Catalog
5000 Dollars Bearer Cheque
| Issuer | Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe |
|---|---|
| Year | 2007 |
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| Value | Log in to see details |
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| Reference(s) | P#45 |
| Obverse description | The obverse is printed in blue and yellow-green tones on a guilloche underprint with interlocking rosette and wave patterns. At left centre, a circular vignette carries the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe seal with the Zimbabwe Bird emblem, surrounded by the issuer's name in an annular legend. The denomination numeral '5000' appears in large bold type at the upper left, upper right, and lower left, with the central text block bearing the bearer cheque obligation, expiry date, issue date, and the Governor's facsimile signature with printed title 'Dr. G Gono, Governor'. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse is rendered in blue and yellow-green on a multicolour guilloche underprint of interlocking wave and rosette patterns in blue and pink. A large central oval vignette presents an aerial view of Kariba Dam on the Zambezi River, executed in fine intaglio-style line work. The denomination numeral '5000' appears in bold at the upper left and lower right corners, with the issuer name inscribed along the upper margin. |
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| Comments |
By mid-2007, Zimbabwe's official inflation rate had already exceeded 7,000% annually — the real figure was almost certainly higher. Bearer cheques were introduced as a workaround after the Reserve Bank repeatedly failed to print denominations fast enough to keep pace with price increases. This 5,000 dollar instrument was already near-worthless within weeks of issue, and the series itself was superseded by a redenomination in August 2008 that slashed ten zeros from the currency.
Gideon Gono's tenure as RBZ Governor became notorious precisely because notes like this one were issued in massive quantities — over twelve million of this denomination alone — yet still couldn't meet transactional demand.