New-look currency features Big Five family scenes, enhanced colour and security
The South African Reserve Bank has revealed an upgrade to banknotes and coins
The South African Reserve Bank (Sarb) has introduced upgraded banknotes and coins into the local market.
Available from 4 May, the denominations will be introduced incrementally.
The new-look series feature enhanced security features and some new designs.
However, the broad themes for the banknotes remain the same while the theme for the coin is deep ecology.
Nelson Mandela of course still appears on the front of the banknotes, but in enhanced colour.
The Big Five theme is maintained, but the animals now appear as a family on the back of each banknote.
The watermark on each note also features an animal.
The new coin series also boast what appears to be a mama southern right whale and her calf, accompanied by a school of galjoen.
The new coin series also boast what appears to be a mama southern right whale and her calf, accompanied by a school of galjoen.
She says the new note series and coin series have been four years in the making.
For the coins in particular, it's been an endeavour that's included bringing in new designers to pick what the themes are going to be while sticking to the main core theme of our enviro-diversity, then getting the artists to do the work.
Fundi Tshazibana, Deputy Governor - South African Reserve Bank
On the banknotes, it's been about the security features, getting those authenticated, multiple testing, ensuring that you have the right materials in place, and bear in mind we have to do this alongside the usual production cycle of banknotes as well to make sure we have enough in stock.
Fundi Tshazibana, Deputy Governor - South African Reserve Bank
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