10 Zambian Kwacha Banknote (Kenneth Kaunda Type 1989)

10 Kwacha Zambian Kwacha (Issued 1989-1991)

Few banknotes capture the political and economic crossroads of late-1980s Zambia quite as sharply as this pre-reform 10 Kwacha issue, printed in the years immediately before the sweeping redenomination that would eventually reshape the country’s monetary system. A currency expert handling this note would notice at once the confident, high-quality intaglio printing and the layered security architecture typical of established central bank commissions of the era. The combination of a bold portrait, a prominent national symbol on the obverse, and the detailed architectural and sculptural composition on the reverse marks this as one of the more considered designs in the Bank of Zambia’s pre-reform catalogue. Its withdrawn status makes it a fixed point in Zambian monetary history, representing a currency epoch that formally closed with the introduction of later reforming series.

On the front, the dominant feature is the portrait of Kenneth Kaunda, the founding President of Zambia, rendered in finely detailed intaglio engraving to the right-hand side of the note. Kaunda is depicted in a three-quarter facing position, wearing a collared garment, his expression composed and authoritative. The engraving captures strong tonal contrast, with careful cross-hatching defining the facial features and clothing folds. To the upper centre of the note, the issuing authority is stated clearly in bold serif lettering: BANK OF ZAMBIA, flanked on either side by the denomination mark K10 repeated symmetrically. Centrally, the denomination text reads TEN KWACHA in large, prominently spaced capital letters, with the promise text I PROMISE TO PAY THE BEARER ON DEMAND printed in a smaller serif typeface directly above, followed by FOR THE BANK OF ZAMBIA below the denomination. The Governor’s cursive signature appears beneath this text, accompanied by the title GOVERNOR. To the lower left of the central design, the Zambian coat of arms is engraved in fine detail, featuring the eagle, the Zambian shield supported by two figures, and the national motto banner beneath. To the left of the coat of arms, a large African fish eagle is depicted in flight with wings spread, rendered in a rich combination of orange-red, brown, and cream tones, creating a vivid naturalistic image set against a pale circular vignette. The background of the note is composed of intricate guilloché patterning in soft blue and purple tones, providing a layered, anti-counterfeiting ground tint. The serial number A/C 0287244 appears twice — to the upper left and lower right — printed in deep blue. The borders are defined by a geometric frame with ornate repeating corner motifs in blue and purple. A vertical security thread is embedded within the paper, visible as a darker stripe running through the note.

The reverse is printed predominantly in a rich blue-purple palette and presents a composed, multi-element design of considerable engraving quality. The central and largest image is a detailed rendering of a grand colonnaded building, identifiable as the Bank of Zambia headquarters in Lusaka, depicted with a classical colonnade of evenly spaced pillars, a broad staircase approach, and surrounding trees rendered with fine line work. To the immediate left of the building stands a bold sculptural figure — a male form depicted raising broken chains above his head, a symbol of liberation and independence that is a well-known motif in Zambian public iconography, rendered here in strong intaglio lines. To the lower left corner, a framed vignette contains a close-up engraving of a rhinoceros head, drawn with precise textural line work. To the right side of the note, a small framed portrait bust of a figure in traditional or ceremonial headdress is engraved in fine detail, likely representing a traditional Zambian chief or cultural figure. The issuing authority BANK OF ZAMBIA is printed in bold serif type across the top of the note, with the denomination K10 repeated in the upper left, upper right, and lower right corners. TEN KWACHA is printed in bold capital lettering across the lower centre. Geometric border patterns and guilloché ground work in blue repeat across the note’s margins, maintaining consistency with the obverse design language. A fan-shaped guilloché rosette in pale yellow-gold tones is visible in the lower centre area, adding a subtle multi-colour security element to the otherwise predominantly blue composition.

If you have a 10 Kwacha banknote to exchange, Webuyallcurrency.com takes it as part of its leftover currency service, combining your Zambian Kwacha banknotes with other world coins and banknotes in one easy payout.

• Indicate the quantity of 10 Kwacha Zambian Kwacha 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 Zambian Kwacha banknotes along with modern and withdrawn currency so everything is converted in one step.

Other Zambian Kwacha you can exchange: 1, 2, 5, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000.