South Africa is marking the centenary of late President Nelson Mandela’s birth, including the South African Reserve Bank who have released a commemorative banknotes series and R5 coin.
South Africa Banknotes
The new commemorative banknotes are known as the South Africa Madiba series, so called from Mandela’s clan name.
The notes have been designed by De La Rue, with the reverse of each denomination depicting different elements of Mandela’s life from a young man to President. The front of the notes continue to use the same design shown on the front of the 2012 series currently in circulation.
The banknotes include similar security features used in the currently circulating series including an upgraded colour changing security thread and SPARK® Live optically variable ink instead of the previously used SPARK® rolling bar.
South Africa R5 coin
The new R5 bimetallic coin consists of a gold core featuring a portrait of Mandela, with a silver ring displaying the text ‘NELSON MANDELA CENTENARY” and the central bank initials ‘SARB’. The coin forms part of the ‘Celebrating South Africa’ series introduced in 2017.
Public education
The SARB has released several public education films to inform the public on how to authenticate the new banknotes.
For further images on the new Madiba commemorative banknote series and R5 coin, go to the SARB website.
Read the De La Rue press release.
