...Sierra Leone - 2022 Currency Reform Full Set of Five Notes

 The Republic of Sierra Leone

Bank of Sierra Leone

(Established 27.03.1963)

Currency - Leone (SLL)

Posted below are five banknotes all reportedly released on 01.07.2022. These are reformed currency which removed three zeros from the previous banknotes. The new exchange rates for one new leone equals 1000 old leones. All notes are printed with the date of 27.04.2022.

 

The aim for this currency reform was to strengthen the tumbling Leone currency, and the financial transactions in the country were temporarily suspended for two days from 29.06.2022, in preparation for the recalibration of the new currency. According to the authority, the advantage for the currency reform was that less cash is required to be carried, and it also provides a psychological boost to the economy knowing that the leone has appreciated against the US dollar, at least on the face value of it. Prior to the reform, the exchange rate for the leone currency was 13,000+/- to one US dollar.

 

The Bank of Sierra Leone was established on 27.03.1963. It began operation on 04.08.1964, and also on the same day it changed the decimal system currency. Prior to that, it used the West African Pound. 

The series of new notes are all printed by De La Rue. The imprinter name is printed on the back of the note, on the left hand corner just underneath the numeral denomination.

 

Signatures

Governor - Professor Kelfala Morana Kalion (since 2018)

First Deputy Governor - Dr Ibrahim L Stevens

Watermark - Lion head with denomination value

Imprinter - De La Rue

One Leone

Bai Bureh (b.1840-1908)

 

Front - Coat of Arms in the top center. Image of Bai Bureh (b.1840-1908). Bai Bureh was a Sierra Leone ruler, a military strategist, and a Muslim cleric. In 1898, he led the uprising against British rule in Northern Sierra Leone. This uprising was known as the Temne and Loko uprising. In 1898, he was then captured by the British and sent into exile to Ghana. The British then bought him back in 1905 and reinstated him as the Chief of Kasseh. He died at old age (presumably) in 1908.

 

Dimensions - 109mm x 62mm

 

Back -  Telecommunication satellite dish.

Telecommunication satellite dish

 

Two Leones

Isaac Theophilus Akunna Wallace-Johnson (b.1894-1965)

 

Front - Coat of Arms in the top center and a cargo ship below. Image of Isaac Theophilus Akunna Wallace-Johnson (b.1894-1965). Wallace-Johnson was a workers' leader, journalist, activist, and politician.

 

Dimensions - 126mm x 65mm

 

Back - Image of the Bank of Sierra Leone Bank building located at the city center in the capital city of Freetown.

 

Bank of Sierra Leone Bank building

 

Five Leones

Senghe Pieh (b.1875-1819)

 

Front - Coat of Arms in the top center and Old Fourah Bay College in Freetown. The Old Fourah Bay College was the first university of western education in the country and was established in 1827. Image of Senghe Pieh (b.1875-1819). Senghe Pieh was a rice farmer and trader, and in 1839 was kidnapped by slave traders. He was then supposed to be sent to Havana in Cuba, together with 52 men, women, and children. During the sea journey, he managed to free himself and others. He then killed the captain, cook and two other crew members. He then ordered the ship to return to Africa, but instead the second-mate of the ship secretly continued sailing towards the coast of the United States. He was then captured by the US Coast Guards, and was then released after he managed to convince the court that he and the others were illegally kidnapped as slaves from Africa. He then returned home in 1841 but was unable to reunite with the rest of this family. It was assumed that they all died while Senghe Pieh was away.

 

Dimensions - 131mm x 67mm

 

Back - Bumbuna hydroelectric dam, located on the Seli River near Bumbuna, in the central-northern part of Sierra Leone. The dam was built in 2009 at a cost of US$327 million.

 

Bumbuna hydroelectric dam

 

Ten Leones

Dove flying over the map of Sierra Leone

 

Front - A dove flying over the outline map of Sierra Leone. The national flag of Sierra Leone is also printed on the background.

 

Dimensions - 136mm x 69mm

 

Back - Coat of Arms. An image of a Cotton tree, also known commonly as a kapok tree. This tree is a historical symbol of the capital city, Freetown. The story goes that it became important in 1792 when a group of formal enslaved African American gained their freedom by fighting the British during the American War of Independence, and then settled in Sierra Leone on the site of the modern Freetown in 11.03.1792.

Cotton tree

 

Twenty Leones

Constance Cummings-John (b.1918-2000)

 

Front - Coat of Arms, a laurel wreath surrounding an opened book with a frame. Image of Constance Cummings-John (b.1918-2000). Cummings-John was an educationist and politician and in 1966 became the first woman to serve as a Mayoress of Freetown.

 

Dimensions - 141mm x 71mm

 

Back - Sixteen students (presumably all females) sitting in a class room with the following words repeated twice - "EDUCATION FOR GENDER EMPOWERMENT". Printed on the background is the map of Sierra Leone.

Students attention a class