{"product_id":"zimbabwe-p-116-w116-20-zig-2026-unc-elephant","title":"Zimbabwe P-116 20 ZiG 2026 UNC—Elephant—Zimbabwe Gold Currency","description":"\u003cp\u003eIssued April 7, 2026 as part of Zimbabwe's upgraded \u003cstrong\u003e\"Big Five\" \u003c\/strong\u003eZiG series, this 20 ZiG note is one of the most \u003cstrong\u003evisually striking\u003c\/strong\u003e banknotes in recent African monetary history — gold-backed, intaglio-engraved, and carrying the \u003cstrong\u003eelephant\u003c\/strong\u003e, the balancing rocks, and the new Parliament building on a \u003cstrong\u003ewarm amber canvas \u003c\/strong\u003ethat literally evokes the \u003cstrong\u003egold reserves \u003c\/strong\u003ebehind it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFront\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColors:\u003c\/strong\u003e warm golden-amber and orange background; brown intaglio engraving throughout; red serial number\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLarge intaglio-engraved \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/African_elephant\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAfrican elephant\u003c\/a\u003e at left — one of Zimbabwe's \"Big Five,\" the centerpiece of the 2026 series redesign\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Epworth_Balancing_Rocks\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eChiremba Balancing Rocks\u003c\/a\u003e of Epworth at right — a natural granite formation near Harare and enduring symbol of Zimbabwe's ecological identity\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eZimbabwe bird on star as registration device (upper left) and as PEAK device (center)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColor-shifting gold bar security element lower right\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntaglio horizontal lines at left and right edges for sight-impaired identification\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSerial number AA5319577 in red\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLettering: \u003cem\u003e20 RESERVE BANK OF ZIMBABWE 20 \/ I promise to pay the bearer on demand \/ 20 TWENTY ZiG \/ for the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe \/ Dr John Mushayavanhu, Governor \/ Harare 2026\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.rbz.co.zw\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDr John Mushayavanhu\u003c\/a\u003e, Governor\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBack\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColors:\u003c\/strong\u003e matching golden-amber and orange background; brown intaglio engraving\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Parliament_of_Zimbabwe\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNew Parliament Building complex\u003c\/a\u003e, Harare — a grand modernist structure opened in 2024, built with Chinese assistance, featuring a sweeping staircase and Zimbabwe bird motifs on the facade\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGold bar color-shift element lower left\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eZimbabwe bird on star as registration device upper right\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLettering: \u003cem\u003e20 RESERVE BANK OF ZIMBABWE \/ Parliament of Zimbabwe \/ 20\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOther Characteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVarieties:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eReplacement note\u003c\/em\u003e (not this note); \u003cem\u003eSpecimen\u003c\/em\u003e (not this note); \u003cstrong\u003eTBB# B207a — this note\u003c\/strong\u003e (issued note, 2026, signed JM)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCatalog numbers:\u003c\/strong\u003e P-116; TBB B207; Numista N#573748\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWatermark:\u003c\/strong\u003e Zimbabwe bird and electrotype 20\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComposition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 137 × 65 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIssuing entity:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Reserve_Bank_of_Zimbabwe\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eReserve Bank of Zimbabwe\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fidelity_Printers_and_Refiners\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eFidelity Printers and Refiners\u003c\/a\u003e, Harare, Zimbabwe\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIssued:\u003c\/strong\u003e 7 April 2026\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Demonetization_(currency)\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDemonetized:\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e No — current legal tender\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.rbz.co.zw\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDr John Mushayavanhu\u003c\/a\u003e, Governor\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCurrency:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Zimbabwe_Gold\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eZimbabwe Gold (ZiG)\u003c\/a\u003e (2024–date)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOfficial language:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shona_language\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eShona\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ndebele_language_(Zimbabwe)\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNdebele\u003c\/a\u003e, and 14 other co-official languages including English\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout Zimbabwe\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin of name:\u003c\/strong\u003e From the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shona_language\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eShona\u003c\/a\u003e \u003cem\u003edzimba dza mabwe\u003c\/em\u003e meaning \"houses of stone\" — a reference to the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Great_Zimbabwe\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGreat Zimbabwe\u003c\/a\u003e ruins, the largest ancient stone structure in sub-Saharan Africa\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCapital:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Harare\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eHarare\u003c\/a\u003e (city pop. ~1.5 million; metro ~2.8 million)\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin of name:\u003c\/strong\u003e From \u003cem\u003eHarawa\u003c\/em\u003e, the name of a Shona chief whose village occupied the site; the city was founded as Fort Salisbury in 1890 by the British South Africa Company and renamed Harare at independence in 1982\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePopulation:\u003c\/strong\u003e ~17 million (UN 2024) — comparable to \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Netherlands\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNetherlands\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chile\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eChile\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArea:\u003c\/strong\u003e 390,757 km² (150,872 mi²) — comparable to \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Montana\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMontana\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Japan\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eJapan\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGDP per capita (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Purchasing_power_parity\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePPP\u003c\/a\u003e):\u003c\/strong\u003e ~$3,400 (IMF 2024)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMain exports:\u003c\/strong\u003e Gold, tobacco, platinum, ferrochrome, diamonds, lithium\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBorders:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Zambia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eZambia\u003c\/a\u003e (north), \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mozambique\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMozambique\u003c\/a\u003e (east), \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/South_Africa\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSouth Africa\u003c\/a\u003e (south), \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Botswana\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBotswana\u003c\/a\u003e (west); touches \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Namibia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNamibia\u003c\/a\u003e at a single point\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOfficial\/spoken languages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 16 co-official languages including \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shona_language\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eShona\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ndebele_language_(Zimbabwe)\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNdebele\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/English_language\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEnglish\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEthnicities:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shona_people\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eShona\u003c\/a\u003e (~82%), \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ndebele_people_(Zimbabwe)\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNdebele\u003c\/a\u003e (~14%), with \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/White_Zimbabweans\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eWhite Zimbabweans\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Asian_Zimbabweans\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAsian Zimbabweans\u003c\/a\u003e, and others\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMemberships:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_Nations\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eUnited Nations\u003c\/a\u003e (1980); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/African_Union\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAfrican Union\u003c\/a\u003e; \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Southern_African_Development_Community\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSouthern African Development Community\u003c\/a\u003e (SADC, hosts secretariat in Gaborone); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Commonwealth_of_Nations\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCommonwealth of Nations\u003c\/a\u003e (rejoined 2018 after 15-year suspension)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSovereignty:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rhodesia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRhodesia\u003c\/a\u003e (UDI 1965–1979); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Zimbabwe_Rhodesia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eZimbabwe Rhodesia\u003c\/a\u003e (1979); independent Republic of Zimbabwe (1980–date) under \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Robert_Mugabe\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRobert Mugabe\u003c\/a\u003e (1980–2017); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Emmerson_Mnangagwa\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEmmerson Mnangagwa\u003c\/a\u003e (2017–date) following a military-assisted transition\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eZimbabwe Unfiltered\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eZimbabwe holds the world record for the highest denomination banknote ever issued in peacetime: the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Zimbabwean_dollar\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e100 trillion dollar note\u003c\/a\u003e of 2009 — now a collector's item worth more than its face value ever was\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe country has had at least six distinct currencies since 2000, including two versions of the Zimbabwean dollar, the RTGS dollar, the Zimbabwe dollar (2019), and now the ZiG — making its monetary history one of the most turbulent of any nation in the 21st century\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Great_Zimbabwe\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGreat Zimbabwe\u003c\/a\u003e — the stone city that gave the country its name — was built between the 11th and 15th centuries and housed up to 18,000 people at its peak; colonial-era authorities initially refused to believe it was built by Africans\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eZimbabwe has one of the highest literacy rates in Africa (~90%), a legacy of heavy investment in education during the early independence era\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Victoria_Falls\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eVictoria Falls\u003c\/a\u003e — shared with Zambia — is the largest waterfall in the world by combined width and height, generating a spray visible from 50 km away\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eZimbabwe's \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hwange_National_Park\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eHwange National Park\u003c\/a\u003e hosts one of the largest elephant populations on Earth — over 45,000 animals, the same species depicted on this note\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe ZiG — Africa's Most Ambitious Currency Experiment\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn April 8, 2024, Zimbabwe launched the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Zimbabwe_Gold\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eZimbabwe Gold (ZiG)\u003c\/a\u003e — a currency explicitly backed by US$575 million in hard assets: gold bullion, foreign currencies, and precious metals held in reserve. It was the country's sixth attempt at a stable currency in 25 years, and the first in the world to be formally gold-backed at launch since the Bretton Woods era. The 2026 series — this note among them — represents the second generation of ZiG notes, with upgraded security features, graduated sizing for the sight-impaired, and a new \"Big Five\" wildlife theme replacing the more abstract imagery of the first issue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Elephant and the Rocks\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe obverse pairs two of Zimbabwe's most powerful visual symbols. The \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/African_elephant\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAfrican elephant\u003c\/a\u003e — the largest land animal on Earth — is rendered in fine intaglio engraving, its texture and mass conveyed through the raised ink that you can feel with a fingertip. Beside it, the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Epworth_Balancing_Rocks\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eChiremba Balancing Rocks\u003c\/a\u003e of Epworth have appeared on Zimbabwean currency since independence: a natural granite formation where massive boulders stack improbably atop one another, interpreted as a symbol of balance, patience, and the interdependence of generations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe New Parliament\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reverse features Zimbabwe's \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Parliament_of_Zimbabwe\" target=\"_blank\"\u003enew Parliament building\u003c\/a\u003e in Mt. Hampden, opened in 2024 after years of construction funded and built by China as a gift to Zimbabwe. The structure — a sweeping modernist complex with a grand ceremonial staircase — was controversial at home and abroad, raising questions about debt diplomacy and sovereignty. Its appearance on the national currency signals the government's intent to present it as a symbol of national pride regardless.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOwn this note\u003c\/strong\u003e and you hold one of the rarest and most consequential pieces of paper money issued anywhere in 2026 — a gold-backed currency from a country that once printed 100 trillion dollar notes, now trying again with the elephant, the rocks, and the reserves to back it up.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"World Money Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52110596735287,"sku":"ZW116UNC","price":3.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0969\/7165\/3431\/files\/ZW116o.jpg?v=1778593906","url":"https:\/\/worldmoneystore.com\/products\/zimbabwe-p-116-w116-20-zig-2026-unc-elephant","provider":"World Money Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}