100 Kenyan Shillings Banknote (2004)

100 Shilingi / Shill Shilling (Issued 2004)

The typography of this 2004 Kenyan banknote speaks with quiet authority: the issuing institution is named in bold, capitalised lettering across the top in both Swahili — “BENKI KUU YA KENYA” — and English — “CENTRAL BANK OF KENYA” — establishing a bilingual formality that reflects Kenya’s post-independence civic identity. The denomination text “SHILINGI MIA MOJA” is rendered in a large, commanding serif typeface, accompanied by the English legal tender declaration “LEGAL TENDER FOR ONE HUNDRED SHILLINGS,” both statements carrying the measured gravitas of a sovereign monetary guarantee. The date “2nd FEBRUARY 2004” is printed in the upper left, anchoring the note precisely within the Kenyatta Issue reform series. Together, the font choices and layered language communicate a state institution balancing tradition with modern governance.

On the front, the central image is a finely engraved portrait of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, the First President of Kenya, identified explicitly on the note itself by the inscription “THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF KENYA / MZEE JOMO KENYATTA” printed to the right of the portrait. Kenyatta is depicted in three-quarter view, wearing a suit and tie, his expression composed and dignified, rendered in a rich purple-violet intaglio engraving of considerable depth and detail. The portrait occupies the left and central portions of the note and is framed by intricate guilloché background patterning in soft green and orange tones, which extends across the full face of the note. To the upper centre, the Kenyan national coat of arms is clearly visible, featuring the shield and spears emblematic of the Republic of Kenya. The denomination numeral “100” appears in large orange digits in both the upper left and upper right corners, with additional numerals printed at the lower right. A vertical serial number “BK0919180” runs along the left margin in red, with the same serial number repeated horizontally along the lower right in black. To the right of the portrait, an oval security feature is visible — a bright, reflective area consistent with a watermark window or foil element — surrounded by fine radiating guilloché lines in orange and green. The signatures of the Governor and a Member of the Board of Directors appear beneath the legal tender text, accompanied by their respective titles. A small orange emblem, appearing to represent the Central Bank of Kenya’s logo, is visible to the lower left of the portrait area. The overall colour palette of the front combines deep purple-violet for the portrait engraving with warm orange denomination numerals and soft green background patterning, producing a visually layered and security-rich composition.

The reverse presents a richly detailed scenic composition dominated by a large intaglio engraving of the seated statue of Jomo Kenyatta, depicted in robes and holding a fly whisk, positioned prominently on a raised plinth in the foreground to the left of centre. Behind the statue rises the unmistakable cylindrical tower of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, its ribbed concrete shaft rendered in careful detail against a pale blue-green sky. To the right of the tower, the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kenya are depicted in soft blue and white tones, creating a striking backdrop of national landscape. A conical structure — the distinctive roof of the KICC’s lower hall — is visible at the base of the tower to the right. In the lower right corner, a small orange circular emblem featuring a stylised figure is visible, consistent with a security device or logo element. To the left of the central scene, a botanical illustration of a coffee plant is depicted in green with red berries, referencing Kenya’s agricultural heritage. The denomination numeral “100” appears in large red digits in both the upper left and lower left corners. The background of the reverse carries pale geometric and guilloché patterning in lavender and green tones. The engraving throughout the reverse is executed with fine line work that gives the architectural and sculptural subjects considerable three-dimensional presence, consistent with the intaglio printing standards of the Kenyatta Issue series.

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• Indicate the quantity of 100 Shilingi / Shill Shilling banknotes you want to exchange
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• Your online account now shows the exchange value

Webuyallcurrency.com helps you exchange old coins and banknotes with no fuss, combining your Kenyan Shillings banknotes with other foreign currency into a single, hassle-free cash exchange.

Other Kenyan Shillings you can exchange: 5, 10, 20, 50, 200, 500, 1000.