2 Dollars 2016, Zimbabwe
| in Krause book | Number: 99 |
| Years of issue: | 28.11.2016 |
| Edition: | |
| Signatures: | Governor: John Panonetsa Mangudya |
| Serie: | Bond notes |
| Specimen of: | 2016 |
| Material: | Cotton fiber |
| Size (mm): | 155 х 62 |
| Printer: | Fidelity Printers and Refinery, Msasa Industrial area, Harare |
* All pictures marked 
are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.
** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.
Description
Watermark:
The great Zimbabwe bird and abbreviation RBZ (Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe).
Avers:
Balancing rocks are geomorphic features of igneous rocks in many parts of Zimbabwe. Formations are a natural occurrence in a perfectly balanced state without the support of other means. Their popularity increased when the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe depicted them on banknotes.
The Chiremba Balancing Rocks, in Epworth Township, have been used as a metaphorical theme to explain the importance of development combined with preserving Zimbabwe's fragile environment, both in Epworth and elsewhere.
Epworth is one of the largest cities in Zimbabwe, located in the center-northeastern part of the country. It stretches beyond the southeastern outskirts of the city of Harare, and is considered a "hostel" for the main city of the country. Epworth has a fairly high population density, and the city is crossed by important highways and railways that lead to Mozambique - to the coast of the Indian Ocean. Harare International Airport is located southwest of Epworth.
Epworth was founded in the 90s of the XIX century by the missionaries of the Methodist Church. A group of missionaries came to this area of Africa to bring the Word of God to the natives, and the influence of the Methodist community remained very strong even after a hundred years. Now the suburb of the capital is surrounded by numerous suburbs - small villages and agricultural land.
In top right corner right is a profile of the stone-carved Zimbabwe Bird on star background (from the flag of Zimbabwe). It is the national emblem of Zimbabwe, appearing on the national flags and coats of arms of both Zimbabwe and Rhodesia, as well as on banknotes and coins (first on Rhodesian pound and then Rhodesian dollar). It probably represents the Bateleur eagle or the African Fish Eagle.
The original carved birds are from the ruined city of Great Zimbabwe, which was built by ancestors of the Shona, starting in the 11th century and continuing for over 300 years. The ruins, after which modern Zimbabwe was named, cover some 1,800 acres (7.3 km²) and are the largest ancient stone construction in Zimbabwe. Among its notable elements are the soapstone bird sculptures, about 16 inches tall and standing on columns more than a yard tall, were installed on walls and monoliths of the ancient city of Great Zimbabwe. They are believed to have been a sign of the royal presence.
After the ruins of Great Zimbabwe were discovered by European colonists in the late nineteenth century, they took five of the carved birds to the Cape Colony and sold them to its leader Cecil Rhodes. A German missionary came to own the pedestal of one bird, which he sold to the Ethnological Museum in Berlin in 1907. At the independence of Zimbabwe in 1981, the South African government returned four of the statues to the country; the fifth is held at Groote Schuur, Rhodes' former home in Cape Town. In 2003, the German museum returned the portion of bird's pedestal to Zimbabwe.
Denominations in numerals are in top left and lower right corners, also centered. In words centered.
Revers:
Left of the center is the Eternal Flame.
The Eternal Flame rests atop a tower, measuring some forty meters. It was lit at independence celebrations in 1982 and embodies the spirit of Zimbabwean independence. The tower is the highest point at Heroes' Acre; it can readily be viewed from Harare.
National Heroes Acre or simply Heroes Acre is a burial ground and national monument in Harare, Zimbabwe. The 57-acre (230,000 m2) site is situated on a ridge seven kilometers from Harare, towards Norton. Its stated purpose is to commemorate Patriotic Front guerrillas killed during the Rhodesian Bush War, and contemporary Zimbabweans whose dedication or commitment to their country justify their interment at the shrine. Persons buried here are considered heroes by the incumbent Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front regime, which has administered the country since independence at 1980. Indeed, most of the recipients of the 'hero status' were known to be Zanu-PF sympathisers. The actual monument itself is modeled after two AK-47s lying back-to-back; the graves are meant to resemble their magazines. The monument is an early example of work of the North Korean firm Mansudae Overseas Projects. It closely mirrors the design of the Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery in Taesong-guyŏk, just outside Pyongyang, North Korea.
Work was initiated on the National Heroes' Acre in September 1981, a year after Zimbabwean independence. Ten Zimbabwean and seven North Korean architects and artists were recruited to map the site's layout. 250 local workers were involved in the project at the height of its construction. Black granite used for the main structures was quarried from Mutoko, about 140 kilometres northeast of the capital, then known as Salisbury. 
Centered is the Parliament building in Harare.
After hosting legislatures for more than 112 years, Zimbabwe's parliament building in central Harare will soon be replaced as the government starts constructing a new facility to accommodate its growing number of parliamentarians. The existing parliament building, a regal six-storey edifice, was built in 1895 as a hotel to serve white settlers. Situated about 100 meters from the point where the Union flag was hoisted by Cecil John Rhodes's imperialist invading force on September 13, 1890, it was converted into a parliament building three years later.
The current finance minister, Tendai Biti, said the state-of-the-art structure, built at a cost of US$120 million (of which 46 Millions of Chinese money), would stand on top of an equally historical site - the Kopje - a hill four kilometers south-west of the present parliament in Harare, the capital. Members of the Pioneer Column, as Rhodes's occupying force was known, initially pitched their tents on the Kopje when they landed in what is present-day Zimbabwe. The next day, they moved to the center of Harare, near the present parliament, raised the British flag and built a fort. Years later that center became known as Cecil Square. In 1980, it was renamed Africa Unity Square.
"We expect work will start any time before the end of this year," Mr. Biti said. "We are negotiating with prospective funders, locally and abroad." The proposed facility would offer space for two legislative chambers, consistent with the country's bicameral parliament system. It will also provide on-site boarding facilities for use during sessions by MPs who come from outside Harare and do not have residential accommodation in the city.
Jabulani Mangena, an MP for rural Mberengwa North constituency, 400km south of Harare, said parliamentarians were often "squashed" during sessions. The situation was worse in the 210-seat House of Assemby, the lower house of parliament, he said. "It is a good idea because if every MP is present, especially in the House of Assembly where I sit, we would be squashed. It is not an ideal situation. It is clear that the present parliament was meant for fewer people than we have now. The opportunity cost of building it is huge, considering the hotel bills that parliament is incurring now."
The cash-strapped parliament was recently caught in a media storm after revelations that it spends $17,000 daily to pay for accommodation and food for MPs during sessions. Following its renovation into a parliament in 1898, the current building remained unchanged until 1937 when it was enlarged. In 1969, the building was increased to six storeys and in 1989, the chamber was further extended to accommodate an expanding legislature. In 2000, it was enlarged again when an adjacent building was leased to parliament, but it remains small for the 320 MPs for Senate and House.
The Kopje gives commanding views of Harare's central business district to the north-east, its industries and residential areas to the west and south. It is a quiet place and favoured as a picnic spot. Or was. Keeping a picnic spot is not in the new parliament plans. Charles Matongo, a photographer, who sometimes operates from the proposed construction site, said the location was symbolic. "Parliament performs an oversight role of the executive and other arms of the state. From here, I believe their sight would be sharper and broader," he chuckled. (www.thenational.ae)
Denominations in numerals are in lower left corner and on right side.
Comments:
Windowed security thread with demetalized RBZ.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe released US$10 million worth of a controversial quasi-currency Monday in an attempt to ease the country's liquidity troubles.
The initial release of the so-called bond notes will be "released into the market through normal banking channels in small denominations of $2 and $5," according to a press release from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. The new bond notes and coins are pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar. The statement, published on Saturday, detailed that this initial $10 million release would take the form of $2 bond notes and $1 bond coins.
If you find my work useful I will be grateful for any help in supporting the site.
-
PayPal
-
For users of European Union banking system