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Guardian® bank notes

 
 
Zambia
 
    
 

 

Country overview

 

 

Zambia

Capital Lusaka
Population (millions) 11.3
Area (sq km) 752,614
GDP per capita (USD PPP) 900

 

 

Polymer overview

 

 

Country ranking 22nd All varieties 22
Year of the first polymer issue 2003 Proof 0
Number of polymer issues 2 Specimen 2
Current status Polymer and paper Regular 10
New polymer issues expected? Yes Replacement 10

 

 

General information

 

 

 

Bank of Zambia

 

 

 

 

Governor

Caleb M. Fundanga
 

 

 

 

New polymer notes in Zambia

 

CBN press release: Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited to produce first polymer bank notes in Africa

Leaflet: Know your bank notes better

Leaflet: The new Zambian bank notes

New currency intruduction: frequently asked questions and answers

Newspaper article: BoZ to save K17bn from plastic bank notes

Newspaper article: Plastic bank notesZambia leads the way

Press release: Cash handling

 

Problems with the initial release of polymer notes

 

First polymer bank notes have been issued on 26.09.03, but withdrawn on the next day. The reason behind the withdrawal has been defective printing of serial numbers (serial numbers were rubbing off because they had not been left enough time to dry). It could be understood from the Bank of Zambia's statements that only up to 9,000 (probably between 6,000 and 7,000) pieces of defective notes have been issued. Serial number ranges are not known and it is thus not possible to identify the faulty bank notes that remained in the circulation.

 

BoZ press release: Press statement on the new K1,000 and K500 polymer notes

BoZ press release: K1,000 polymer notes now in circulation

BoZ Governor's quarterly media briefing: Currency restructuring

CBN press release: Press statement on the new K1,000 and K500 polymer notes

Newspaper article: Zambia recalls plastic bank notes

Newspaper article: Africa's first polymer bank notes to remain in circulation

Newspaper article: BoZ receives Australian report on fading notes

Newspaper article: Canadian firm to reprint polymer notes

Newspaper article: Fading polymer notes to be replaced

Newspaper article: Polymer saga: the truth should be told!

 

It is important to point out that the error has been corrected by CBN and it did not affect subsequent deliveries of polymer notes. K500 notes have been re-issued on 03.11.03, and K1,000 notes on 10.11.03.

 

Changes for the 2004 issue (issued in 2005)

 

The 2003 issue of polymer notes was showing signs of accelerated wear or "fading". It has been established that the problem were some of the inks used for the 2003 issue. Those inks that were wearing more quickly than expected have been changed for the 2004 issue (issued in 2005) to a specification used by the Bank of Mexico for their 20 Pesos polymer bank notes.

 

BoZ press release: Press statement on the upgraded polymer notes

CBN press release: Canadian Bank Note Company Limited Statement

 

Standard features on Zambian bank notes

 

The Fish Eagle is the main feature or primary recognition feature on all Zambian bank notes. The Fish Eagle reflects Zambia’s Pride; the bird’s excellent vision and swift reaction symbolises the country’s focus on economic growth and its ability to rise above all the country’s challenges. The calmly seated Fish Eagle represents stability in prices.  

 

 A dove is printed in lithography and in iridescent on the front side of selected notes. 

 

The Freedom Statue is printed on the back of each note. This represents Zambia's struggle to freedom in the pre-colonial days and is a tribute to the fallen heroes.

 

Other

 

Newspaper article: People mutilating polymer bank notes, says BoZ

 

 

Bank notes

  

COUNTRY S CURRENCY DENOMINATION SIZE PICK PRINTER POLYMER
Zambia 1 Kwacha 500 140x70 P44 CBN Guardian®

S DATE_1 DATE_2 SIGNATORY DESCRIPTION QUANTITY PRICE PICS
1S1 03
2003
not given Fundanga . no data not given F  B
images from BoZ
1S2 2004 not given Fundanga NOT CONFIRMED no data not given F  B
1S3 2005 not given Fundanga NOT CONFIRMED no data not given F  B
1S4 2006 not given Fundanga NOT CONFIRMED no data not given F  B
1S5 2007 not given Fundanga NOT CONFIRMED no data not given F  B
1R1 03
2003
2003 Fundanga s/n prefix denominator 03 no data €4.00
F  B
1R2 2004 2005 Fundanga s/n prefix denominator 03 no data €2.50
F  B
1R3 2005 2005 Fundanga s/n prefix denominator 03 no data €2.00
F  B
1R4 2006 2006 Fundanga s/n prefix denominator 03 no data €1.50
F  B
1R5 2008 no data Fundanga s/n prefix denominator 03 no data €1.50 F  B
1Z1 3
2003
not given Fundanga s/n prefix denominator X3 no data €22.00 F  B
1Z2 2004 not given Fundanga s/n prefix denominator X3 no data €17.00 F  B
1Z3 2005 not given Fundanga s/n prefix denominator X3 no data €16.00
F  B
1Z4 2006 not given Fundanga s/n prefix denominator X3 no data €15.00
F  B
1Z5 2008 not given Fundanga s/n prefix denominator X3 no data €14.00 F  B
 

 

S1R1 issued on 26.09.03, withdrawn on 27.09.03 (for reasons see General information / Additional information above), and re-issued on 03.11.03.

 

 

There are significant differences between the 2003 and 2004-dated issue. Certain text colours have been completely changed and additional features have been added on the 2004-dated issue to reduce wear.

 

 

Replacement notes have an alphanumeric symbol X3 (e.g., DA/X3) instead of a numeric symbol 03 as a serial number prefix denominator.

 

 

Zambia, 500 Kwacha, issued in 2003. Dove, a symbol of peace, in flight in the clear window. Front: Fish eagle, the main feature of all Zambian bank notes, at right. The Fish Eagle reflects Zambia’s Pride; the bird’s excellent vision and swift reaction symbolize the country’s focus on economic growth and its ability to rise above all challenges; the calmly seated fish eagle represents stability in prices. Baobab tree in centre. Baobabs can grow up to 25 meters tall and live for several thousands years. Zambian Coat of Arms at bottom left. Back: The Freedom Statue at right. Cotton picking in centre. A large-eared African elephant at left.

  

COUNTRY S CURRENCY DENOMINATION SIZE PICK PRINTER POLYMER
Zambia 2 Kwacha 1,000 140x70 P45 CBN Guardian®

S DATE_1 DATE_2 SIGNATORY DESCRIPTION QUANTITY PRICE PICS
2S1 03
2003
not given Fundanga . no data not given F  B
images from BoZ
2S2 2004 not given Fundanga NOT CONFIRMED no data not given F  B
2S3 2005 not given Fundanga NOT CONFIRMED no data not given F  B
2S4 2006 not given Fundanga NOT CONFIRMED no data not given F  B
2S5 2007 not given Fundanga NOT CONFIRMED no data not given F  B
2R1 03
2003
2003 Fundanga s/n prefix denominator 03 no data €5.50
F  B
2R2 2004 2005 Fundanga s/n prefix denominator 03 no data €3.50
F  B
2R3 2005 2005 Fundanga s/n prefix denominator 03 no data €3.00
F  B
2R4 2006 2006 Fundanga s/n prefix denominator 03 no data €2.50
F  B
2R5 2008 no data Fundanga s/n prefix denominator 03 no data €2.50 F  B B
2Z1 3
2003
not given Fundanga s/n prefix denominator X3 no data €24.00 F  B
2Z2 2004 not given Fundanga s/n prefix denominator X3 no data €19.00 F  B
2Z3 2005 not given Fundanga s/n prefix denominator X3 no data €18.00
F  B
2Z4 2006 not given Fundanga s/n prefix denominator X3 no data €17.00
F  B
2Z5 2008 not given Fundanga s/n prefix denominator X3 no data €16.00 F  B
 

 

S2R1 issued on 26.09.03, withdrawn on 27.09.03 (for reasons see General information / Additional information above), and re-issued on 10.11.03.

 

 

There are significant differences between the 2003 and 2004-dated issue. Certain text colours have been completely changed and additional features have been added on the 2004-dated issue to reduce wear.

 

 

Replacement notes have an alphanumeric symbol X3 (e.g., EA/X3) instead of a numeric symbol 03 as a serial number prefix denominator.

 

 

 

Zambia, 1,000 Kwacha, issued in 2003. Dove in flight in the clear window. Front: Fish eagle at right. Jacaranda tree in centre. Zambian Coat of Arms at bottom left. Back: The Freedom Statue (or the Chain Breaker), printed on the back of each Zambian bank note, at right; erected in Lusaka, it represents Zambia's struggle to freedom in the pre-colonial days and is a tribute to the fallen heroes. The currency’s name, Kwacha, means ‘dawn’ in the Chibemba language, signifying the dawn of freedom. Sorghum farming in centre. Aardvark’s head at left. Aardvark is a large nocturnal mammal of sub-Saharan Africa; it feeds especially on termites and ants.

 

 

 

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