2019-06-28 Fri

Zambia, in southern Africa, is a landlocked country of rugged terrain and diverse wildlife, with many parks and safaris. On its border with Zimbabwe is famed Victoria Falls – indigenously called Mosi-oa-Tunya, or "Smoke That Thunders” – plunging a misty 108m into narrow Batoka Gorge. This thundering smoke also adorns the banknotes of Zambia.

Zambia is such a beautiful country that there are 14 ecosystems in Zambia with approximately 12,505 identified species—63% animal species, 33% plant species, and 4% bacterial and microorganism species. There are an estimated 3,543 species of wild flowering plants, consisting of sedges, herbaceous plants, and woody plants.

The kwacha is the currency of Zambia. It is subdivided into 100 ngwees. The Zambian kwacha was first issued in 1968 to replace the Zambian pound. Today we are discussing a 2 Kwacha banknote issued from 1980 to 1988.

The obverse depicts the portrait of the 1st president of Zambia, President Kenneth David Kaunda; African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer), the national bird of Zambia; Flowers; and the official Coat of Arms. The reverse depicts an education scene with teacher, student and a school building in the background.

Image Courtesy: Collectors Corner