746) Nelson Mandela (Mandiba) Birth Centenary (18.07.1918-18.07.2018) celebrated by issue of first-ever "Commemorative Banknote Series" being issued by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) on 13.07.2018:

746) Nelson Mandela (Mandiba) Birth Centenary (18.07.1918-18.07.2018) celebrated by issue of first-ever "Commemorative Banknote Series" being issued by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) on 13.07.2018:

For more posts on South African Coins & Currency, please visit the following links:

1) Currency of South Africa and the Common Monetary Area between South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho: the Rand and Cents 

2) World's First Human Heart Transplant: 50th Anniversary: A 2 Rand Silver Coin and a 2 1/2 Cent Tickey issued by the South African Mint in 2017 under its coin series "South African Inventions"launched in 2016  

3) Nelson Mandela (Mandiba) Birth centenary (18.07.1918 - 18.07.2018) celebrated by issue of South Africa's first ever "Commemorative Banknote Series" by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) on 13.07.2018

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is issuing its first-ever "Commemorative Banknote Series" commemorating/celebrating the birth centenary of Nelson Mandela, freedom fighter and South Africa's first post-apartheid President, on 13.07.2018.

These Banknotes are being issued in all the currently circulating denominations - R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200. As part of the celebrations, the South African Mint (a subsidiary of the SARB), will also be issuing a new commemorative circulation R5 coin.

The commemorative banknotes and coins, including collector gold, silver and bronze pieces are part of the nation-wide year-long celebrations and observance of Mandela's Birth Centenary, who is regarded by many as the "Father of the Nation".

These commemorative Banknotes and R5 coins will co-circulate for a limited period, together with the current Mandela Banknote Series ("Mandiba") which was originally introduced in 2013 and the existing bi-metallic R5 coin that was introduced in 2004. All the Banknotes & Coins will remain legal tender.

Please visit the following link to know more about the 2013 Banknote series and South African Banknotes and coins : Currency of South Africa and the Common Monetary Area between South africa, Swaziland and Lesotho: the Rand & Cents

As with the currently circulating "Mandiba" Banknotes, the Front of all the new commemorative Banknotes retain the same portrait of Nelson Mandela.

Specimen images of the five denominations of Banknotes - R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200 to be released into circulation on 13.07.2018 

Each of the Backs of these Banknotes will include a specific scene or relevant place which is associated with the life of Mandela, replacing the Back designs of the "big five animals" have been substituted to depict various scenes of remembrance to Mandela.

The focal point of each Back design includes a very relevant photograph - attributed to journalist Eli Weinberg of "Mandiba", as he was photographed in 1962, during the trial proceedings in the South African Supreme Court for his sentencing on charges of treason. Mandela defiantly wore a traditional Xhosa beaded costume as an expression of contempt and resistance against the illegitimate proceedings against him. 

Mandela during the illegitimate trial proceedings in the South African Supreme Court

On the Back of all the Banknotes in the Series, the word "MANDIBA" is placed in a vertical direction and to the left of the 1962 portrait of Nelson Mandela

Salient features of the individual Commemorative Banknotes:

The new Banknotes in the Commemorative Series retain the same size, colour and security features as the presently circulating Nelson Mandela Banknotes.

All the South African Banknotes are 70 mm in height, but differ in length by 6.0 mm and colour, as follows:

R10 - Size: 70 mm x 128 mm; Colour: Green

R20 - Size: 70 mm x 134 mm; Colour: Brown

R50 - Size: 70 mm x 140 mm; Colour: Red

R100 - Size: 70 mm x 146 mm; Colour: Blue

R200 - Size: 70 mm x 152 mm; Colour: Yellow-Orange

As South Africa has 11 official languages, the Banknotes include all of them and reflect the diverse linguistic and cultural traditions. The inclusion of the 100 languages is seen on the Back of all the Banknotes which also denote 'SOUTH AFRICAN RESERVE BANK" with English being the only language used on the Front of all the Banknotes.

As such, the following languages are seen on the Banknotes:

R10 - Afrikaans & siSwati, SUID-AFRIKAANSE RESERWEBANK - LIBHANGESILULU LENINGIZIMU AFRIKA

R20 - Setswana & isiNdebele, BANKAKGOLO YA AFORIKABORWA - IBULUNGELO-MALI ELIKHULU LESEWULA AFRIKA

R50 - isiXhosa & Tshivenda, IBHANKI ENGUVIMBA YOMZANT SI AFRIKA - BANNGA YA VHUKATI YA AFRIKA TSHIPEMBE

R100 - Sesotho sa Leboa & Sependi Xitsonga, PANKA YA RESEFE YA AFRIKA BORWA - BANGINKULU YA AFRIKA-DZONGA

R200 - isiZulu & Sesotho, IBHANGLE LOMBUSO LASENINGIZMU AFRIKA - BANKA YA RISEFE YA AFRIKA BORWA

Security Features:

Watermark: An image of Nelson Mandela is placed on the left hand side.

Micro-printing: The denomination numeral appears in micro-lettering to the left of the image of Mandela, which can be seen by using a magnifying glass. Micro-lettering also appears on the Back of the new Banknotes.

Little dots: These dots will be seen on the left-hand side of the Banknotes.

Commemorative Coin:

Nelson Mandela (Mandiba) is also being honoured with the issue of a circulating 5 Rand coin which also entered into circulation on 13.07.2018

Links to Banknotes on some other World famous leaders:

1) Currency & Coinage of South Africa including the Nelson Mandela Banknotes Series issued in 2012

2) Currency of the People's Republic of China including Banknotes on Mao Tse Dong

3) Banknotes of the Vietnamese Dong including the Ho Chi Minh Series

4) Banknotes, Coins and other information on Mahatma Gandhi