200 kwacha, 1st JANUARY 2013. Like RBM B53a, but new signature and new date. Prefix AJ.

Courtesy of Garry Craig.

Tags: Malawi

RBM B58 (PNL): 20 kwacha (US$0.05)
Purple and orange. Front: Fish; fishermen in boat; Malawi map as registration device; Reserve Bank of Malawi headquarters building in Lilongwe; Inkosi ya Makhosi M’mbelwa II (Lazalo Mkhuzo Jere). Back: Teachers Training College building and tree; stack of books and mortarboard; Malawi map; bank logo. Windowed security thread with demetalized RBM. Watermark: Inkosi ya Makhosi M’mbelwa II, electrotype 20, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 128 x 64 mm.
a. 1st JANUARY 2014. Sig. 12. Prefix AS. Intro: November 2014.

Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below.

Courtesy of Hartmut Fraunhoffer (www.banknoten.de).

Tags: Malawi

RBM B57 (PNL): 50 kwacha (US$0.20)
Light green, light blue, and orange. Front: Fish; fishermen in boat; Malawi map as registration device; Reserve Bank of Malawi headquarters building in Lilongwe; Inkosi Ya Makhosi Gomani II (Philip Zitonga Maseko). Back: Elephants, tree, and safari vehicle in Kasungu National Park; Malawi map; bank logo. Windowed security thread with demetalized RBM. Watermark: Inkosi Ya Makhosi Gomani II, electrotype 50, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 128 x 64 mm.
a. 1st JANUARY 2014. Sig. 12. Prefix AP. Intro: August 2014.
Like RBM B51, but enhanced blind recognition features, and the color changed to light green to better distinguish this denomination from the blue 200-kwacha note (RBM B53).

Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below.

Courtesy of Hartmut Fraunhoffer (www.banknoten.de).

Tags: Malawi

According to a press release dated June 2014, in August the Reserve Bank of Malawi will introduce a family of notes similar to the existing issues (RBM B50-B55), but with enhanced blind recognition features. Furthermore, the color of the 50-kwacha note will be changed from light blue to light green to differentiate it from the 200-kwacha notes. Curiously, the 200-kwacha note is not listed as a denomination expected to have the new Braille features.

Tags: Malawi

According to a press release, on 6 July 2014 the Reserve Bank of Malawi introduced a limited edition 1,000-kwacha note to commemorate the country's 50 years of independence. This note will circulate in parallel with the existing note of this denomination (RBM B55). The special commemorative banknote has the words “50 Years of Independence” printed at lower right front, four raised dots at lower left front, as well as slightly revised denomination engravings.

Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below.

Courtesy of Max Keller and Murtaza Karimjee (African Banknotes).

Tags: Malawi

According to an article on Face of Malawi dated 1 July 2014, the Reserve Bank of Malawi plans to issue a new family of banknotes in August 2014. The new notes will have enhanced blind recognition features, and the color of the 50-kwacha note will change from light blue to light green to better distinguish it from the blue 200-kwacha note. Furthermore, a 1,000-kwacha note will be issued on 6 July 2014 to commemorate Malawi's 50th anniversary of independence. The limited edition commemorative note will circulate in parallel with the existing note of the same denomination (RBM B55).

Courtesy of Cedrian Lopez-Bosch.

Tags: Malawi

50 kwacha, 1st JUNE 2012. Like RBM B51, but new date and signature 12.

Courtesy of Garry Craig.

Tags: Malawi

20 kwacha, 1st JUNE 2012. Like RBM B50a, but new date, new signature, and building on back now correctly identified as in MACHINGA, not DOMASAI.

Courtesy of Garry Craig.

Tags: Malawi

500 kwacha, 1st JANUARY 2013. Like RBM B54a, but new signature and date.

Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below.

Courtesy of Hartmut Fraunhoffer (http://www.banknoten.de).

Tags: Malawi

100 kwacha, 1st JANUARY 2013. Like RBM B52a, but new signature and date.

Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below.

Courtesy of Hartmut Fraunhoffer (http://www.banknoten.de).

Tags: Malawi

1,000 kwacha, 1st JANUARY 2013. Like RBM B55 (P62), but new date and new signature (Charles Chuka, governor as of 2012).

Courtesy of Garry Craig.

Tags: Malawi

According to an article on Amalawi dated 10 July 2012, the Reserve Bank of Malawi will revise its new family of notes (issued on 23 May 2012) so that they are more "blind friendly." According to the Malawi Union of the Blind, the current notes have raised dots to aid in recognition of the denominations, but the dots are too small to be useful. The bank confirmed that it will address the problem, but didn't specify how or when.

Tags: Malawi

According to an article on Malawi Today dated 27 May 2012, the new 20-kwacha (US$0.08) note issued on 23 May contains an error. On the back of the note is a building identified as the Domasi Teachers Training College (now known as the Domasi College of Education). However it's reported that the building is in fact the Machinga Teachers Training College. Reserve Bank of Malawi spokesperson Ralph Tseka played down the issue, saying the error would not affect the legal tender as the rest of the security features are intact. "We are going to verify and if we find the error we will make a correction in the next issue," said Tseka.

I have been unable to find any images of either college online to confirm that this is in fact an error. Any assistance in this regard would be greatly appreciated.

Courtesy of Richard Miranda.

Tags: Malawi, Error

According to an article in the Nyasa Times dated 17 May 2012, the Reserve Bank of Malawi issued new banknotes on 23 May 2012. The bank is replacing the old denominations 10-500 kwacha, and adding a new 1,000-kwacha (US$4) note. The new notes, printed by De La Rue, are "much smaller in size" than the current notes which measure from 132 x 66 mm to 162 x 81 mm. Old notes will circulate in parallel until 22 May 2013, at which time they will cease to be legal tender. Three months later, they will be demonetized.

In related news, on 7 May 2012, the bank devalued the kwacha exchange rate 48.8% from K168 to K250 per US dollar.



RBM B50 (PNL): 20 kwacha (US$0.10)
Purple and orange. Front: Fish; fishermen in boat; Malawi map as registration device; Reserve Bank of Malaŵi headquarters building in Lilongwe; Inkosi ya Makhosi M’mbelwa II (Lazalo Mkhuzo Jere). Back: Domasi Teachers Training College building and tree; stack of books and mortarboard; Malawi map; bank logo. Windowed security thread with demetalized RBM. Watermark: Inkosi ya Makhosi M’mbelwa II, electrotype 20, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 128 x 64 mm.
a. 1st JANUARY 2012. Sig. 11. Intro: 23.05.2012.



RBM B51 (PNL): 50 kwacha (US$0.20)
Light blue, orange, and green. Front: Fish; fishermen in boat; Malawi map as registration device; Reserve Bank of Malaŵi headquarters building in Lilongwe; Inkosi Ya Makhosi Gomani II (Philip Zitonga Maseko). Back: Elephants, tree, and safari vehicle in Kasungu National Park; Malawi map; bank logo. Windowed security thread with demetalized RBM. Watermark: Inkosi Ya Makhosi Gomani II, electrotype 50, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 128 x 64 mm.
a. 1st JANUARY 2012. Sig. 11. Intro: 23.05.2012.



RBM B52 (PNL): 100 kwacha (US$0.40)
Red and orange. Front: Fish; fishermen in boat; Malawi map as registration device; Reserve Bank of Malaŵi headquarters building in Lilongwe; James Frederick Sangala. Back: College of Medicine in Blantyre; stethoscope; Malawi map; bank logo. Windowed security thread with demetalized RBM. Watermark: James Frederick Sangala, electrotype 100, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 128 x 64 mm.
a. 1st JANUARY 2012. Sig. 11. Intro: 23.05.2012.



RBM B53 (PNL): 200 kwacha (US$0.75)
Blue, violet, and orange. Front: Fish; fishermen in boat; Malawi map as registration device; Reserve Bank of Malaŵi headquarters building in Lilongwe; Rose Lomathinda Chibambo. Back: New Parliament building in Lilongwe; Malawi map; bank logo. Holographic stripe. Windowed security thread with demetalized RBM. Watermark: Rose Lomathinda Chibambo, electrotype 200, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 132 x 66 mm.
a. 1st JANUARY 2012. Sig. 11. Intro: 23.05.2012.



RBM B54 (PNL): 500 kwacha (US$1.90)
Brown, orange, and light blue. Front: Fish; fishermen in boat; Malawi map as registration device; Reserve Bank of Malaŵi headquarters building in Lilongwe; Reverend John Chilembwe. Back: Mulunguzi dam in Zomba; water spigot; Malawi map; bank logo; silhouette of woman carrying container on head and man carrying hoe over shoulder. Holographic stripe. Windowed security thread with demetalized RBM. Watermark: John Chilembwe, electrotype 500, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 132 x 66 mm.
a. 1st JANUARY 2012. Sig. 11. Intro: 23.05.2012.



RBM B55 (PNL): 1,000 kwacha (US$3.80)
Green and orange. Front: Fish; fishermen in boat; Malawi map as registration device; Reserve Bank of Malaŵi headquarters building in Lilongwe; Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda. Back: Mzuzu maize silos; stalk of maize (corn); Malawi map; bank logo; silhouette of two people mashing maize into flour with poles. Holographic stripe. Windowed security thread with demetalized 1000 RBM. Watermark: Hastings Kamuzu Banda, electrotype 1000, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 132 x 66 mm.
a. 1st JANUARY 2012. Sig. 11. Intro: 23.05.2012.

Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below.

Courtesy of Aidan Work, Claudio Marana, and S. Herald Samson (eBay ID silicoin).

Tags: Malawi

According to an article on Nyasa Times dated 9 March 2012, within the next six months the Reserve Bank of Malawi will introduce a whole new series of notes, including a 1,000-kwacha (US$6) note, twice the largest denomination currently in circulation. The notes were announced in Biantyre on 8 March by Governor Dr. Perks Ligoya. An article in the Sunday Times dated 11 March 2012 indicates that the new notes will be issued in July, and will consist of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000 kwacha denominations. It may be that the report is in error, as it hardly seems economically feasible to print notes smaller than 20 kwacha (US$0.12).

The new notes will be much smaller in size than the current notes, which serves as a cost-cutting measure. The new 1,000-kwacha note is to be printed by De La Rue. Nyasa Times reported recently leaked image of the note showing a portrait of current president, Bingu wa Mutharika, but that image is a hoax created from a Federal Republic of Germany DB B31 (P46) 100 deutsche Mark note.



Additional information and images are requested so that this report can be confirmed.

Courtesy of Thomas Krause.

Tags: Malawi

100 kwacha (US$0.60), 31th JUNE 2011. Like RBM B45 (P46 & P54), but new date and signature (Perks M. Ligoya).

Courtesy of Andrew Roberts.

Tags: Malawi

The Malawi chapter of The Banknote Book is now available for individual sale at US$9.99, and as a free download to subscribers.

At the time of initial publication, this 15-page catalog covers every note (158 types and varieties, including 27 notes unlisted in the SCWPM) issued by the Reserve Bank of Malaŵi from 1964 until present day.

Each chapter of The Banknote Book includes detailed descriptions and background information, full-color images, and accurate valuations. The Banknote Book also features:

• Sharp color images of note’s front and back without overlap
• Face value or date of demonetization if no longer legal tender
• Specific identification of all vignette elements
• Security features described in full
• Printer imprint reproduced exactly as on note
• Each date/signature variety assigned an individual letter
• Variety checkboxes for tracking your collection and want list
• Red stars highlight the many notes missing from the SCWPM
• Date reproduced exactly as on note
• Precise date of introduction noted when known
• Replacement note information
• Signature tables, often with names and terms of service
• Background information for historical and cultural context
• Details magnified to distinguish between note varieties
• Bibliographic sources listed for further research

Subscribe to The Banknote Book
If you collect the entire world or a large number of countries, buying a $99 annual subscription is the best deal because it's less expensive than buying chapters individually, and it entitles you to every chapter currently available as well as everything published—or revised (click here to see the Change Log)—during the next 12 months.


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Tags: Malawi

According to an article on Nyasa Times dated 11 November 2011, the Reserve Bank of Malawi claims it has stopped issuing 20-kwacha (US$0.12) notes because they are in short supply and the existing stock consists of poor-condition notes. Speculation holds that the move is intended to encourage use of coinage instead of notes.

Tags: Malawi

500 kwacha (US$3.30), 31ST JANUARY 2011. Like P56, but new date and signature (Perks M. Ligoya).

Courtesy of Nazir Rahemtulla.

Tags: Malawi

According to an article on Nyasa Times dated 2 June 2011, in late May the Reserve Bank of Malawi issued a large quantity of 50-kwacha (US$0.35) notes dated 30th JUNE 2011. These are like the preceding issues (P53) dated 31st OCTOBER 2009, but with the new date which oddly falls after the date of introduction into circulation.

Courtesy of Aidan Work and Andrew Roberts.

Tags: Malawi

According to an article on Nyasa Times dated 13 June 2011, the Reserve Bank of Malawi will soon introduce a 1,000-kwacha (US$6.60) note, twice as large as the current highest denomination, the 500-kwacha (P56). The new notes are supposedly being printed by De La Rue.

Additional information and images are requested so that this report can be confirmed.

Tags: Malawi

20 kwacha (US$0.15), 31st OCTOBER 2009. Like P44, but new date and signature (Perks M. Ligoya).

Courtesy of Andrew Roberts.

Tags: Malawi

50 kwacha (US$0.35), 31st OCTOBER 2009. Like P45, but new date and new signature (Perks M. Ligoya).

100 kwacha (US$0.65), 31st OCTOBER 2009. Like P46, but new date and new signature (Perks M. Ligoya).

Courtesy of Nazir Rahemtulla.

Tags: Malawi

50 kwacha. Like Pick 45, but dated 31st OCTOBER 2007.

Courtesy of David Murcek.

Tags: Malawi

5 kwacha (US$0.05), 1st March 2004. Like Pick 36, but new date and new signature.

Courtesy of Menelaos Stamatelos, Southeastern Numismatics.

Tags: Malawi

5 kwacha (US$0.05), 1st December 2005. Like Pick 36, but new date and new signature.

Courtesy of Andrew Roberts.

Tags: Malawi