10 Dollars 1997, Zimbabwe
| in Krause book | Number: 6 |
| Years of issue: | 1997 |
| Edition: | |
| Signatures: | Governor: Mr. Leonard Tsumba |
| Serie: | Leonard Tsumba Issue |
| Specimen of: | 1997 |
| Material: | Cotton fiber |
| Size (mm): | 142 х 70 |
| 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 Zimbabwe Bird. 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.
In lower right corner is a profile of the stone-carved Zimbabwe Bird. 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.
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 lower right corner are two sable anthelopes (Hippotragus niger).
It is an antelope which inhabits wooded savannah in East Africa south of Kenya, and in Southern Africa.
The sable antelope is sexually dimorphic, with the male heavier and about one-fifth taller than the female. The head-and-body length is typically between 190 and 255 cm. (75 and 100 in.). Males reach about 117-140 cm. (46-55 in.) at the shoulder, while females are slightly shorter. Males typically weigh 235 kg. (518 lb.) and females 220 kg (490 lb.). The tail is 40-75 cm. (16-30 in.) long, with a tuft at the end. 
Centered is an inscription: Harare 1997 (capital of Zimbabwe, former Rhodesia). The name of the city was changed to Harare on April 18, 1982.
The Pioneer Column, a military volunteer force of settlers organized by Cecil Rhodes, founded the city on 12 September 1890 as a fort. They originally named the city Fort Salisbury after the 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, then British prime minister, and it subsequently became known simply as Salisbury. The Salisbury Polo Club was formed in 1896. It was declared to be a municipality in 1897 and it became a city in 1935.
Also, in center, is Adenium multiflorum.
It is small, succulent tree native to central and eastern Southern Africa. Like other members of the succulent Apocynaceae family, A. multiflorum has a milky latex with toxic alkaloids, specifically Cardiac glycosides . This latex is used as an arrow poison and as a fish stunning poison.
It is sometimes treated as a variety or subspecies of Adenium obesum.
Denominations in numerals are in all corners, centered in words.
Revers:
In lower left corner are, again, two sable anthelopes.
Centered are the Chilojo cliffs in Gonarezhou National Park.
The chilojo cliffs are in Gonarazhou national park in Zimbabwe. It is an intensely beautiful part of Africa and Zimbabwe and is one the most iconic places in Gonarazhou. The Cliffs are thousands of years old, and act as a brilliant vantage point for wildlife to be seen from - elephants are featured in this video as Gonarazhou does mean place of the elephant.
Gonarezhou National Park is a national park located in south-eastern Zimbabwe. It is situated in a relatively remote corner of Masvingo Province, south of Chimanimani along the Mozambique border. Owing to its vast size, rugged terrain and its location away from main tourist routes, large tracts of Gonarezhou remain as pristine wilderness.
At 5,053 km2 Gonarezhou is the country’s second largest game reserve after Hwange National Park. Gonarezhou is a Shona name meaning "elephant's tusk." It forms part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a peace park that links Gonarezhou with the Kruger National Park in South Africa and the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique. Animals can move freely between the three sanctuaries.
The north-eastern end of the park is located within the Zambezian and Mopane woodlands, while the southwest is located within the Southern Africa bushveld ecoregion.
Denominations in numerals are in all corners.
Comments:
Solid security thread with demetalized RBZ10.
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