Coinage of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)

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The reverse of the 1998-dated 50 cents coin.



The reverse of the 1993-dated 50 cents coin.

Here is a reminder of the reverse design on the previous 50 cents version.

It appeared on the 50 cents with the portrait of the young King.

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The new 1 lilangeni coin was made of brass.

The previous version had been made of nickel-brass-plated steel.

The new coin was minted from 1995 through to 2009.


The text around the portrait of the Queen Mother was larger.

Otherwise, the size and weight were similar to those of the previous version.

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Also in 1995, a new denomination was added to the series.

The 2 emalangeni coin was made of brass.


It weighed 5 grams and had a diameter of 24 mm.

It was minted through to 2010.


The reverse design featured two arum lilies.

The design was similar to that on the commemorative 2 emalangeni coin of 1981.

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Here is the 1981 2 emalangeni commemorative coin.

Compare it with the later standard circulation coin.

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Also in 1995, another new denomination was added to the series.

The 5 emalangeni coin was also made of brass.

The reverse design featured the coat of arms.


The coin weighed 7.6 grams and had a diameter of 27 mm.

It was minted through to 2003.

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Obverse of the 5 cents coin of 2011.

A new design series was issued from 2009 to 2011.


The lowest denomination, the 5 cents coin, was issued in 2011 only.

It was now made of copper-plated steel.


It weighed 2 grams and had a diameter of 17.5 mm.

It was therefore only very slightly smaller than the previous 5 cents coin.


The new coin was round with a scalloped inner rim.

The previous 5 cents coin had not been round but scalloped.


See also:  Circular coins that have an inner polygonal rim.

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The reverse of the 5 cents coin retained the arum lily design.

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Obverse of the 10 cents coin of 2011.

The 10 cents coin was issued from 2009 to 2011.

It was also made of copper-plated steel.

The two lowest denominations now shared a new colour.


The 10 cents coin weighed 3.4 g and had a diameter of 21 mm.

It was therefore only very slightly smaller than the previous 10 cents coin.


The new coin was round with a scalloped inner rim.

The previous 10 cents coin had not been round but scalloped.


The coin had eight inner notches, while the 5 cents coin had twelve.

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The reverse of the 10 cents coin retained the sugar cane design.

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The large 20 cents coin of 2011.

The 20 cents coin was now made of nickel-plated steel instead of copper nickel.

It weighed 4.6 grams and had a diameter of 24 mm.


The coin was now round with a scalloped inner rim.

It had twelve inner notches.

Previously it was scalloped but not round.

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The new 50 cents coin was a one-year type only.

It was dated 2011.

It was now made of nickel-plated steel instead of copper-nickel.


The coin was no longer 12-sided.

It had a polygonal inner rim instead.


It weighed 6.2 g and had a diameter of 27.5 mm.

It was therefore somewhat smaller than the previous version.


The reverse design featured the coat of arms, as before.

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The new 1 lilangeni coin was made of brass-plated steel instead of brass.

It weighed only 5 grams but was only a half millimeter smaller in diameter.

The previous coin had weighed 9.5 grams.


This coin was produced from 2009 to 2011.

The obverse and reverse designs were the same as before.

A 2 lilangeni coin was not included in this series.

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Obverse of the small 20 cents coin dated 2011.

The smaller version of the 20 cents was dated 2011.

In fact, this coin type was issued until 2013.


The new coin had 8 inner notches instead of 12.

It was made of nickel-plated steel.


It weighed 3.1 grams and had a diameter of 19 mm.

The previous version weighed 4.6 grams, with a diameter of 24 mm.

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The reverse of the small 20 cents coin.

The design featured an elephant as usual.

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OFFICIAL EXPLANATION FOR THE SMALLER 20 CENTS COIN

On June 10 2013 the Central Bank of Swaziland had issued a press statement.

This explained why the smaller 20 cents coin had been issued.

Press Statement on New 20 cents Coins

The Central Bank of Swaziland would like to announce the release of a new version of 20 cents coins. This follows the official withdrawal of the "new'" 20 cents coins found to have similarities with E2.00 coins.

The public, especially the business community, is advised to redeem all the "new'' 20 cents coins with their nearest commercial bank, building society and/or the Central Bank of Swaziland.

The Bank takes this opportunity to apologize for the confusion caused by the "new'' 20 cents coins which has since been withdrawn.

The large nickel-plated steel 20 cents dated 2011 was 24 mm in diameter and weighed 4.6 grams.

The brass 2 emalangeni coin (1995 to 2010) was 24 mm in diameter and weighed 5 grams.


The small nickel-plated steel 20 cents was dated 2011 but first issued in 2013.

It was 19 mm in diameter and weighed 3.1 grams.