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Banknotes

In upgrading the banknotes, the SARB retained the denomination mix, denomination sizes and the banknote paper (substrate) to ensure familiarity.

 

Additional features and enhancements on existing features were made to future-proof the banknotes, allowing verification using the look, feel and tilt authentication method.

The SARB has the sole authority to produce, issue and destroy South African currency, and is entrusted to ensure the availability and integrity of the South African rand. 

 

 

In this section 


Our banknotes 
Security features
Check your banknotes

Related pages 

Use of banknotes
Banknotes and coin production
History of Banknotes and coin 
Banknotes and coin FAQ's 
Resources

Downloads 
 
Documents

Banknotes and Coin FAQs

FAQs

Central Bank Currencies FAQs

There are five denominations of South African banknotes in circulation: R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200. 

All South African banknotes are printed on cotton substrate and can be differentiated from one another by considering the dominant colour, animal theme and size.

 

Front:Portrait of Nelson Mandela SOUTH AFRICAN RESERVE BANK
Back: Rhinoceros Afrikaans: SUID-AFRIKAANSE RESERWEBANK isiSwati: LIBHANGESILULU LENINGIZIMU AFRIKA
Front:Portrait of Nelson Mandela SOUTH AFRICAN RESERVE BANK
Back: Elephant Setswana: BANKAKGOLO YA AFORIKABORWA isiNdebele: IBULUNGELO-MALI ELIKHULU LESEWULA AFRIKA
Front:Portrait of Nelson Mandela SOUTH AFRICAN RESERVE BANK
Back: Lion isiXhosa: IBHANKI ENGUVIMBA YOMZANTSI AFRIKA Tshivenda: BANNGA YA VHUKATI YA AFRIKA TSHIPEMBE
Front: Portrait of Nelson Mandela SOUTH AFRICAN RESERVE BANK
Back: Cape buffalo Sepedi: PANKA YA RESEFE YA AFRIKA BORWA Xitsonga: BANGINKULU YA AFRIKA-DZONGA
Front: Portrait of Nelson Mandela SOUTH AFRICAN RESERVE BANK
Back: Leopard isiZulu: IBHANGE LOMBUSO LASENINGIZIMU AFRIKA Sesotho: BANKA YA RISEFE YA AFRIKA BORWA
Front:Portrait of Nelson Mandela SOUTH AFRICAN RESERVE BANK
Back: Rhinoceros Afrikaans: SUID-AFRIKAANSE RESERWEBANK Siswati: LIBHANGESILULU LENINGIZIMU AFRIKA
Front:Portrait of Nelson Mandela SOUTH AFRICAN RESERVE BANK
Back: Elephant Setswana: BANKAKGOLO YA AFORIKABORWA isiNdebele: IBULUNGELO-MALI ELIKHULU LESEWULA AFRIKA
Front:Portrait of Nelson Mandela SOUTH AFRICAN RESERVE BANK
Back: Lion isiXhosa: IBHANKI ENGUVIMBA YOMZANTSI AFRIKA Tshivenda: BANNGA YA VHUKATI YA AFRIKA TSHIPEMBE
Front: Portrait of Nelson Mandela SOUTH AFRICAN RESERVE BANK
Back: Cape buffalo Sepedi: PANKA YA RESEFE YA AFRIKA BORWA Xitsonga: BANGINKULU YA AFRIKA-DZONGA
Front: Portrait of Nelson Mandela SOUTH AFRICAN RESERVE BANK
Back: Leopard isiZulu: IBHANGE LOMBUSO LASENINGIZIMU AFRIKA Sesotho: BANKA YA RISEFE YA AFRIKA BORWA
All banknotes and coins issued since 1961, by the SARB, remain legal tender in South Africa.

The SARB has made it easier to authenticate a genuine banknote and reject a counterfeit note. There are multiple security features on each banknote. All you need to do is Look, Feel and Tilt.

It is the responsibility of the SARB to ensure and maintain the integrity of banknotes and coin in circulation. The SARB has to ensure that banknotes and coin remain a secure method of payment, unit of account and store of wealth. Banknotes and coin derive their value from the trust that the citizens have in that country’s currency.

It is important to be aware of the security features incorporated in banknotes in order to identify counterfeit notes. When inspecting banknotes, an approach of Look, Feel and Tilt should be adopted.

Next >> Coins