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5 Emalangeni 1984, Swaziland

in Krause book Number: 9b
Years of issue: 1984
Edition: 1 159 856
Signatures: Minister for Finance: Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini (in office 27 August 1984 - 5 November 1993), Governor: Herbert Brian Bramford Oliver (in office 1 July 1981 - 30 June 1992)
Serie: 1982 - 1987 Issue
Specimen of: 1983
Material: Cotton fiber
Size (mm): 150 х 70
Printer: TDLR (Thomas de la Rue & Company), London

* All pictures marked magnify are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.

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5 Emalangeni 1984

Description

Watermark:

watermark

A shield and two spears, symbolizing protection from the country's enemies. Also Swazi fighting stick with injobo.

Avers:

5 Emalangeni 1984

The portrait of His Majesty The King Sobhuza II. On his head are injobo - tassels-bunches of feathers of the widowbird and the lourie. They also decorate the shield. These feathers are used only by the king.

Leo, in the bottom left corner, represents the king, and the elephant, bottom, in the center - the Queen Mother.

Sobhuza II, KBE (also known as Nkhotfotjeni, Mona) (22 July 1899 – 21 August 1982) was the Paramount Chief and later King of Swaziland for 82 years, the longest verifiable reign of any monarch in recorded history. Sobhuza was born on 22 July 1899 at Zombodze Royal Residence, the son of Inkhosikati Lomawa Ndwandwe and King Ngwane V. When he was only four months old, his father died suddenly while dancing incwala. Sobhuza was chosen King soon after that and his grandmother Labotsibeni and his uncle Prince Malunge led the Swazi nation until his maturity in 1921. Sobhuza led Swaziland through independence until his death in 1982. He was succeeded by Mswati III, his young son with Inkhosikati Ntfombi Tfwala, who was crowned in 1986.

Ingwenyama Sobhuza was born in Zombodze on 22 July 1899. He ascended to the throne after the death of his father, Ngwane V, as King of Swaziland on 10 December 1899, when he was only four months old. He was educated at the Swazi National School, Zombodze, and at the Lovedale Institution in the Eastern Cape, South Africa before assuming the Swazi throne as paramount chief at the age of twenty-two. His grandmother, Labotsibeni Mdluli, served as regent throughout his youth, formally transferring power to the Ngwenyama on 22 December 1921.

Sobhuza's direct reign would endure more than 60 years (1921-1982), during which he presided over Swaziland's independence from United Kingdom in 1968, after which the British government recognised him as King of Swaziland. Early in his reign, Sobhuza sought to address the problem of land partition and deprivation instituted by the British authorities in 1907. He did so by first leading a delegation to London to meet with King George V and petition him to restore the lands to the Swazi people. He again took his case on the land issue in 1929 to the Privy Council. He was defeated by the terms of the Foreign Jurisdictions Act, which effectively placed the actions of British administrations in protectorates beyond the reach of the British courts. Sobhuza's role during this colonial period was for the most part ceremonial, but he still had major influence as a traditional head of the Swazi nation. In 1953 he attended the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in London.

In the early 1960s Sobhuza played a major role in events that led to independence for his country in 1968. He opposed the post-colonial Westminster constitution proposed by the British government, in which he was assigned the role of constitutional monarch. As a consequence, acting through his advisory council, he formed the Imbokodvo National Movement, a political party, which contested and won all seats in the 1967 pre-independence elections. He became recognized by the British as King of Swaziland in 1967 when Swaziland was given direct rule. Independence was achieved on 6 September 1968. Following this, Sobhuza skilfully blended appeal to tribal custom with a capacity to manage economic and social change for his kingdom. On 12 April 1973, the king repealed the constitution and dissolved parliament, henceforth exercising power as an absolute ruler. In 1978 a new constitution was promulgated which provided for an elaborate reversion to a tribal mode of rule involving an electoral college of eighty members chosen by forty local councils known as tinkhundla, dominated by tribal elements. The Swazi economy prospered under Sobhuza's leadership. Swaziland is rich in natural resources, and much of the land and mineral wealth originally owned by non-Swazi interests was brought under indigenous control during Sobhuza's reign.

Swaziland

In the center - a shield (sihlangu or lihawu), two spears (sikhali) and Swazi fighting stick, which is also adorned with decorative tassels injobo (symbol of royal power).

This symbolism is present in the flag of Swaziland and this means protection from external enemies. Usually it portrayed in black and white, symbolizing the peaceful coexistence of the white and black population.

Swaziland

On background (at the bottom) is the Parliament building of Swaziland in Lobamba.

Opened in 1969 as a post-independence gift from the departing British, this hexagonal building topped with a brass dome is a major landmark in Lobamba. It is sometimes open to visitors; if you want to visit, wear neat clothes and use the side entrance.

Lobamba is the traditional, spiritual, and legislative capital city of Swaziland, seat of the Parliament, and residence of the Ntombi, the Queen Mother. Mswati III lives about 10 kilometers (6.2 mi.) away at the Lozitha Palace. The King and Queen Mother participate in annual December and January Incwala ceremonies and August and September Reed Dancees at the Royal Kraal.

Key attractions are the Parliament, National Museum of Swaziland, Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, and the King Sobhuza II Memorial Park. The Embo State Palace, not open to visitors, was built by the British government for the polygamous King Sobhuza II, whose family included 600 children. He led the movement for Swaziland's independence from the United Kingdom and was its first prime minister.

On right side is, still unknown to me, weapon of Swazi.

Denominations in numerals are in top left and lower right corners. In numeral and words centered.

Revers:

5 Emalangeni 1984

waterfall

The Mantenga falls located in the Mlilvane National Park. This is the highest waterfall in Swaziland.

It is located in a hilly area, in the north-west of the country. Here live rare birds, that are listed in the Red Book. The reserve is also named after the waterfall. In this area there are 26 more waterfalls of different sizes. Here you can meet the rarest plants, that grow around crystal-clear local rivers.

The Mantenga falls is the most popular attraction of the park and one of the most famous in Africa. It also remains the most visited waterfall in Swaziland, because of its proximity to the country's capital - Mbabane.

near waterfall, on stones, grow aloe (on banknote). The kind of aloe is not possible to estimate.

Denominations in numerals are in three corners. In words in lower left corner.

Comments:

Swaziland

His majesty The King King Sobhuza II and the first governor of the Bank of Swaziland Mr. Mr. Ethan Mayisela, "uZangashane", opening the bank at 1 April 1974.

On 22nd March 1974, King Sobhuza II established The Monetary Authority of Swaziland, through The Monetary Authority of Swaziland Order of 1974. On 1st April 1974, the Bank officially began its operations. His Majesty appointed Mr. Ethan Mayisela, "uZangashane", as the Authority’s first Governor. The Members of the Board of Directors included: Mr. I. F. Hodgkinson, Mr. A. M. Fakudze, the Governor Mr. E. Mayisela, Mr. David Cohen, the Attorney General, Mr. Nst. Keng, Mr. J.S. Matsebula, Princess Msalela and Mr. L. Masuku.