South Africa change 200 Rand banknote

Today is D-day for people who still have old series R200 notes.
The South African Reserve Bank is urging consumers to swop these notes for new ones at any bank around the country. This comes after the bank recalled the old R200 note in April because of concerns around counterfeit versions of it.The Reserve's Bank Hlengani Mathebula says the public only have until today to exchange the notes at their normal banks. He says banks are not allowed to charge for the exchange."People can return all the notes to any commercial bank in the country, it doesn't matter whether that they bank with that specific bank or not. "The banks will exchange the notes for them for free, they are not going to charge them either deposit fees or any charge of any kind." After today's cut-off Mathebula says consumers will have exchange the old notes at one of the Reserve bank's seven branches. The new series notes, in circulation since 2005, are still legal tender. They're easy to spot from the old notes, as they have the five diamond shapes on the bottom.

INTRODUCTION OF A GH¢2 BANKNOTE DENOMINATION

The Bank of Ghana has decided to introduce a GH¢2 (Two Ghana Cedi) denomination in response to the need for an intermediary banknote between the GH¢1 and GH¢5 banknotes.
This follows a review of the cash cycle conducted by the Bank in 2009, which indicated that there was a lot of pressure on the GH¢1, resulting in the notes circulating too fast and being over-used. The worn-out state of the GH¢1 defeats the Bank’s Clean Note Policy, which seeks to ensure that only good quality banknotes remain in circulation.
The introduction of the new denomination will expand the series of banknotes in circulation, enhance exchangeability and facilitate transactions.
The general public will be informed and educated on the theme, colour, size, security and other features of the new denomination when the design is finalized.

Adamson Coin Launched on behalf of Sierra Leone

Virginia McKenna, actress and founder of the Born Free Foundation, visited the Pobjoy Mint Jan. 27 to officially launch a coin to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Austrian naturalist and author Joy Adamson, who is most renowned for her work with Elsa, the lioness she raised from cub to independent female.
This year also marks the 50th anniversary of Adamson's book, Born Free, which was made into a film of the same name. McKenna and Bill Travers, who played Joy and George Adamson in the film, established the Born Free Foundation in 1984 to help save animals in captivity.
The $10 proof sterling silver coin, produced on behalf of Sierra Leone, depicts lions on the outer ring. A yellow-colored crystal with the etched image of a lioness is set into the center. The obverse features Sierra Leone's coat of arms. It is 38.60 mm in diameter, weighs 23.45 grams and has an issue limit is 5,000. Pobjoy is donating £1 for every coin sold to Born Free's efforts in Africa.

Awoko.org