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5 Dollars 2009, Zimbabwe

in Krause book Number: 93a
Years of issue: 02.02.2009
Edition:
Signatures: Governor: Dr. G. Gono
Serie: 2009 Serie
Specimen of: 02.02.2009
Material: Cotton fiber
Size (mm): 148 х 74
Printer: Fidelity Printers and Refinery, Msasa Industrial area, Harare

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5 Dollars 2009

Description

Watermark:

Avers:

5 Dollars 2009

balancing rocks

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.

bird

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.

On background are stylized grains and livestock (cows, pigs).

Denominations in numerals are repeated 5 times, in words lover.

Revers:

5 Dollars 2009

tigerfish

To the left from the center is Hydrocynus vittatus, the African tigerfish, tiervis or ndweshi. It is a predatory freshwater fish distributed throughout much of Africa. It has been observed leaping out of the water and catching swallows (Hirundo rustica) in flight.

The African tigerfish is overall silvery in colour, with thin black stripes running horizontally. It has an elongated body and a red, forked caudal fin with a black edge. Its head is large, as well as its teeth, of which there are eight per jaw.

Kariba dam

Right from the center is The Kariba Dam. It is a hydroelectric dam in the Kariba Gorge of the Zambezi river basin between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is one of the largest dams in the world, standing 128 m. (420 ft.) tall and 579 m. (1,900 ft.) long. The name Kariba is thought to be a corruption of the Shona word for a trap. Kariva is a little trap and it is believed when those who wished to construct the dam wall wanted to explain the nature of the project to the locals they emphasized that they wanted to build a little water trap-Kariva. However, the complex pronunciation of the 'v' in Kariva saw the Western constructors produce a sound much like a 'b' hence the creation of the word Kariba.

On the background are stylized grains and livestock (cows).

Denominations in numerals are repeated 6 times.

Comments:

3 mm. iridescent stripe with repeating RBZ.