Paper Money Book

Official country name: Republic of Namibia

The Namibian Dollar is the official currency of Namibia. After the country gained its independence in 1990, the Dollar was introduced in 1993 to replace the South African Rand. The Rand is still legal tender, since the Namibia Dollar is pegged to the Rand.

Currency History

  • The South African Rand was the official currency from 1920 to 1990. The Rand is still considered legal tender in Namibia; the Namibia Dollar is pegged to the Rand at a rate of 1:1.
  • Namibia was a member of the Common Monetary Area after it gained independence in 1990 until the introduction of the Namibia Dollar in 1993.
  • In September 15, 1993, the first banknotes were issued by the Bank of Namibia; the first coins were introduced in December of the following year.
  • In 2020 the first namibian polymer banknote.

1 dollar = 100 cents; ISO code = NAD 516

9th December 2024, 1 USD= 17.13 namibian dollars; 1 euro = 19.92 namibian dollars;

For earlier issues see:

German New Guinea flag
German South West Africa
Southwest Africa flag
1920-59 South West Africa
South Africa flag
1960-92 South Africa

Country state: Complete

NAMIBIA RESERWEBANK / NAMIBIA RESERVE BANK
Kalahar system

  • ND – Unadopted Design

   

2 Kalahar P-A1; B-101 Color: Orange Dimensions: 140 x 68 mm

Front: Zebra
Back: Weltwitschia plant, rock formnation.
Security thread: Unknown.
Printer: Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. (England) – BWC.
Watermark: Unknown.

DescriptionVFUNC
a. Date: ND (1990). Unissued specimen.

   

5 Kalahar P-B1; B-102 Color: Red and purple Dimensions: unknown

Front: Oryx.
Back: Road grading vehicles.
Security thread: Unknown.
Printer: Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. (England) – BWC.
Watermark: Unknown.

DescriptionVFUNC
a. Date: ND (1990). Unissued specimen.

   

10 Kalahar P-C1; B-103 Color: Red Dimensions: 150 x75 mm

Front: Oryx.
Back: Fishery.
Security thread: Unknown.
Printer: Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. (England) – BWC.
Watermark: Unknown.

DescriptionVFUNC
a. Date: ND (1990). Unissued specimen.

   

20 Kalahar P-D1; B-104 Color: Purple Dimensions: Unknown

Front: Lion.
Back: Herd of sheep and shepard.
Security thread: Unknown.
Printer: Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. (England) – BWC.
Watermark: Unknown.

DescriptionVFUNC
a. Date: ND (1990). Unissued specimen.

   

DescriptionVFUNC
Date: ND (1990). Unissued specimen.

BANK OF NAMIBIA
Namibia dollar system

  • ND (1993) “Equal Size Serial #

   

 10 Dollars P-1; B-201 Color: Blue Dimensions: 129 x 70 mm

Front: Captain Hendrik Witbooi, Parliament building (Windhoek).
Back: Two running springbok antelope (Antidorcas marsupialis).
Security thread: Solid.
Printer: Tumba Bruk (Sweden) – TB.
Watermark: Hendrik Witbooi.
Signature: Erik Lennart Karlsson (Governor).

DescriptionVFUNC
a. Date: ND. Prefix: A – F. Replacement: prefix X. Intro: 15.09.1993.2.008.25

   

DescriptionVFUNC
P-1s; B-201as. Diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; serial number S 0000000.150.

   

50 Dollars P-2; B-202 Color: Green Dimensions: 140 x 70 mm

Front: Captain Hendrik Witbooi, Parliament building (Windhoek).
Back: Three green kudus (Tragelaphus stepsiceros)..
Security thread: Solid.
Printer: Tumba Bruk (Sweden) – TB.
Watermark: Hendrik Witbooi.
Signature: Erik Lennart Karlsson (Governor).

DescriptionVFUNC
a. Date: ND. Prefix: N, P. Replacement: prefix Y. Intro: 15.09.1993.11.38.

   

DescriptionVFUNC
P-2s; B-202as. Diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; serial number S 0000000.150.

   

 100 Dollars P-3; B-203 Color: Red Dimensions: 146 x 70 mm

Front: Captain Hendrik Witbooi, Parliament building (Windhoek).
Back: Five standing oryx antelope (Oryx gazella).
Security thread: Solid.
Printer: Tumba Bruk (Sweden) – TB.
Watermark: Hendrik Witbooi.
Signature: Erik Lennart Karlsson (Governor).

DescriptionVFUNC
a. Date: ND. Prefix: T. Replacement: prefix Z. Intro: 15.09.1993.20.70.

   

DescriptionVFUNC
P-3s; B-203as. Diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; serial number S 0000000.150.
  • ND “Ascending Size Serial #”

   

10 Dollars P-4; B-204 Color: Blue Dimensions: 129 x 70 mm

Front: Captain Hendrik Witbooi, Parliament building (Windhoek).
Back: Two running springbok antelope (Antidorcas marsupialis).
Security thread: Windowed.
Watermark: Hendrik Witbooi.

DescriptionVFUNC
P.4b; B-204a. Date: ND. W/ ’10’ in UV ink on front wmk area. Prefix: A – C. Replacement: prefix X. Printer: Francois-Charles Oberthur Fiduciaire (France) – FCOF.  Intro: 2001. Sign 2.FV3.75
P.4c; B-204b. W/o ’10’ in UV ink on front wmk area. Prefix: B. Printer: Orell Fussli, Zurich (Switzerland) – OFZ.  Intro: 2009.FV3.50

Note: SCWPM “Pick” refer P-4a, 7 digit serial #. Without ’10’ in UV ink on front wmk area.. Not confirmed.

   

DescriptionVFUNC
P.4s; B-204as. Diagonal red hollow SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; serial number A 00000000.120.

   

 20 Dollars P-5, 6; B-205 Color: Orange Dimensions: 133 x 70 mm

Front: Captain Hendrik Witbooi, Parliament building (Windhoek).
Back: Five standing red hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus caama).
Security thread: Windowed.
Watermark: Hendrik Witbooi.

DescriptionVFUNC
P-5a; B-205a. Date: ND. Prefix: H, J; 7-digit s/n. Replacement: prefix V. Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited (England) – TDLR. Intro: 02.12.1996. Sign. 1.FV15.
P-6a; B-205b. Prefix: H, J; 8-digit s/n. Printer: South African Bank Note Company (South Africa) – Pty. Intro: 2001. Sign. 2.FV6.75
P-6b; B-205c. Prefix: J25000001 – ; 8-digit s/n.  Printer: Francois-Charles Oberthur Fiduciaire (France) – FCOF. Intro: 2006.FV6.50

   

DescriptionVFUNC
P-5s; B-205as. Diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; serial number H 0000000 (7-digit). Sign 1.140.

   

DescriptionVFUNC
P-6s; B-205bs. Diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; serial number J 00000000 (8-digit). Sign 2.120.

   

DescriptionVFUNC
P-NL; B-205cs. Diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; horizontal red SPECIMEN No # ovpt at lower left; serial number J 00000000. Sign 1.120.

   

50 Dollars P-7, 8; B-206 Color: Green Dimensions: 140 x 70 mm

Front: Captain Hendrik Witbooi, Parliament building (Windhoek).
Back: Two brown and one green kudus (Tragelaphus stepsiceros)..
Security thread: Windowed.
Watermark: Hendrik Witbooi.

DescriptionVFUNC
P-7a; B206a. Date: ND. Prefix: P; 7-digit. Replacement: prefix Y. Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited (England) – TDLR. Intro: May 1999. Sign 2.FV23.
P-8a; B206b. Prefix: N; 8-digit. Printer: South African Bank Note Company (South Africa) – Pty. Intro: 2001.FV17.
P-8b; B206c. Prefix: N19000001 – ; 8-digit serial #. Printer: Giesecke & Devrient (Alemanha) – G&D. Intro: 2006.FV17.

   

DescriptionVFUNC
P-7s; B-206as. Diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; serial number P 0000000 (7-digit)130.

   

DescriptionVFUNC
P-8s; B-206bs. Diagonal red hallow SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; serial number N 00000000 (8-digit). Date: June 2010.120.

   

100 Dollars P-9, 9A; B-207 Color: Red Dimensions: 146 x 70 mm

Front: Captain Hendrik Witbooi, Parliament building (Windhoek).
Back: Five standing oryx antelope (Oryx gazella).
Security thread: Windowed.
Watermark: Hendrik Witbooi.

DescriptionVFUNC
P-9a; B207a. Date: ND. Prefix: T; 7-digit Replacement: prefix Z. Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited (England) – TDLR. Intro: 1999. Sign 2.FV47.
P-9b; B207b. Prefix: T; 8-digit serial #. Intro: 2001.FV35.
P-9c; B207c. Prefix: TT; 6-digit serial #.30.100.
P-9A; B207d. Prefix: J; 8-digit serial #. Printer: South African Bank Note Company (South Africa) – Pty. Intro: 2009.FV30.

 

DescriptionVFUNC
P-9s; B-207as. Diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; serial number T 0000000 (7-digit).130.

   

DescriptionVFUNC
P-NL; B-207bs. Diagonal black SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; horizontal black SPECIMEN No # ovpt at lower left; serial number W 0000000 (8-digit). Date: June 2009.130.

   

200 Dollars P-10; B-208 Color: Purple Dimensions: 152 x 70 mm

Front: Captain Hendrik Witbooi, Parliament building (Windhoek).
Back: Five roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus).
Security thread: Windowed.
Watermark: Hendrik Witbooi.

DescriptionVFUNC
a. Date: ND. Prefix: U; 7-digit serial #. Replacement: prefix W. Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited (England) – TDLR. Intro: 02.12.1996. Sign 2.FV80.
b. 8-digit serial #. Printer: South African Bank Note Company (South Africa) – Pty. Intro: 2001. Sign 2.FV80.
c. 7-digit serial #.FV80.

   

DescriptionVFUNC
P-10s; B-208as. Diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; serial number U 0000000. Sign 1.130.

   

DescriptionVFUNC
P-10s; B-208bs. Diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; horizontal red SPECIMEN No # ovpt at lower left; serial number U 00000000. Sign 2.130.

Signatures:

1. Jaafar Bin Ahmad
2. Tom Kavaningilamo Alweendo

Current Banknotes

  • 2011-2022 Issue

   

10 Dollars (US$0.58; €0.50) P-11a; B-209 Color: Blue and green Dimensions: 129 x 70 mm

Front: Dr. Sam Nujoma, Parliament building (Windhoek); diamond at center.
Back: Springbok.
Security thread: windowed with demetalized BON 10.
Printer: Oberthur Technologies (France) – OT.
Watermark: Sam Nujoma and electrotype 10.
Date: 2012. Prefix: U. Intro: 15.05.2012. Sign 1.

 

P-NL; B-209as; Diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; horizontal red No # ovpt at lower right; serial number S 00000000.

   

P-NL; B-209as; Diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; serial number U 00000000.

   

P-11b; B-214.
Front: … diamond at right.
Date: 2013. Intro: 17.06.2013.

   

P-NL; B-214as; Diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; horizontal red No # ovpt at lower right; serial number A 00000000.

   

P-16; B-216.
Front: … no diamond.
Dates:
a. 2015. Intro: 20.10.2015. Sign 1.
a. 2021. Intro: 04.02.2021. Sign 2.

 

P-NL; B-216as; Diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; horizontal red No # ovpt at lower right; serial number A 00000000.

Note: The Bank of Namibia has discovered that the diamond-shaped optically variable ink patch on the N$10 and N$20 notes was cracking after multiple folding and handling. The Bank of Namibia has recently issued in limited quantity, the N$10 and N$20 notes on paper with improved quality and shifted the placement of the diamond-shaped optically variable ink feature. In 2013 the center diamond moved a little bit to the right, in 2015 the diamond was removed.

   

20 Dollars (US$1.17; €1.00) P-12a; B-210 Color: Orange and purple, Dimensions: 134 x 70 mm

Front: Dr. Sam Nujoma, Parliament building (Windhoek); diamond at center.
Back: Springbok.
Security thread: windowed with demetalized BON 20.
Printer: Oberthur Technologies (France) – OT.
Watermark: Sam Nujoma and electrotype 20.
Date: 2011. Intro: 15.05.2012. Sign 1.

   

P-NL; B-210as; Diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; serial number U 00000000.

   

P-12b; B-215.
Front: … diamond at right.
Date: 2013. Intro: 17.06.2013.

   

P-NL; B-215as; Diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; horizontal red No # ovpt at lower right; serial number D 00000000.

   

P-17; B-217.
Front: … no diamond.
Dates:
a. 2015. Intro: 20.10.2015.
b. 2018.
c. 2022. Sign 2.

   

P-NL; B-217as; Diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; horizontal red No # ovpt at lower right; serial number D 00000000.

The Bank of Namibia has discovered that the diamond-shaped optically variable ink patch on the N$10 and N$20 notes was cracking after multiple folding and handling. The Bank of Namibia has recently issued in limited quantity, the N$10 and N$20 notes on paper with improved quality and shifted the placement of the diamond-shaped optically variable ink feature. In 2013 the center diamond moved a little bit to the right, in 2015 the diamond was removed.

   

50 Dollars (US$2.92; €2.51) P-13; B-211 Color: Green and orange Dimensions: 140 x 70 mm

Front: Captain Hendrik Witbooi, Parliament building (Windhoek).
Back: Kudus.
Security thread: Green-to-magenta/blue windowed Janus with demetalized BON 50.
Printer: Oberthur Technologies (France) – OT.
Watermark: Hendrik Witbooi and electrotype 50.
Dates:
a. 2012. Intro: 15.05.2012. Sign 1.
b. 2016.
c. 2019.

   

P-NL; B-211as; Diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; horizontal red No # ovpt at lower right; serial number S 00000000. Date: 2012.

   

P-NL; B-211as; Diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; serial number U 00000000. Date: 2012.

   

P-NL; B-211bs; Diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; horizontal red No # ovpt at lower right; serial number G 00000000. Date: 2016.

   

100 Dollars (US$5.84; €5.02) P-14; B-212 Color: Pink and gray Dimensions: 147 x 70 mm

Front: Captain Hendrik Witbooi, Parliament building (Windhoek).
Back: Oryx.
Security thread: Green-to-magenta/blue Janus windowed with demetalized BON 100.
Printer: Oberthur Technologies (France) – OT.
Watermark: Hendrik Witbooi and electrotype 100.
Dates:
a. 2012. Intro: 15.05.2012. Sign 1.
b. 2018.

   

P-NL; B-212as; Diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; horizontal red No # ovpt at lower right; serial number K 00000000.

   

200 Dollars (US$11.68; €10.04) P-15; B-213 Color: Purple and yellow Dimensions: 152 x 70 mm

Front: Captain Hendrik Witbooi, Parliament building (Windhoek).
Back: Roan antelope.
Security thread: Windowed with demetalized BON 200.
Printer: Oberthur Technologies (France) – OT.
Watermark: Hendrik Witbooi and electrotype 200.
Dates:
a. 2012. Intro: 15.05.2012. Sign 1.
b. 2015.
c. 2018.
d. 2022. Sign 2.

   

P-NL; B-213as; Diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; horizontal red No # ovpt at lower right; serial number N 00000000. Date: 2012.

   

P-NL; B-213bs; Diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; horizontal red No # ovpt at lower right; serial number N 00000000. Date: 2015.

Signatures:

1. Ipumbu Shiimi
2. Johannes Gawaxab

Commemorative issue

   

30 dollars (US$1.75; €1.51) P-18; B-218 Color: Blue and green Dimensions: 134 x 70 mm Polymer: GUARDIAN™

Front: Rhinoceros, Presidents Dr. Sam Nujoma, Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba, Hage Geingob.
Back: Rhinoceros, arms. Horizontal ascending red serial # at left; Vertical equal black serial # at right.
Security features: See next separator.
Printer: Oberthur Technologies (France) – OT.
Watermark: None. See-through window dpicting the Black Namibian Rhino
Date:
a. 2020. Prefix: A. Intro: 15.05.2020.
Quantity: 5 000 000.
Signature: Ipumbu Shiimi (Governor)
Theme: “3 Decades of Peace and Stability,” represented by the smooth transition of power between the three presidents since independence.

   

P-NL; B-218as; Diagonal red SPECIMEN overprint on front/back; serial number A 0000000.

Read CCL Secure article:
‘Bank Of Namibia’s New Commemorative N$30 Guardian™ Note Celebrates 30 Years Of Independence’

Bank of Namibia – 30th Independence Anniversary video

Banknote of Namibia - 30 dollars
Play Video
1993

10 – 100 dollars PCS1; BNP201. a. P1 – P3; B201 – B203 (3 notes) with matching serial numbers mounted in a frame.

2001

20 – 200 dollars PCS2; BNP202. a. P5 – P10; B205 – B208 (4 notes) with matching serial numbers.

Currency Import regulations: Residents and non-residents: local currency (Namibian Dollar – NAD): NAD 50,000.- in Namibia Reserve Banknotes. Foreign currencies and traveler’s cheques: unlimited, if declared on arrival.

No limit for travel between Botswana, Eswatini (Swaziland), Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa.

Currency Export regulations: Residents: local currency: NAD 50,000.- in Namibia Reserve Banknotes. Foreign currencies, traveler’s cheques, bank drafts etc.: Limits per calendar year per person (12 years of age and over), for travel to: – Angola, Congo (Dem. Rep.), Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe: NAD 20,000.-; per child under 12 years: NAD 5,000.-. Max. NAD 1,000.- per day spent abroad. – all other countries: NAD 60,000.-; per child under 12 years: NAD 20,000.-. Max. NAD 2,000.- per day spent abroad. Non-residents: local currency: NAD 50,000.-. Foreign currencies and traveler’s cheques: up to the amounts imported and declared if departure is within 12 months of entry.

No limit for travel between Botswana, Eswatini (Swaziland), Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa.

The year of issue on the banknotes is missing.