According to an article in the Nyasa Times dated 17 May 2012, the Reserve Bank of Malawi issued new banknotes on 23 May 2012. The bank is replacing the old denominations 10-500 kwacha, and adding a new 1,000-kwacha (US$4) note. The new notes, printed by De La Rue, are "much smaller in size" than the current notes which measure from 132 x 66 mm to 162 x 81 mm. Old notes will circulate in parallel until 22 May 2013, at which time they will cease to be legal tender. Three months later, they will be demonetized.

In related news, on 7 May 2012, the bank devalued the kwacha exchange rate 48.8% from K168 to K250 per US dollar.



B150 (PNL): 20 kwacha (US$0.10)
Purple and orange. Front: Fish; fishermen in boat; Malawi map as registration device; Reserve Bank of Malaŵi headquarters building in Lilongwe; Inkosi ya Makhosi M’mbelwa II (Lazalo Mkhuzo Jere). Back: Domasi Teachers Training College building and tree; stack of books and mortarboard; Malawi map; bank logo. Windowed security thread with demetalized RBM. Watermark: Inkosi ya Makhosi M’mbelwa II, electrotype 20, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 128 x 64 mm.
a. 1st JANUARY 2012. Sig. 11. Intro: 23.05.2012.



B151 (PNL): 50 kwacha (US$0.20)
Light blue, orange, and green. Front: Fish; fishermen in boat; Malawi map as registration device; Reserve Bank of Malaŵi headquarters building in Lilongwe; Inkosi Ya Makhosi Gomani II (Philip Zitonga Maseko). Back: Elephants, tree, and safari vehicle in Kasungu National Park; Malawi map; bank logo. Windowed security thread with demetalized RBM. Watermark: Inkosi Ya Makhosi Gomani II, electrotype 50, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 128 x 64 mm.
a. 1st JANUARY 2012. Sig. 11. Intro: 23.05.2012.



B152 (PNL): 100 kwacha (US$0.40)
Red and orange. Front: Fish; fishermen in boat; Malawi map as registration device; Reserve Bank of Malaŵi headquarters building in Lilongwe; James Frederick Sangala. Back: College of Medicine in Blantyre; stethoscope; Malawi map; bank logo. Windowed security thread with demetalized RBM. Watermark: James Frederick Sangala, electrotype 100, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 128 x 64 mm.
a. 1st JANUARY 2012. Sig. 11. Intro: 23.05.2012.



B153 (PNL): 200 kwacha (US$0.75)
Blue, violet, and orange. Front: Fish; fishermen in boat; Malawi map as registration device; Reserve Bank of Malaŵi headquarters building in Lilongwe; Rose Lomathinda Chibambo. Back: New Parliament building in Lilongwe; Malawi map; bank logo. Holographic stripe. Windowed security thread with demetalized RBM. Watermark: Rose Lomathinda Chibambo, electrotype 200, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 132 x 66 mm.
a. 1st JANUARY 2012. Sig. 11. Intro: 23.05.2012.



B154 (PNL): 500 kwacha (US$1.90)
Brown, orange, and light blue. Front: Fish; fishermen in boat; Malawi map as registration device; Reserve Bank of Malaŵi headquarters building in Lilongwe; Reverend John Chilembwe. Back: Mulunguzi dam in Zomba; water spigot; Malawi map; bank logo; silhouette of woman carrying container on head and man carrying hoe over shoulder. Holographic stripe. Windowed security thread with demetalized RBM. Watermark: John Chilembwe, electrotype 500, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 132 x 66 mm.
a. 1st JANUARY 2012. Sig. 11. Intro: 23.05.2012.



B155 (PNL): 1,000 kwacha (US$3.80)
Green and orange. Front: Fish; fishermen in boat; Malawi map as registration device; Reserve Bank of Malaŵi headquarters building in Lilongwe; Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda. Back: Mzuzu maize silos; stalk of maize (corn); Malawi map; bank logo; silhouette of two people mashing maize into flour with poles. Holographic stripe. Windowed security thread with demetalized 1000 RBM. Watermark: Hastings Kamuzu Banda, electrotype 1000, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 132 x 66 mm.
a. 1st JANUARY 2012. Sig. 11. Intro: 23.05.2012.

Courtesy of Aidan Work, Claudio Marana, and S. Herald Samson (eBay ID silicoin).

Tags: Malawi