Gradually, Then Suddenly
ZIM81*, 2008, 200 Million ZWR

Slot Comment:

3rd Dollar Banknote ZA Prefix Replacement Note $200,000,000

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Note Details

  

Set Details
Note Description: Zimbabwe, Reserve Bank Replacement / Sta
200 Million Dollars
Grade: 66 EPQ
Country: Zimbabwe
Note Number: ZIM81*
Signatures/
Vignettes: 		- Sign. #8
Comment: Exceptional Paper Quality
Certification #: 1625516-043
Owner: Revenant
Set Category: World
Set Name: Gradually, Then Suddenly
Slot Name: ZIM81*, 2008, 200 Million ZWR
Research: See PMG's Census Report for this Note

Owner's Description

The release of this banknote was announced on 12 Dec 2008 - 9 whole calendar days after the last round of notes had been announced.

This ZIM81 is a replacement note or a “star” note as they are often called because the US Federal Reserve puts a star next to the serial number on replacement notes. With most Zimbabwean 3rd dollars the serial numbers start with “AA.” With the replacement notes the serial number starts with “ZA.”

The Zimbabwe regular banknotes feature an image of the Chiremba balancing rock formation - three balancing rocks that are in Matobo National Park. The image of the stones was chosen as a metaphor for balancing development and environmental protection following the country’s transition from white-ruled Rhodesia to the majority black ruled Zimbabwe. The Matobo Hills are composed entirely of granite and it makes for some unique and interesting formations.

The back side of the Trillions Series banknotes all feature a pair of images that have some kind of national, cultural or economic significance to Zimbabwe. These images are different on each denomination though some of the images seem to have been used more than once on different denominations throughout the series.

The 200 Million dollar banknote features an image of Anglican St Mary’s Cathedral and the Parliament Building and an image of the monument to the unknown soldier of the war for independence. The image of the Cathedral and Parliament Building also appears on ZIM71 (1000 ZWR), and ZIM78 (10 Million ZWR). The monument to the unknown soldier appears only on this note. The bronze statue has three figures – one female and two males. It is part of the National Heroes Acre in Harare – which is a burial ground and national monument in one. Construction of it began in 1981.

St. Mary’s Cathedral is the oldest church in Zimbabwe, located in Bulawayo. The foundation stone was laid in 1903, by Jesuits. The original Jesuit mission had been started in 1879. In 2013 – after this note was printed and Zimbabwe suspended its currency – it became the first Minor Basilica in the SADC (South Africa Development Community).

The Parliament building that is shown in this note is the historical building that the Parliament has been in and should not be confused with the new one that Zimbabwe started building in 2018 and which was still being built in 2021. This old structure is right next to the Cathedral, dates to the late 1800s/early 1900s and actually started its existence as a hotel before it was sold to the governing organization at the time. Isn’t history funny?

This note is the first and, until 2021, the only time the monument to the unknown soldier appeared on a Zimbabwean note – but it did turn up again on the P-105. The monument is in the National Heroes Acre (which is actually about 57 acres). This is also where the "Eternal Flame of Freedom" / "Eternal Flame of Independence" is - you see that show up in a few different places, including on the old P-3 notes, the P-99 (&P-101) and the P-97.

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