique to the right. It has a population of just under 1.20 million people.

 

Recent reports have indicated that the Central Bank of eSwatini had released three banknotes of 50, 100 and 200 emalangeni with the new central bank's name printed on the notes. In fact, only the 50 emalangeni has been issued so far, and no doubt we will expect to see the remaining two new notes when current stocks are depleted.

 

Fifty Emalangeni (Hybrid)

King Mswati lll

Front - The portrait of King Mswati lll on the left. In the center is the country's Coat of Arms. The watermark for the note is on the far right, with the portrait of King Mswati lll. Whilst the main designs of this note are the same as the one issued in 2010, however, the most noticeable changes are the portrait of the King on the front, and the name of the central bank. The portrait of the King on this note is smaller, and is showing his shoulder, whilst the previous note is basically just showing his head only. 

 

Signatures

Minister For Finance - Neal Rijkenberg (tenure since November 2018)

Governor - Majozi Vincent Sithole (tenure 2013-2022)

Dated - 09.11.2018

Watermark - King Mswati lll

Imprinter - Giesecke+Devrient Germany

Dimensions - 153mm x 70.5mm 

Back - Central Bank of eSwatini building. The bank was established on 01.04.1974. The building is located at Mahlokohla Street in Mbabane. Next to the bank's building is the Seal of the Central Bank, with the new name Central Bank of eSwatini.

 

Central Bank of eSwatini building