...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. 

...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.

 

...eSwatini - 200 Emalangeni Central Bank of eSwatini Series 2023 Hybrid

Umbuso weSwatini

Kingdom of eSwatini

 

Central Bank of eSwatini (est.1974)

Currency - Lilangeni (SZL)

Here is a 200 emalangeni banknote printed with the date of 06.09.2023. This is the reprint of the 2017 issue but with a new date and new signatures. This note was reportedly released on 11.09.2023. The date printed on the note is also the nation's independence day. The country was previously occupied by the United Kingdom until 06.09.1968. The British occupation of Eswatini started in 1903 after the end of the Second Boer War (1899-1902).

In April 2018, the country changed its name from the Kingdom of Swaziland to the Kingdom of Eswatini.

This 200 emalangeni banknote is printed on hybrid material.

Two Hundred Emalangeni

King Mswati lll (b.1968-)

 

Front - King Mswati lll. 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.

 

Signatures

Minister For Finance - Neal K, Rykenberg (since 2018)

Governor - Dr Philemon F Mnisi (since 2022)

Watermarks - Portrait of King Mswati lll and electrotype 200

Dimensions - 161mm x 71mm

 

Back - A zebu head (cattle), two goats, local native huts with a man and two women.

Zebu head and native huts

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.

 

...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

...Swaziland - 2017 Prints Hybrid

Umbuso weSwatini

Kingdom of Swaziland

Central Bank of Swaziland

Three notes issued in 2018 but with the year date of 2017 printed on all the notes. The notes are 20, 100 and 200 Emalangeni. The design for the 20 Emalangeni is basically the same as the per last issued in 2014. 

However, the other two notes, 100 and 200 Emalangeni are a completely new designs but still retain most of the main features as those last issued in 2010 and 2014. For a start, both notes have a smaller portrait of King Mswati lll. On the front, for the first time, the note is printed with the words Umntsholi Wemaswati, which means Central Bank of Swaziland in Swazi or Swati. Swazi/Swati is the national and official language in the country. As this is a Hybrid note, the notes are also printed with a see-through window with the image of a standing lion. The last 3-digit of the serial number is printed twice on the reverse side of the note (but not the 20 Emalangeni value).

The 200 Emalangeni note has a completely new design on the back. A zebu (cattle) head is added to the design. The warrior shield with spears is now printed on the back. The warriors have been removed and replaced by 3 women. Other features such as the rock formation, Swazi strew huts and goats are all retained.

It should be noted that these are the last notes printed with the name of the Central Bank of Swaziland on the back as all new notes printed with the 2018 year date have changed the bank's name to Central Bank of eSwatini. According to the King, this is to avoid confusion with another country - Switzerland. I don't know how one can get confused by simply looking at the design of the banknotes!!

It is believed that these are the only 3 notes printed with the 2017 year date.

Twenty Emalangeni

Dated 2017

Reverse

One Hundred Emalangeni

Dated 2017

Reverse

Two Hundred Emalangeni

Dated 2017

Reverse

Swaziland - 10 Emalangeni Vision 2020 Hybrid

Umbuso weSwatini

Kingdom of Swaziland

The is a 10 Emalangeni Hybrid note printed by Giesecke & Devrient Germany. The design on this note is the same as previously issued except that the colour has changed from predominantly blue to green. In addition to this, it has also added the text of "VISION 2022" printed vertically to the right of the note on the front and back. The tiny yellow donuts or circular dots which are printed on previous issues are also missing on this new note. This note is printed with the date of 06.09.2015.

The Vision 2022 is the wish for the King to see Swaziland becoming a first world nation by 2022. A first world nation is usually defined when a country is fully developed or industrialised. Swaziland is currently classified as a third world nation. In fact all the countries in the African continent are third world nations.

The front of the note features King Mswati lll and on the back with 9 females dancing in traditional costumes.

Ten Emalangeni

Dated 2015

Reverse

Swaziland - 2014 Prints Hybrid

Ten Emalangeni

Dated 7.1.2014, P36b

Reverse

Twenty Emalangeni

Dated 7.1.2014, P37b

Reverse

Two Hundred Emalangeni

Dated 7.1.2014, P40b

Reverse

10, 20 and 100 Emalangeni - These three notes were first known to collectors in 2015. It is not known if the remaining two notes of 20 and 50 Emalangeni are also printed and waiting to be released. These are the reprints of the previous issues dated 6.9.2010 and 4.7.2011. Like previous issues, the designs are still the same including the signatures but in reversed order. It looks like the Minister for Finance and the Governor switched jobs since the last issues. These are also Hybrid notes.

Watermark; Portrait of King Mswati lll (born Prince Makhosetive Dlamini)
Date: 07.01.2014
Printer: Giesecke & Devrient Germany
Material: Hybrid

Swaziland - 2010 and 2011 Issues

Ten Emalangeni

Portrait of King Mswait lll and arms.

Brief Description

Governor - Martin G. Dlamini
Minister for Finance - Mojozi V. Sithole

Dimensions – 145mm x 70mm

Prefix number series - AA/**

Dated - 06.09.2010 (Released 30.06.2011)
Printer - Giesecke & Devrient (G&D)

Nine dancing women with traditional costume. Prefix AZ replacement note

Twenty Emalangeni

Portrait of King Mswait lll and arms.

Brief Description

Governor - Martin G. Dlamini
Minister for Finance - Mojozi V. Sithole

Dimensions – 149mm x 70mm

Prefix number series - AA/**

Dated - 06.09.2010 (Released 30.06.2011)
Printer - Giesecke & Devrient (G&D)

Corn, pineapple, sugar canes, cattle and processing plant

Fifty Emalangeni

Portrait of King Mswait lll and arms.

Brief Description

Governor - Martin G. Dlamini
Minister for Finance - Mojozi V. Sithole

Dimensions – 152mm x 70mm

Prefix number series - AA/**

Dated - 06.09.2010 (Released 30.06.2011)
Printer - Giesecke & Devrient (G&D)

Central Bank building

One Hundred Emalangeni

Brief Description
Governor - Martin G. Dlamini
Minister for Finance - Mojozi V. Sithole

Dimensions – 161mm x 70mm

Prefix number series - AA/** 
Dated - 6.9.2010 (Released 1.11.2010
Printer - Giesecke & Devrient (G&D)

Wild life animals - Elephant, rhinoceros, lion. On the right are flowers and bird.

Two Hundred Emalangeni

Dated 06.09.2010, PNL

Reverse

These notes do not have the normal see-through window, but with thin a layer of protective film laminated coating on the paper note. The note also looks a bit glossy too.

Swaziland - 100 Emalangeni

One Hundred Emalangeni

Brief Description
Governor - Martin G. Dlamini
Minister for Finance - Mojozi V. Sithole

Dimensions – 161mm x 70mm

Prefix number series - AA/**

Dated - 6.9.2010 (Released 1.11.2010)
Printer - Giesecke & Devrient (G&D)

Obverse - Portrait of King Mswait lll and arms. This note does not have the normal see-through window, but with a thin layer of protective film laminated coating on the paper note. The note also looks a bit glossy too.

Reverse - Wildlife animals - Elephant, rhinoceros, lion. On the right are flowers and birds. First prefix (AA) with low serial number (0000250).

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.