500 Kenyan Shillings Banknote (Kenyas Tourism Industry 2019)

500 Shilingi / Shill Shilling (Issued 2019)

The Central Bank of Kenya — known in Swahili as Banki Kuu ya Kenya — has served as the country’s principal monetary authority since its establishment in 1966, taking over responsibility for currency issuance from the East African Currency Board following Kenya’s full monetary independence. Charged with maintaining price stability, managing foreign reserves, and regulating the financial sector, the Central Bank occupies a foundational role in Kenya’s economic sovereignty. The 2019 series of banknotes represents a landmark redesign commissioned by the institution, replacing the previous generation of notes that had featured portraits of former President Daniel arap Moi and later Jomo Kenyatta. This new issue deliberately shifts Kenya’s currency away from individual political portraiture toward a celebration of national heritage, wildlife, and economic achievement.

On the front, the note is dominated by a rich palette of greens, olive tones, and yellow-gold accents that flow across the surface in layered diagonal bands and fine guilloché patterning. At the upper left, the Kenyan national coat of arms is rendered in detailed intaglio engraving, depicting the traditional Maasai shield and two crossed spears, flanked by a cockerel and a rooster atop a shield bearing the national motto. The year 2019 appears in the lower left corner. Centrally, a large figurative sculpture commands the composition — this is a depiction of a Kenyan craftsman or artisan carved in a heroic, monumental style, seated and working at a lathe or craft tool, symbolising Kenyan industry and skill. Behind this figure, a stylised cylindrical tower or pillar rises vertically, forming a dramatic central axis. To the right of centre, a detailed skyline of Nairobi is visible, including high-rise buildings set against a mountainous backdrop, representing Kenya’s urban and economic modernity. In the lower right corner, a finely engraved lion’s head is depicted in portrait orientation, its mane rendered with rich intaglio texture. The serial number AA1130140 appears twice — once vertically along the left margin in bold red numerals, and once horizontally in black towards the upper right. The issuing authority is identified at the top in bilingual text reading “Banki Kuu ya” above “Central Bank of” with the word “Kenya” in large stylised serif lettering. Below the central composition, the legal tender declaration reads “Legal Tender for Five Hundred Shillings” with the Swahili equivalent “Shilingi Mia Tano” beneath it. A facsimile signature appears at the lower centre attributed to Patrick Njoroge, identified as Governor. An embedded security strip is visible running vertically through the note, and the paper incorporates fine security fibres throughout its weave.

The reverse continues the dominant green and olive colour scheme, with strong diagonal geometric banding creating a dynamic layered visual field across the full width of the note. The upper left carries the same bilingual bank identification — “Banki Kuu ya / Central Bank of Kenya” — in matching typography. The denomination numeral 500 appears prominently in both the upper right and lower left corners. The central and left portions of the reverse are devoted to a richly detailed wildlife panorama rendered in finely graduated intaglio engraving. A large, majestic lion dominates the right-centre of the composition, depicted in three-quarter profile with its mane rendered in exceptional tonal depth. To the left of the lion, a group of giraffes are visible in mid-ground, their reticulated patterning carefully engraved. Further to the left, a scene of African savannah habitat is depicted, featuring elephants, palm trees, and dense vegetation, evoking Kenya’s celebrated national parks and wildlife reserves. In the lower right, a white dove in flight is depicted against the lighter ground of the note, carrying connotations of peace. The denomination text “Five Hundred Shillings” and its Swahili equivalent “Shilingi Mia Tano” are printed in the lower centre-right area. The reverse printing incorporates fine latent image elements and colour-shifting ink effects visible under angle, alongside the watermark zone at the right margin which shows through as a lighter unprinted field.

Whether it is a single 2019 Kenyan 500 Shilling banknote or a mix of leftover currency, Webuyallcurrency.com exchanges Kenyan Shillings banknotes and other foreign coins and notes for cash in one straightforward process.

• Indicate the quantity of 500 Shilingi / Shill Shilling banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• Your online account now shows the exchange value

Whether you want to sell foreign coins and notes or exchange leftover currency from past trips, Webuyallcurrency.com accepts Kenyan Shillings banknotes alongside modern money and settles everything in a single, easy transaction.

Other Kenyan Shillings you can exchange: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 1000.