Zimbabwe's gold coin program launched in July 2022 as a direct government response to the collapse of the RTGS dollar, which had lost nearly all exchange value despite repeated official interventions. The Reserve Bank introduced the Mosi-Oa-Tunya — named for Victoria Falls in Tonga — explicitly as a inflation hedge that ordinary Zimbabweans could hold instead of foreign currency. The quarter-ounce denomination followed in November 2022, lowering the entry price after the one-ounce issue proved inaccessible to most citizens.
Legal tender status and a guaranteed buy-back from the RBZ at spot gold value minus a small fee distinguished this from typical bullion issues.
Zimbabwe's gold coin program launched in July 2022 as a direct government response to the collapse of the RTGS dollar, which had lost nearly all exchange value despite repeated official interventions. The Reserve Bank introduced the Mosi-Oa-Tunya — named for Victoria Falls in Tonga — explicitly as a inflation hedge that ordinary Zimbabweans could hold instead of foreign currency. The quarter-ounce denomination followed in November 2022, lowering the entry price after the one-ounce issue proved inaccessible to most citizens.
Legal tender status and a guaranteed buy-back from the RBZ at spot gold value minus a small fee distinguished this from typical bullion issues.