Take a look at South Africa’s new banknotes and coins
The banknotes continue to pay respect to Nelson Mandela, while the back of the note now has the Big Five portrayed as a family.
POLOKWANE – As of May 4, new banknotes and coins will be introduced by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB).
The new design and improved security measures are present in the redesigned currency, however, the rich South African history behind the banknotes remain the same.
The banknotes continue to pay respect to Nelson Mandela, while the back of the note now has the Big Five portrayed as a family.
The SARB says they celebrate the constitutional democracy with the preamble to the South African Constitution printed in microtext around Madiba’s portrait and the country’s flag featured on the front and the back of the banknotes.
Other security features have been added including a visually impaired feature to support the blind and partially blind, raised print on the back of the banknotes and an ultraviolet feature, among others.
South Africa’s fauna and flora is also depicted on the coins which boast new animals and plants.
The Cape honey bee can be seen on the 10c coin, while the bitter aloe and the Knysna turaco can be seen on the 20c and 50c coin, respectively.
The king protea is seen on the R1 coin and the springbok and the southern right whale will be printed on the R2 and R5 coins respectively.
As with the previous coin series, all of South Africa’s 11 official languages are used on the fourth decimal coin series.
On the R1 coin only one language is used, while three languages appear on the R5 coin and two on the R2, 50c, 20c and 10c coins.
To ensure the use of all 11 languages, the coins will be minted over a set period on a rotational system basis.
Over the next 10 years, the languages will be alternated annually.
Banknotes are refreshed in intervals of six to eight years and coins in intervals of 20 to 30 years.
In South Africa, the current Mandela banknote series was issued in 2012 and a commemorative series of banknotes was issued in 2018.
The current coin series was issued in 1989.
The SARB says it does not demonitise its currency and that current banknotes can be used in line with the new ones for means of trade by citizens.
The public are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the upgraded banknotes and coin and to use the look, feel and tilt method to authenticate their currency.
