100 Nigerian Naira Banknote (Obafemi Awolowo)

100 Naira (Issued 2014-2024)

Relatively few examples of the 2014 Centenary commemorative 100 Naira note circulate outside Nigeria today, as the issue was produced to mark the specific milestone of one hundred years since the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria in 1914, giving it a defined commemorative purpose that sets it apart from standard circulation issues. The note’s dual significance — both as legal tender and as a historical document marking Nigeria’s centenary of existence as a unified nation — has drawn sustained interest from those who study West African monetary history and post-colonial currency design. Surviving examples in crisp, uncirculated condition are particularly uncommon in the UK secondary market, making intact specimens of note to anyone researching Nigerian currency of the modern era. The series spans the period 2014 to 2024, encompassing the decade-long centenary commemoration period acknowledged by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

On the front, the dominant feature is a finely engraved portrait of Chief Obafemi Awolowo (1909–1987), the celebrated Nigerian statesman, lawyer, and political leader, rendered in detailed intaglio style against a softly graduated background of pale lilac, peach, and cream tones. Awolowo is depicted wearing spectacles and traditional dress, his likeness set within an oval vignette positioned to the left of centre, with a caption beneath reading “Chief Obafemi Awolowo 1909–1987” in small serif type. To the upper left, the Naira symbol followed by “100” appears in bold dark numerals, with the year “2014” printed beneath it. The issuing authority is announced prominently across the upper centre in bold dark lettering: “CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA”, with the denomination spelled out below as “One Hundred Naira” and the commemorative legend “Centenary 1914–2014” printed clearly beneath that in a smaller but equally authoritative typeface. The serial number BQ4003374 appears twice — once in the upper right corner and once along the lower left — rendered in dark numerals against the pale ground. To the right of the portrait, a vertical windowed security thread is embedded within the paper, visible as a dark stripe with shifting colour properties. A circular colour-shifting security element is visible to the left side of the note, appearing as a disc that shifts between colours depending on the viewing angle. Towards the right of the note, a large watermark area displays a pale circular ghost image, and to its right a small engraved vignette of an object — appearing to be a sculptural head — is visible in subdued tones. Two authorising signatures appear in the centre-right area, one above the other, with the designations “GOVERNOR” and “DIRECTOR OF CURRENCY OPERATIONS” printed in small text alongside each. The note’s edges carry fine guilloché border patterns in interlocking geometric designs, and the lower right corner repeats the denomination “₦100” in bold numerals framed by further decorative linework. A small green square security feature with an optical design is visible in the mid-section of the note.

The reverse presents a vivid and richly composed scene celebrating Nigerian cultural heritage in the context of the centenary. Across the upper left, the denomination “₦100” is printed in bold dark type, followed by the denomination written in three Nigerian languages — “Naira otu nari”, “Ogorun Naira”, and “Naira dari” — stacked in small serif text. The issuing bank name “CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA” runs across the upper portion in the same bold style as the front, with “One Hundred Naira” and “Centenary 1914–2014” beneath it. The central design features a group of Nigerian figures engaged in what appears to be a traditional cultural scene: a dancer in active motion is positioned to the left, while to the right a seated woman in a wide, layered traditional skirt and headwrap occupies a prominent position, accompanied by other standing figures including one carrying a vessel on her head. The scene is rendered in warm ochre, brown, and terracotta tones, conveying a sense of vibrancy and cultural depth. To the upper right, a cowrie shell is depicted in detailed engraving, referencing the historical currency of the region. In the lower left corner, a stylised sculptural head — reminiscent of a Benin bronze or Ife terracotta — is engraved in greenish tones. The lower centre displays the Nigerian coat of arms in fine detail, flanked by the numeral “100” to the right. A QR code-style patterned block appears in the lower left of the central composition, and the background throughout the reverse is layered with intricate guilloché patterns in pastel blues, purples, and greens, providing both decorative depth and anti-counterfeiting complexity. The overall colour palette of the reverse moves from cooler lavender and blue tones on the outer edges into the warmer central scene, creating a deliberate visual framing effect.

This 100 Naira Centenary banknote can be exchanged through Webuyallcurrency.com, where current Nigerian Naira banknotes are bought alongside other foreign currency — ideal for clearing a drawer of mixed coins and notes at once.

• Indicate the quantity of 100 Naira Naira banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• Your online account now shows the exchange value

Webuyallcurrency.com makes it easy to sell foreign coins and banknotes for cash, taking Nigerian Naira banknotes along with modern and withdrawn currency so everything is converted in one step.

Other Nigerian Naira you can exchange: 5, 10, 20, 50, 200, 500, 1000.