100 Malagasy Ariary banknote (Ambozontany Cathedral) Issued 2017

The 100 Malagasy Ariary banknote issued in 2017 forms part of the modern banknote series of Madagascar, officially produced by the Central Bank of Madagascar (Banky Foiben’i Madagasikara). This denomination reflects the country’s move towards contemporary, security-enhanced designs while celebrating Madagascar’s unique natural environment and cultural heritage. Although still recognised within Madagascar, older and lower-denomination ariary notes are increasingly presented for exchange outside the country, particularly in the UK and Europe.

The front of the banknote prominently features Madagascar’s rich biodiversity, with a vivid illustration of a brightly coloured poison frog set against a modern, abstract background of flowing shapes and dotted security patterns. This design highlights Madagascar’s global significance as a biodiversity hotspot, home to species found nowhere else in the world. The denomination “100 Ariary Zato” is clearly displayed, along with the name of the issuing authority, Banky Foiben’i Madagasikara, serial numbers, and modern security elements such as micro-patterning and colour-shifting features.

On the reverse, the note showcases Ambozontany Cathedral, an important religious and architectural landmark in Madagascar. The cathedral is depicted in fine detail, framed by soft pastel tones and geometric motifs that complement the overall modern aesthetic of the series. Additional national imagery, including stylised landscapes and decorative elements inspired by Malagasy culture, reinforces the banknote’s connection to the country’s history and identity. The denomination is repeated prominently, ensuring clear recognition of value.

While the Malagasy Ariary remains the official currency of Madagascar, banknotes such as this 2017 issue are not commonly accepted by UK high-street banks. As a result, many individuals, charities, and organisations choose to exchange these notes through specialist currency services that handle less commonly traded and overseas currencies.

• Indicate the quantity of 100 Malagasy Ariary banknotes you want to exchange

• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button

• Your online account now shows the exchange value

We provide a secure UK-based service for exchanging foreign banknotes from Madagascar, including modern and older Malagasy Ariary issues. Due to limited circulation outside Madagascar, these notes are often classed as non-standard by mainstream banks, but we regularly process them for customers looking to convert unused or leftover currency.

For uncommon or lower-circulation currencies such as the Malagasy Ariary, additional authenticity checks may be required. This can result in slightly longer processing times, particularly for notes that are less frequently encountered in the UK market.