Catalog
| Issuer | Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe |
|---|---|
| Year | 2003 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Printer | Log in to see details |
| Designer(s) | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | P#20 |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Signature(s) | Log in to see details |
| Protection type | Watermark |
| Protection description | Zimbabwe Bird watermark |
| Variants | Log in to see details |
| Comments |
Zimbabwe's travellers cheque series was a direct response to the cash shortage crisis of the early 2000s, when hyperinflation was accelerating faster than the RBZ could print and distribute conventional banknotes. These cheques were intended as a stopgap — high-denomination instruments that could move large nominal values without requiring physical note stock the central bank didn't have. At 100,000 dollars, this was a substantial face value for 2003, though it would become trivial within a year or two as inflation compounded.
The watermark is the sole security feature, which is notably sparse for a high-value instrument — a reflection of printing constraints rather than policy.