CBS to introduce new series of bank notes

Mbabane

06.04.10

The Central Bank of Swaziland has initiated a project to upgrade its entire series of banknotes in view of the fact that the existing portrait shown of His Majesty King Mswati III was outdated, and also that banknote durability and security technology has advanced significantly since the issuing of the current series of notes in 1999.

The new notes are expected to be released in July/August 2010 at intervals of six months, starting with the E100 banknote.

In this project, the Bank is working with its long standing currency printers Giesecke and Devrient (G&D) based in Germany, following a tender selection process that involved five carefully selected banknote suppliers. The selection was based on among other criterions, price, durability of the notes and performance in circulation.

“The Central Bank of Swaziland takes pride in its responsibility to provide high quality banknotes and ensuring public confidence in our money by minimising counterfeiting,” says Governor, Mr. Martin G. Dlamini. “We spared no effort in making the new series of notes as durable and as secure as possible.”

To get the public acquainted with the security features that are incorporated into the new Emalangeni banknote series, the Bank will produce a variety of information and educational material, explaining the functionality of the features in detail. Such material, which will include posters and flyers, will be laid out openly for public disposal at all main public institutions like banks, police stations, post offices, hospitals & clinics and Tinkhundla centres.

“I would like to ask all of our citizens to familiarise themselves with the new currency and the security features when they are released, so that they can gain trust in the authenticity of the new Emalangeni banknotes," says the Governor.