1000 Zambian Kwacha Banknote (Polymer)

1,000 Kwacha Zambian Kwacha (Issued 2003-2012)

The Bank of Zambia, established in 1964 at the moment of the country’s independence, entered the twenty-first century managing a currency system under considerable pressure from chronic inflation that had steadily eroded the purchasing power of the kwacha throughout the 1990s. By the time this modernised series was introduced from 2002 onwards, the Bank was engaged in an active programme of monetary stabilisation, issuing notes with improved security features and refreshed visual designs to maintain public confidence in the physical currency. The 1,000 Kwacha denomination sat firmly within the everyday transactional range of this period, reflecting the inflationary environment in which even routine purchases required high-denomination notes. This series ultimately gave way to a redenomination in 2013, when the new Zambian Kwacha replaced the old at a rate of 1,000 to one, rendering all notes of this type withdrawn from circulation.

On the front, the dominant visual element is a large, highly detailed engraving of an African fish eagle perched upon a branch or log, rendered in rich reddish-brown and dark tones against a green-tinted rectangular vignette occupying the right-hand portion of the note. The fish eagle, Zambia’s national bird, is depicted with its characteristic white head and chest plumage clearly visible, with the feathered body and talons rendered with fine intaglio-style line work. The issuing authority’s name, “BANK OF ZAMBIA,” is printed prominently across the top of the note in bold serif capitals, with the letter “Z” noticeably enlarged in a stylised manner consistent with the series branding. The denomination “K1000” appears in the upper left corner and again in the upper right corner in dark maroon numerals, and a further “K1000” denomination appears at the lower right. The central text reads “I PROMISE TO PAY THE BEARER ON DEMAND” above the full written denomination “ONE THOUSAND KWACHA,” followed by the legend “FOR THE BANK OF ZAMBIA.” A facsimile signature appears beneath this text with the title “GOVERNOR” printed below it. The serial number “EB 03743578” appears twice — once vertically in purple on the left side and once horizontally in black at the lower centre. The background of the note features soft multicoloured guilloché patterning in pale pinks, greens, and purples, with an ornate watermark window area visible toward the left centre. In the lower left corner, a circular emblem reads “ZAMBIA 2003” surrounding the Bank of Zambia’s seal, and adjacent to it sits a green oval emblem bearing the bold letters “BOZ” in white, representing the Bank of Zambia’s abbreviated identity mark. A vertical security thread is embedded within the paper, visible as a dark stripe running through the left-centre of the note.

The reverse features three distinct pictorial vignettes arranged across the width of the note, together conveying themes of Zambian agriculture, culture, and wildlife. On the left, a large engraved image depicts an aardvark in close detail, rendered in warm reddish-brown tones with fine line engraving capturing the animal’s elongated snout and rounded ears. The central vignette shows an agricultural scene featuring a green tractor working among tall crops, most likely maize, set against a field landscape with what appears to be an industrial building or silo in the background, printed in olive and green tones. To the right, a figurative sculpture or statue of a human form in a dynamic, raised-arm pose is depicted in dark reddish-brown engraving, suggestive of a cultural or ceremonial figure. The bank name “BANK OF ZAMBIA” is again printed across the top in the same bold serif style with the enlarged “Z,” and the denomination “K1000” appears in the upper left and upper right corners. The written denomination “ONE THOUSAND KWACHA” is printed in dark text at the lower left. The background carries the same soft guilloché patterning seen on the obverse, with pale pink, lilac, and green tints. At the lower right margin, small printer’s text reads “CANADIAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, LIMITED,” identifying the security printer responsible for producing this issue. Partial see-through registration elements and a watermark ghost are visible toward the right edge, consistent with the polymer or high-security paper substrate used in this series.

Wondering who buys foreign coins and notes? Webuyallcurrency.com does — a 1,000 Kwacha banknote like this is accepted alongside other old or withdrawn Zambian Kwacha banknotes, so you can exchange the lot for cash at once.

• Indicate the quantity of 1,000 Kwacha Zambian Kwacha banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• Your online account now shows the exchange value

From leftover holiday money to inherited collections, Webuyallcurrency.com will exchange or buy your Zambian Kwacha banknotes and other foreign currency, handling old and withdrawn pieces in the same simple process.

Other Zambian Kwacha you can exchange: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 5000.