The lilangeni (plural: emalangeni,
ISO 4217 code: ''SZL'') is the currency of
Eswatini and is subdivided into 100 cents. It is issued by the Central Bank of Eswatini (in swazi ''Umntsholi Wemaswati'') and is authorised by the king and his family. The
South African rand
The South African rand, or simply the rand, ( sign: R; code: ZAR) is the official currency of the Southern African Common Monetary Area: South Africa, Namibia (alongside the Namibian dollar), Lesotho (alongside the Lesotho loti) and Eswatin ...
is also accepted in Eswatini. Similar to the
Lesotho loti
The Loti (plural: Maloti) is the currency of the Kingdom of Lesotho. It is subdivided into 100 ''lisente'' (sg. ''sente''). It is pegged to the South African rand on a 1:1 basis through the Common Monetary Area, and both are accepted as legal te ...
, there are singular and plural ''abbreviations'', namely L and E, so where one might have an amount L1, it would be E2, E3, or E4.
History
It was introduced in 1974 at par with the
South African rand
The South African rand, or simply the rand, ( sign: R; code: ZAR) is the official currency of the Southern African Common Monetary Area: South Africa, Namibia (alongside the Namibian dollar), Lesotho (alongside the Lesotho loti) and Eswatin ...
through the
Common Monetary Area
The Common Monetary Area (CMA) links South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini into a monetary union. It is allied to the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).
The main purpose of this trade is that all of the parties can have the same developm ...
, to which it remains tied at a one-to-one exchange rate.
The currency's name derives from ''emaLangeni'', a term used to describe the ancestors of the
Swazi people
The Swazi or Swati ( Swati: ''Emaswati'', singular ''Liswati'') are a Bantu ethnic group native to Southern Africa, inhabiting Eswatini, a sovereign kingdom in Southern Africa. EmaSwati are part of the Nguni-language speaking peoples whose or ...
who migrated to Swaziland in the 18th–19th centuries.
[http://www.sahistory.org.za/sites/default/files/file%20uploads%20/d._hugh_gillis_the_kingdom_of_swaziland_studiesbook4you.pdf ]
Coins
The currency's name derives from ''emaLangeni'' ("people from the Sun"), a term used to describe the ancestors of the
Swazi people
The Swazi or Swati ( Swati: ''Emaswati'', singular ''Liswati'') are a Bantu ethnic group native to Southern Africa, inhabiting Eswatini, a sovereign kingdom in Southern Africa. EmaSwati are part of the Nguni-language speaking peoples whose or ...
who migrated to Swaziland in the 18th–19th centuries.
In 1974, coins for 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1 lilangeni were introduced, with the 1 and 2 cents struck in bronze and the others struck in cupro-nickel. Except for the 1 lilangeni, the coins were not round, with the 1 and 50 cents dodecagonal, the 2 cents square with rounded corners and the 5, 10 and 20 cents scalloped.
The 2 cents was last struck in 1982, whilst, in 1986, round, copper-plated steel 1 cent and nickel-brass 1 lilangeni coins were introduced. These were followed, in 1992, by nickel-plated-steel 5 and 10 cents and nickel-brass-plated-steel 1 lilangeni coins. In 1995, 2 and 5 emalangeni coins were introduced.
From 2009 to 2011 new coins were introduced in copper-plated steel (5c and 10c), nickel-plated steel (20c, and a 50c piece which was never released into circulation) and brass-plated steel (L1). These were similar sizes to the existing coins but lighter due to the changed metal composition.
In February 2016, a new series of coins dated 2015 was introduced and all previous coins were recalled and demonetised.
The new coins have similar designs to the previous coins, but with slightly different sizes and weights. The 10c-50c are in nickel-plated steel and the L1-E5 are in aluminium-bronze. 1c-5c coins are no longer in use.
The nickel-brass L1 coin dated 1986 and brass coins dated 1995-2009 had the same dimensions and composition as the
British £1 coins introduced in 1983, and thus have sometimes been used
fraudulently in British
vending machine
A vending machine is an automated machine that provides items such as snacks, beverages, cigarettes, and lottery tickets to consumers after cash, a credit card, or other forms of payment are inserted into the machine or otherwise made. The ...
s with the value of L1 decreasing from £0.36 in 1986 to £0.05 in 2015, when those L1 coins were demonetised.
Banknotes
On 6 September 1974, the Monetary Authority of Swaziland introduced notes in denominations of 1 lilangeni, 2, 5 and 10 emalangeni, with 20 emalangeni notes following in 1978. In 1981, the
Central Bank of Swaziland
The Central Bank of Eswatini (Swazi language, Swazi: ''Umntsholi Wemaswati''), is the central bank of Eswatini. It was established in April 1974 and is based in capital Mbabane. According to the bank's website, the bank's mission is to promote mo ...
took over paper money production, first issuing notes commemorating the
Diamond Jubilee
A diamond jubilee celebrates the 60th anniversary of a significant event related to a person (e.g. accession to the throne or wedding, among others) or the 60th anniversary of an institution's founding. The term is also used for 75th anniver ...
of
King Sobhuza II
Sobhuza II, (; also known as Nkhotfotjeni, Mona; 22 July 1899 – 21 August 1982) was the Paramount Chief and later Ngwenyama of Swaziland for 82 years and 254 days, the longest verifiable reign of any monarch in recorded history. Sobhuza was ...
. Between 1982 and 1985, it introduced non-commemorative notes for E2, E5, E10, and E20. The 50 emalangeni notes were introduced in 1990. The E2 and E5 notes were replaced by coins in 1995, whilst 100 and 200 emalangeni notes were introduced in 1996 and 1998, respectively, with the E200 notes commemorating the 30th anniversary of independence. On September 5, 2008, the Central Bank of Swaziland issued 100-, and 200-emalangeni notes to commemorate the 40th birthday of King
Mswati III
Mswati III (born Makhosetive; 19 April 1968) is the king ( Swazi: Ngwenyama, Ingwenyama yemaSwati) of Eswatini and head of the Swazi royal family. He was born in Manzini in the Protectorate of Swaziland to King Sobhuza II and one of his young ...
and the 40th anniversary of independence. On November 1, 2010, the Central Bank of Swaziland has issued a new series of banknotes with enhanced security features.
Swaziland new 10-, 20-, and 50-emalangeni notes confirmed
BanknoteNews.com. Retrieved 2012-03-31.
See also
* Economy of Swaziland
The economy of Eswatini is fairly diversified. Agriculture, forestry and mining account for about 13 percent of Eswatini's GDP whereas manufacturing ( textiles and sugar-related processing) represent 37 percent of GDP. Services – with go ...
References
*
*
External links
{{Portal bar, Africa, Money, Numismatics
Circulating currencies
Currencies of Africa
Currencies of the Commonwealth of Nations
Fixed exchange rate
Currencies introduced in 1974
Currencies of Eswatini
ss:Umbuso weSwatini#Lilangeni