The Bank of Namibia printed special money worth N$270 million to remember past leaders. They printed five million N$30 notes in 2020 for the 30th birthday of free Namibia and two million N$60 notes this year for late president Hage Geingob.
Bank worker Kazembire Zemburuka says about 677,000 of those N$60 notes have already moved around the country since March. That makes up almost 34 percent of all printed notes. Nearly 6,853 notes went to money collectors worldwide. The older N$30 note has 32,735 pieces in collector hands globally.
Not many locals collect these special notes because Namibia has a small collector market. Most people who save these notes come from South Africa or other countries. Regular Namibians grab the notes from banks when they need cash. The bank noticed very few damaged N$30 notes came back because they used strong plastic material instead of cotton paper.
The bank has no plans to print more of these special notes. Zemburuka explains that these notes celebrate one-time events or people. The N$60 note honors the third president only once, and no further printings are planned.
Bank worker Kazembire Zemburuka says about 677,000 of those N$60 notes have already moved around the country since March. That makes up almost 34 percent of all printed notes. Nearly 6,853 notes went to money collectors worldwide. The older N$30 note has 32,735 pieces in collector hands globally.
Not many locals collect these special notes because Namibia has a small collector market. Most people who save these notes come from South Africa or other countries. Regular Namibians grab the notes from banks when they need cash. The bank noticed very few damaged N$30 notes came back because they used strong plastic material instead of cotton paper.
The bank has no plans to print more of these special notes. Zemburuka explains that these notes celebrate one-time events or people. The N$60 note honors the third president only once, and no further printings are planned.
