...eSwatini - 10 and 20 Emalangeni 1.4.2024 Hybrid

Umbuso weSwatini

(Kingdom of eSwatini)

 

Central Bank of eSwatini (Est.1974)

Currency - Lilangeni (SZL)

 

Here are the two notes of 10 and 20 emalangeni both printed with the date of 1.4.2024. These are the first denominations of 10 and 20 emalangeni printed with the new name of the country, eSwatini since the name was adopted on 19.04.2018. Since the name changed, the central bank has printed/issued all denominations from 10 to 200 emalangeni. However, the 100 emalangeni has not been sighted, but is believed that this denomination has been printed. In addition, the bank has also issued a 50 emalangeni dated 1.4.2024 commemorative note celebrating the country's 50th Year Central Bank. 

Like all notes previously issued since 2018, these two notes are also printed on hybrid materials and are both printed by Giesecke+Devrient Germany.

 

Ten Emalangeni

Minister For Finance - Neal K. Rykenberg (tenure 2018-)

Governor - Dr Philemon F. Mnisi (tenure 2022-)

Date - 1.4.2024

Watermark - Portrait of King Mswati III

Dimensions - 144mm x 70mm

Front - Portrait of King Mswati III. 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 nations in the world that is ruled by an absolute monarch. In the center is the country's Coat or Arms and below that are the signatures of the Minister of Finance and the Bank Governor.

Back - Image of nine princesses each holding a weapon in one hand and a ceremony shield in the other performing the kingship ceremony (Incwala) dance. The Incwala is a national event that takes part during the summer solstice. This is a six-day festival event celebrating the harvest season and the kingship. The ceremony is attended by the King of eSwatini. Who are all these princesses? The current king has 45 children from 16 wives, but not sure how many are girls.

Twenty Emalangeni

Minister For Finance - Neal K. Rykenberg (tenure 2018-)

Governor - Dr Philemon F. Mnisi (tenure 2022-)

Date - 1.4.2024

Watermark - Portrait of King Mswati III

Dimensions - 148.5mm x 70mm

Back - The theme on the back is related to agricultural products of the country. The images printed on the back are corn, pineapple, a zebu (cattle), and refinery industry. Presumably, this is related to sugar and ethanol production. The sugar production is a significant contributor to the country's economy, with two sugar mills operated by the Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation. 

...Bhutan - 1 and 10 Ngultrum Series 2019 Hybrid Notes

འབྲུག་རྒྱལ་ཁབ

Kingdom of Bhutan

 

Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan, Est.1982

Currency - Ngultrum (BTN)

 

Below are the two notes of 1 and 10 ngultrum both issued as part of the 2019 series. It is believed that these are the two notes released with the year date of 2019. I believe both notes are printed on hybrid materials, just like those first released in 2013 (Series 2013). Nothing has changed on the design except the year date and signature on the two notes.

 

One Ngultrum (Replacement Prefix Z)

 

Signature - Dasho Penjore (tenure 2015-)

Issue - Series 2019

Dimensions - 121mm x 60mm

 

Front - Image of Dharmachakra surrounded by two mythical dragons. A Dharmachakra is a circular symbol used mainly in the Dharmic religions of Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. The Dharmachakra resembles a ship's helm wheel.This note that I have posted here has a Z replacement prefix.

 

Back - Simtokha Dzong (castle-monastery). This monastery was built in 1628 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. This is one of its kind built in Bhutan. This Dzong is located approximately 5 kilometers south of Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan.

 

Ten Ngultrum 

 

Signature - Dasho Penjore (tenure 2015-)

Issue - Series 2019

Watermark - Jigme Singye Wangchuk

Dimensions - 126mm x 65mm

 

Front - Portrait of King Jigme Singye Wangchuk (b.1955-). Jigme Singye Wangchuk was the King of Bhutan from 1972 to 2006 when he abdicated in favor of his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Jigme Singye Wangchuk is married with four wives. His second and third wives are sisters. In Bhutan, the law allows for both polyandry and polygamy.

 

Back - The building of Paro Rinpung Dzong. This is a large dzong (Buddhist monastery) and was constructed in 1646. This dzong is located in the town of Paro. Paro is situated south-west of the capital Thimphu and is about 50 kilometers drive by car.

 

 

...Oman - 50 Rials Dated 2020 Hybrid Commemorative Banknote Reprint (Released 2024)

  سلطنة عُمان

(Sultanate of Oman)

البنك المركزي العماني

(Central Bank of Oman, Est 1974)

Currency : Rial (OMR)

 

This is a reprint of the 50 rials Hybrid note first issued in 2020. This note was initially issued as a commemorative note for the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the rise of the Modern Omani Renaissance, and also in memory of its founder, the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said bin Taimur (b.1940-2020). Sultan Qaboos ruled Oman between 1970 to 2020. Please click here to view my previous post on this note. Like the first print, this is also a Hybrid note.

 

As this is a reprint of the 2020 issue, the design is still the same except for the signature of the current Sultan. The previous 50-rial was printed with the previous Sultan, Qaboos bin Said, who died on 10.01.2020.

 

This is the highest denomination of banknotes currently issued and circulating in Oman. In terms of buying power, the Omani rial is the third strongest currency in the world, after the Kuwaiti dinar and Bahraini dinar. Coincidentally, the top four currencies of the world all came from the Middle East. To me, this is a high value note to collect. If you like large size banknotes, then you should not miss this one!

 

Fifty Rials

 

Signature - Sultan Haitham bin Tarik

Date - 2020 (released 2024)

Watermark - HM Sultan Qaboos and  ٥٠ (50)

Dimensions - 174mm x 77mm 

Front - A portrait of the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said (b.1940-2020). In the center is the main headquarters of the Central Bank of Oman, located in the capital city of Oman, Muscat. The central bank was established in late 1974 and commenced operations on 01.04.1975. The Central Bank of Oman replaced Oman Currency Board as the principal currency authority in Oman. The head of the central bank is Taimur bin Asa'ad.

 

Back - The Council of Oman (parliament/legislature), the Supreme Court (judiciary) and the Ministry of Finance (economy). These are the three main pillars of a nation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...Iraq - 5000 (Paper), 25,000 and 50000 x 2 Dinars All Dated 2023 Hybrid

جمهورية العراق

(Republic of Iraq)

 

البنك المركزي العراقي

(Central Bank of Iraq, est.1947)

Currency - Dinar (IQD)

 

Below are four notes of 5000, 25000 and 50000 (x2) dinars all printed with the year date of 2023. The 5000 note is printed on paper substrate material and the remaining are on hybrid substrate material. The two 50000 dinars notes are the same designs except it has different signatures on it. The first one is signed by Mustafa Ghaleb Mukheef, who was the bank governor from 2020 to 2023. He voluntarily resigned on 23.01.2023 due to the continuous falling in the value of the Iraqi dinar currency. He was then replaced by Mushen al-Allaq. Apart from the signatures and dates, there are no changes to the designs on all three notes.

I believe these are the only 2023 notes sighted so far. It is not sure if other denominations have been printed but not released yet. I am not surprised if they are others as the 1000 dinars 2020 prints were only reported recently (October 2024).

 

Five Thousand Dinars (Paper)

 

Governor - Mustafa Ghaleb Mukheef (tenure 2020-2023 resigned)

Watermark - Cow's head

Dimensions - 159.5mm x 78.5mm

 

Front - The Gali Ali Bag waterfall is depicted in the center. This waterfall is located in the Kurdistan Region, and is the highest waterfall in the Kurdistan Region and all of Iraq. The waterfall is about 95 km northeast of Erbil, the capital city of Kurdistan Region.

 

Back - A bird-eye view of al-Ukether Fortress. This fortress is in a rectangular shape and was built in 775 AD. It is located about 50 km south of Karbala in Iraq. This site was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000.  

 

  

 

Twenty-Five Thousand Dinars (Hybrid)

 

Governor - Mustafa Ghaleb Mukheef (tenure 2020-2023 resigned*)

Watermark - Cow's head

Dimensions - 176.5mm x 78.5mm

 

Front - A Kurdish girl holding a jug over her right shoulder, a tractor ploughing the field loosening or turning the soil before planting. On the right is an ancient dinar coin. In the center of the note, it features a bunch of wheat.

 

Back - The main feature on the back of the note is the stone caving of the image of Hamurabiiy yatasallam al-sharia (King Hammurabi receiving the Law). On the bottom left is a sculpture of a standing animal, and in the bottom center are two horses walking toward each other.

Fifty Thousand Dinars (Hybrid)

 

Signature - Mustafa Ghaleb Mukheef (tenure 2020-2023)

Watermark - Head of a horse and electrotype ۵٠٠٠٠

Dimensions - 160mm x 66mm

 

Front - Featuring a water wheel, palm trees and the Gali Ali Bag waterfall.

 

Back - The images of people floating on the marches, a reed house, two buffaloes swimming in the marshes, wildlife migrating to the marches and the Tigris rivers. The water for the marshes mainly came from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

 

 

Fifty Thousand Dinars (Hybrid)

Signature - Muhsen al-Allaq (tenure 2023-)

Watermark - Head of a horse and electrotype ۵٠٠٠٠

Dimensions - 160.5mm x 67mm

 

Back - The images of people floating on the marches, a reed house, two buffaloes swimming in the marshes, wildlife migrating to the marches and the Tigris rivers. The water for the marshes mainly came from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

 

...eSwatini - 50 Emalangeni Hybrid Commemorative 50th Year of Central Bank of eSwatini

Umbuso weSwatini

(Kingdom of eSwatini)

 

Central Bank of eSwatini (Est.1974)

Currency - Lilangeni (SZL)

 

This is a commemorative note of 50 emalangeni released on 10.05.2024 for the celebration of 50 years of the creation of the central bank - Central Bank of eSwatini. 

The Central Bank of Swaziland was established on 01.04.1974. The bank is located in the capital city, Mbabane. On 09.11.2018, the King of eSwatini renamed the bank to the Central Bank of eSwatini. 

The design on the front for this note is similar to the previous 50 emalangeni issued but the reverse side of the note is completely new. This banknote is printed on ADDvance® Hybrid substrate.

Fifty Emalangeni

 

Signatures

Minister For Finance - Neal K. Rykenberg (tenure 2018-)

Governor - Dr Philemon F. Mnisi (tenure 2022-)

Date - 1.4.2024

Watermark - Portrait of King Mswati III

Printer - Green Banknote By Giesecke+Devrient . Germany

Dimensions - 153mm x 71mm

Front - Portrait of King Mswati III. 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 that is ruled by an absolute monarch. A rectangle shaped logo with rolling colour is printed in the center right.

 

Back - The design on the back is completely new. Previous design for this note depicts the central bank building. Starting from the central top is the King Mswati III International Airport with an airplane taking off. This airport was initially named Sikhuphe International Airport. Below that is the Sibebe Rock (granite mountain). The words Sibebe Rock are the only text printed on the note. The Sibebe Rock is situated about 10 km north-west of Mbabanehe and is the world's largest exposed granite pluton. The locals referred to this as the Bald Rock. To the top right is the image of a freeway interchange, and below that is a logo of a tap-and-pay. Binary numbers are also printed on the note, together with outlines of three people, a computer monitor and a graph.

 

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.