The Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE) commemorated its Golden Jubilee last year with the issue of a 50 emalangeni ‘Green Banknote’. The new note was launched by HM King Mswati III, whose portrait appears on the note, as it does on all the country’s notes.

The new note is similar to the circulating version issued in 2018 but features a  magenta-to-green RollingStar® i+ thread from Louisenthal on the front, along with a RollingStar Patch  with a special flip effect in colours that match the thread, replacing the green shield and spears on the circulating version.

A new image of the country’s international airport features on the reverse (replacing the central bank headquarters on the 2018 note), along with images of Sibebe Rock (one of the largest and oldest granite rocks in the world and Eswatini’s foremost tourist attraction) and icons depicting technological progress.

The Bank selected a Green Banknote as a sustainable solution that reduces the environmental impact of currency production. At the heart of the banknote is a blend of organic cotton and certified cellulose from sustainable forestry. Coincidently, support for sustainable cotton cultivation in Africa is provided through Louisenthal’s partnership with Cotton made in Africa (CmiA).

The Golden Jubilee celebrations where the note was launched were held at the CBE’s new Green Headquarters, which are currently under construction. According to the CBE, both the green banknote and the new green building align with its strategic initiative of ‘Greening the Central Bank.’