R200-notes to be discontinued

DUE to the number of high quality counterfeit R200-notes of the old series in circulation, the South African Reserve Bank is withdrawing all old series R200-notes by the 31 May 2010. All members of the public that still have old R200-notes are requested to exchange them at the nearest commercial bank.

In a statement issued by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), it says that the upgraded R200-note bearing the signatures of the former governor of the SARB, Mr Tito Mboweni and the current governor, Ms Gill Marcus, are not affected by the current counterfeit problem. They will remain in circulation.

“South Africa has a family of five banknotes, with the R200 banknote being the highest denomination. The South African public is encouraged to re-familiarise themselves with the security features on the banknotes and to examine them on receipt. Don't hesitate to hold a banknote up to the light. Look, feel and tilt the banknotes to ascertain the security features.

“Some key features to consider is the banknote substrate. The special quality of banknote paper and the raised intaglio print give it a distinct feel. Unlike normal paper, banknotes have a distinct crackling sound when handled.

“Further look out for the South African Coat of Arms that is used prominently in the front top left corner, in the iridescent band on the back, and as a holographic image in the security thread of the R50, R100 and R200 banknotes.

“The watermark is smaller and the denomination numeral is added to the watermark of the main motif. When the banknote is held up to the light the watermark and the denomination numeral are visible.”

The upgraded notes reveal the denomination numeral in perfect registration on the front and back when a note is held to the light.

“It does not appear blurred or obscured. The windowed security thread on the R50, R100 and R200 banknotes is 4 mm wide. Another feature is that the words SARB, RAND and the denomination numeral appear when held up to light and a holographic Coat of Arms appears in the thread when tilted. On the R10 and R20 banknotes the thread is 2mm wide and SARB and the denomination numeral appear in clear text.”

On the R50, R100 and R200 banknotes the denomination numeral on the front bottom right is printed in colour changing ink. When the R50 and R100 banknotes are tilted, the colour changes from green to gold. On the R200 it changes from magenta to green. When the banknote is held almost horizontally to eye level, the denomination numeral appears inside the geometric shapes.

The notes also have diamond shapes with a raised intaglio feel on the front that assist the blind to distinguish between the denominations and are as follow: one diamond for the R10, two diamonds for the R20, three diamonds for the R50, four diamonds for the R100, and five diamonds for the R200.

On the front of the banknote, as an aid for the partially sighted is a diamond on the R10, a square on the R20, a circle on the R50, and different hexagons on the R100 and R200 respectively. Denomination numerals are prominent on the front and the back of the banknotes and “South African Reserve Bank” appears in microlettering to the right of the animal’s ear.

The microlettering is printed in positive and negative text. Further a unique number is on the back – a vertical number on the left hand side and a horizontal number in the top right. The horizontal number is conical. The iridescent band is a very prominent feature and is in gold colour on the back of all banknotes. When tilted, the Coat of Arms and the denomination numeral appear.