The Bank of Namibia received the award for its new Namibian Dollar (N$) series, which was issued last year alongside an extensive nationwide publicity campaign to educate the public about the features and how to handle and check their new currency.

Launched under the theme ‘Our Currency, Our Heritage, Our Pride – Meet the Next Generation of the Namibia Dollar’, the new series features both upgraded banknotes and fully redesigned coinage.

The new series celebrates both continuity and innovation in the evolution of Namibian currency, with the aim of its introduction is to modernise Namibia’s currency in line with international standards, while reinforcing the country’s national identity and purpose.

The banknotes are the third generation issued since 1993. The last redesign was in 2011. The new notes have the same motifs as the notes they are replacing (namely portraits of founding father Dr Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma and freedom fighter Kaptein Hendrik Witbooi on the front, and celebrations of Namibia’s wildlife on the back). However, they feature a refined and more modern aesthetic with richer colours, cleaner lines, and enhanced security features.

The two lowest denominations, the N$10 and N$20, are printed on Landqart’s Durasafe paper-polymer composite substrate and the others – the N$50, N$100 and N$200 – on cotton paper.

All of the notes feature tactile marks for the visually impaired and the Bank partnered with the Namibia Federation for the Visually Impaired to roll out targeted training programmes.

The banknotes were designed and printed by De La Rue. Security features include De La Rue’s IGNITE® and PUREIMAGE™ security threads and Enhanced GEMINI® UV print feature. The notes also feature SPARK® Live colour-shifting ink, SICPA Protect® Dew moisture-resistant coating, microtext, UV-reactive elements, and a transparent window with blind embossing of the Bank of Namibia logo.