2485) Constance Cummings-John, Sierra Leone: A 20 Leones Banknote issued by the Bank of Sierra Leone honouring a pioneering woman: Date/Year of Banknote introduced into circulation: 01.07.2022:
When Sierra Leone introduced a new paper currency series during the last week of June, the 1, 5, and 10 Leone Banknotes, they looked the same as before but with three fewer zeroes in the denominations.
The Header/Banner shows the Front of the 20 Leones Banknote against a background image of the Back of the Banknote.
The 20-Leone Banknote was new, but no description of it was given at the time. The description has now been provided by the Central Bank, as another accomplished woman appears on a Banknote.
About Constance Cummings-John:
Constance Cummings-John, a Sierra Leonean educator and politician in both pre- and post-colonial Sierra Leone, is depicted on the country's new 20-Leone Banknote.
She campaigned for women’s rights in the country and the continent of Africa at large. She was the first woman in Africa to join a municipal council and in 1966, she was the first woman to serve as mayor of Freetown, and so the first woman in Africa to govern a modern capital city.
Her extensive biography includes teacher training in London and then the United States, which she left in 1936 after encountering racism.
Back in Freetown, she became the Principal of a girls’ school.
She soon became affiliated with the West African Youth League, a movement for social, political and economic independence, and became its vice president.
As a member of the Central Committee, along with four other women, she worked to ensure that women’s concerns were considered.
During World War II she founded a mining company that became a source of funding for her projects.
When her political views put her at odds with the ruling British Regime, in 1946 she and her two children fled to the United States for a five-year exile.
In 1951, she returned to set up the Eleanor Roosevelt Preparatory School for Girls.
Sierra Leone attained independence in 1961, and she was appointed mayor of Freetown in 1966.
While she was out of the country, a military coup occurred and she was accused of financial corruption and advised not to return.
She moved to London where she was a member of the Labour Party, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and also a School Governor.
She passed away in London on 21.02.2000, at the age of 82.
The Banknote:
The Banknote has a holographic windowed security thread with Coat of Arms, and a Watermark with a Lion head and electrotype "20".
This Banknote has been printed by DE LA RUE, the Banknote and Security Paper printing major.
The Size of this Banknote is - 138.00 mm x 70.00 mm.
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