By Adama Makasuba
The Gambia on Thursday introduced new banknotes, effectively removing former President Yahya Jammeh’s face on the country’s currency, and saying all existing banknotes will remain in circulation until further notice.
Gambia’s Central Bank governor, Bakary Jammeh, announced the new banknotes as 5 Dalasis, 10 Dalasis, 20 Dalasis, 50 Dalasis, 100 Dalasis, and 200 Dalasis, the same as the current notes but change in colours.
On the touch, the characteristic raised point of genuine banknotes which can be found throughout the note but particularly at the sides of the front of the notes.
On the look, watermark with lighter area-the watermark of crocodile’s value a lighter area showing the note value and a stylised palm tree which can be seen from both sides of the note.
The note value appears in white print.
The security threat appears as a solid line rather than just appearing on the surface of the note.
Tilt, on the 10 Dalasis, the security thread has rainbow bars that change colour as the note is moved around.
On the 20, 50, 100 and 200, a green and red colour switch is added to the rainbow bars. The note value and images of the bird can also be seen.
On the 100, the bush fowls in the bottom left hand corner is printed in a shiny ink that changes colour from gold to green when the note is tilted. On the 200, the shiny gold and green ink in the bush fowl also has a circular ring effect.
“If you look at the notes under an ultra violet (UV) light, you will see a number, the note value in the centre and the red serial number, the note value in the centre and smaller values in two colours bottom right. On the back the birds in the bottom right corner also glow,” Jammeh said.
He further said that there are some areas of the note that just look like plain area of print or simple lens, adding you will see that they are small letters and numbers.
Jammeh said: “the old notes will still be in circulation and once they enter Bank’s they will not go out. Banks normally…so any money in circulation is valid, we started the public education and very soon it will be in town.”
