Swazi lilangeni

Swazi lilangeni
Swazi coins
ISO 4217
Code	SZL
Denominations
Subunit
1/100	Cent
Plural	Emalangeni
Symbol	L or E (pl.)
Banknotes	E10, E20, E50, E100, E200
Coins	10, 20, 50 cents, L1, E2, E5 [1]
Demographics
User(s)	Eswatini (alongside South African rand)
Issuance
Central bank	Central Bank of Eswatini
Website	www.centralbank.org.sz
Valuation
Inflation	3.8%
Source	Central Bank of Eswatini, August 2020
Pegged with	South African rand at par

The lilangeni (plural: emalangeni, ISO 4217 code: SZL) is the currency of Eswatini and is subdivided into 100 cents. It is issued by the Central Bank of Eswatini (Swazi: Umntsholi Wemaswati). Similarly in situation to the Lesotho loti, there are singular and plural abbreviations, namely L and E, so where one might have an amount L1, it would be E2, E3, or E4.

History[]

The Swazi lilangeni was introduced in 1974 at par with the South African rand through the Common Monetary Area, to which it remains tied at a one-to-one exchange rate. The South African rand is also accepted in the country.

Coins[]

In 1974, coins for 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1 lilangeni were introduced, with the 1 and 2 cents struck in bronze and the others struck in cupro-nickel. Except for the 1 lilangeni, the coins were not round, with the 1 and 50 cents dodecagonal, the 2 cents square with rounded corners and the 5, 10 and 20 cents scalloped.

The 2c coins were last struck in 1982, and in 1986 round, copper-plated steel 1c and nickel-brass L1 coins were introduced. These were followed, in 1992, by nickel-plated steel 5c and 10c coins and nickel-brass-plated steel L1 coins. In 1995, E2 and E5 coins were introduced.

From 2009 to 2011 new coins were introduced in copper-plated steel (5c and 10c), nickel-plated steel (20c, and a 50c piece which was never released into circulation) and brass-plated steel (L1). These were similar sizes to the existing coins but lighter due to the changed metal composition.

In February 2016, a new series of coins dated 2015 was introduced and all previous coins were recalled and demonetised.^[2] The new coins have similar designs to the previous coins, but with slightly different sizes and weights. The 10c–50c are in nickel-plated steel and the L1–E5 are in aluminium-bronze. 1c–5c coins are no longer in use.

The nickel-brass L1 coin dated 1986 and brass coins dated 1995–2009 had the same dimensions and composition as the British £1 coins introduced in 1983, and thus have sometimes been used fraudulently in British vending machines with the value of the L1 coin decreasing from £0.36 in 1986 to £0.05 in 2015, when those L1 coins were demonetised.^[3]

Banknotes[]

E10 banknote

On 6 September 1974, the Monetary Authority of Swaziland introduced notes in denominations of L1, E2, E5 and E10, with E20 notes following in 1978.^[4] In 1981, the Central Bank of Swaziland (now Eswatini) took over paper money production, first issuing notes commemorating the Diamond jubilee of King Sobhuza II. Between 1982 and 1985, it introduced non-commemorative notes for E2, E5, E10, and E20. The E50 notes were introduced in 1990. The E2 and E5 notes were replaced by coins in 1995, whilst E100 and E200 notes were introduced in 1996 and 1998, respectively, with the E200 notes commemorating the 30th anniversary of independence. On 5 September 2008 the Central Bank of Swaziland issued E100 and E200 notes to commemorate the 40th birthday of King Mswati III and the 40th anniversary of independence.^[5] On November 1, 2010, the Central Bank of Swaziland has issued a new series of banknotes with enhanced security features.^[6][7]

See also[]

• Economy of Eswatini

References[]

External links[]

• The banknotes of Eswatini (in English and German)