100 South African Rand Banknote (Madiba 100Th Birthday)

100 Rand (Issued 2018)

Issued in 2018 to mark the centenary of Nelson Mandela’s birth, this polymer banknote was released during the presidency of Cyril Ramaphosa, who assumed office that same year following the resignation of Jacob Zuma amid widespread political controversy and corruption allegations. The centenary year — commemorating Mandela’s birth on 18 July 1918 — prompted a special commemorative issue that brought fresh design energy to South Africa’s banknote series whilst retaining the iconic Mandela portrait that has defined the country’s currency since 2012. Printed on polymer substrate rather than cotton paper, this note represents the South African Reserve Bank’s commitment to enhanced durability and security.

On the front, the dominant feature is a finely engraved portrait of Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, positioned to the right of centre and rendered with exceptional tonal depth using intaglio-style engraving that captures the texture of his skin and the warmth of his expression. Mandela faces slightly to the left, and the portrait occupies a substantial portion of the note’s right-hand field against a background of pale blue and green tones that transition softly across the face of the note. To the upper left, the South African coat of arms is printed in blue, accompanied by the bold heading “SOUTH AFRICAN RESERVE BANK” in dark lettering spanning the upper portion of the note. Beneath the bank name, a facsimile signature reads “L.K. Kanyago, GOVERNOR,” identifying Lesetja Kganyago as the serving Governor of the Reserve Bank. A vertically oriented security strip runs through the left-centre area of the note, bearing the text “100” and “RAND” in small repeated lettering. The large numeral “100” appears prominently in the lower left quadrant in deep teal and green tones with colour-shifting properties, and the denomination “ONE HUNDRED RAND” is printed vertically along the right edge. The text “Mandela Centenary 1918–2018” appears vertically along the far right margin, marking the commemorative purpose of the issue. The background fields are filled with fine guilloché patterns in overlapping blues, greens, and purples, providing both aesthetic depth and anti-counterfeiting complexity. A second, smaller rendering of “100” appears to the left in lighter ink, and geometric diamond-pattern microprinting fills areas of the upper right background.

The reverse presents a striking historical composition centred on a younger Nelson Mandela depicted in traditional Xhosa dress, including beaded necklaces and a bare-shouldered garment consistent with his Thembu heritage, rendered in detailed monochrome engraving. The word “Madiba” — Mandela’s Xhosa clan name and widely used honorific — appears to the left of this portrait in teal lettering. To the right of the portrait, a rocky coastal landscape is depicted with a pile of stones in the foreground and a distant shoreline, labelled “Robben Island,” the site where Mandela was imprisoned for eighteen of his twenty-seven years of incarceration. The serial number “SA6021064 D” is printed in black in two locations — once horizontally in the upper right area and once vertically along the left edge. The bank name appears at the top in two further languages: “PANKA YA RESEFE YA AFRIKA BORWA” in Setswana and “BANGINKULU YA AFRIKA-DZONGA” in Xitsonga, reflecting South Africa’s multilingual constitutional identity. The denomination “ONE HUNDRED RAND” and the numeral “100” appear prominently, the latter in large format in the lower centre-right. The commemorative inscription “Mandela Centenary 1918–2018” is printed vertically along the right margin, echoing the front of the note. The background tones on the reverse are lighter — cream, pale blue, and off-white — punctuated by geometric and diamond-pattern guilloché work in the corners and margins. The polymer substrate allows for a clear window security feature visible in the lower right area of the note.

Whether it is a single 100 Rand banknote or a mix of leftover currency, Webuyallcurrency.com exchanges South African Rands banknotes and other foreign coins and notes for cash in one straightforward process.

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

Webuyallcurrency.com brings all your foreign currency together: exchange or sell South African Rands banknotes and other old, withdrawn or modern coins and notes for cash, with no specialist knowledge needed.

Other South African Rands you can exchange: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 200.