A Basic Guide to Collectible Zimbabwean Paper Money
Currency collectors often use a service such as PCGS to authenticate collectible coins and bank notes, which could increase in value or interest in the long-term. One of these notes is the Zimbabwean dollar. Some of these PCGS-authenticated bank notes are considered collectibles and can be found on eBay.
What are examples of collectible Zimbabwean paper money?PCGS has authenticated collectible Zimbabwean notes that were issued around 2008 to 2009. These denominations include the $100 trillion, $50 trillion, and $10 trillion bills. Currently, these bills do not have any currency or cash value.
What are the notes grouped under the Zimbabwe currency series?The use of the Zimbabwean dollar as legal tender was suspended in 2009. Since then, Zimbabwe had no official currency. Prior to the collapse of the economy, the Zimbabwean dollar was introduced in three series. Below are their distinct features.
- 2007 and 2008 series - This is the period when the large denominations were issued by the Zimbabwe government. The series is grouped under the ZWR code. The series includes the $1 billion to $50 billion notes, and the $10 trillion to $100 trillion notes.
- First series - This currency series adopts the ZWD code. Images used for these notes include the Zimbabwe Balancing Rocks and other geological or historical sites. These were first issued in the ?80s to commemorate the country's independence.
- Fourth series - The series adopts the ZWL code. This was issued by the reserve bank in 2009 right before the Zimbabwe government halted the use of the dollar as legal tender.
Some Zimbabwean notes are considered collectibles because of the following:
- Serial number - Specific Zimbabwean paper notes with desirable serial numbers (first issue) are usually valued by collectors.
- Date of issuance - Collectors often look for the paper money issued during the inflation period of 2008 and 2009. These include the billion and trillion ZWR notes issued by the government?s national reserve.
- Security features - Some of the denominations issued during the hyperinflation period. The pieces have a distinctive watermark which uses an OVI or optically variable ink to prevent counterfeiting. It also uses a security thread and various registration marks.