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5 Emalangeni - Mswati III Central Bank
| Issuer | Central Bank of Swaziland |
|---|---|
| Year | 1999 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Milled |
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| Obverse description | Facing portrait effigy of King Mswati III, depicted in traditional Swazi attire with a feathered headdress, occupying the central field. The legend SWAZILAND arcs along the upper periphery in large Latin letters. The portrait is rendered in a bold, low-relief style with the king's face turned directly toward the viewer, a distinctive feature setting it apart from conventional profile busts. |
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| Reverse lettering | 25th ANNIVERSARY CENTRAL BANK OF SWAZILAND EMNTSHOLI 1974 - 1999 5 EMALANGENI |
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| Additional information |
Mswati III, who assumed the throne in 1986 at age eighteen following the death of his father Sobhuza II, ruled Swaziland as one of the world's last absolute monarchs — a political reality that made the central bank itself an instrument of royal authority rather than an independent institution. The 1999 issue came just two years after Swaziland revised its constitution to formally ban political parties, consolidating governance entirely under the monarchy.
KM#53 is a transitional brass issue in a series that previously used bimetallic construction, reflecting a cost-driven minting decision in the late 1990s as smaller southern African nations rationalized coinage expenses.