Swaziland - 100 & 200 Emalangeni 2008 Commemorative Hybrid Notes

One Hundred Emalangeni

Commemorative Issues

Minister For Finance - Majozi V Sithole
Governor – Martin G Dlamini
Dimensions – 157mm x 70mm
Prefix number serial - HM/00
Paper - Laminated with polymer on both side
Date issue – 10.4.2008

Notes issued celebrating the 40th Birthday of the King and also 40th Anniversary of independence. The Kingdom of Swaziland gained its independence from the United Kingdom on 6.9.1968. The United kingdom ruled Swaziland since the 19th century.

Obverse - Mswati III was born on 19.4.1968. In 1986, following the death of his father the late king Sobhuza II, he became the King of Swaziland as the absolute monarch and as well the head of the Swazi Royal Family. In 2005 his role was modified to as constitutional monarch.
King Mswati III is one of many sons of King Sobhuza II (who had 70 wives and at the time of his death left over 1000 grandchildren) and the only child of Ntombi Tfwala, also known as Inkhosikati LaTfwala, one of the King's younger wives. He was born at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital, four months before Swaziland attained independence from Britain. King Mswati III’s birth name was Makhosetive (King of Nations).

When King Sobhuza II died on 21.08.1982, the Great Council of State (the Liqoqo) selected the 14-year-old prince Makhosetive to be the next king. For the next four years two wives of the late King Sobhuza II, Queen Dzeliwe Shongwe (1982–1983) and Queen Ntombi Tfwala (1983–1986), served as regents while he continued his education in England, attending Sherborne School, before he was called back to take over.

Mswati III was crowned King on 25.04.1986, aged 18 years and 6 days old.

Reverse - The back of the note illustrated a rock formation and with the inscription of '40th Independence Anniversary.

Two Hundred EmalangeniDimensions – 161mm x 70mm
Prefix number serial - HM/00

Obverse - as above

Reverse - A village scene. The commemorative inscriptions on the front and back of the note are both in vertical format.

Footnote: As these notes have been laminated with a thin layer of polymer, on the surface it look a bit glossy or like the surfaces on both side had been waxed. The portrait of the King is also look difference from previous issues, and it appears that image has been digitised.