Type details
| Country | Eritrea |
| Currency | ERN |
| Denomination | 1 |
| Series | First Nakfa series |
| Series range | 1997–present |
| Issue year | 1997 |
| Issuer | Bank of Eritrea |
| Issuer (native) | ኤርትራ ባንክ |
| Signatures | President; Governor |
| Printer | De La Rue |
| Front portrait | Eritrean women and children |
| Reverse subject | Eritrean schoolchildren |
| Themes | indigenous_culture,education |
| Watermark | Camel in clear field at left |
| Security features | watermark,microprint,intaglio |
| Colour palette | #d4c5a8,#8b7355,#c19a6b |
| Material | paper |
| Dimensions (mm) | 140x70 |
| Language / script | Latin |
| Languages | en |
| Pick # | 1 |
| Rarity | common |
| Legal status | in_circulation |
| Predecessor currency | Ethiopian Birr |
| Era | 1990_present |
| Default value (low) | 2.0 |
| Default value (high) | 8.0 |
| Value currency | USD |
Front
Three Eritrean women and children in traditional dress representing the diverse ethnic groups of Eritrea. The central figures wear traditional headwraps and jewelry, symbolizing the cultural heritage of the newly independent nation. At left, a vignette depicts the raising of the Eritrean flag, commemorating independence achieved in 1993 after a 30-year war of independence from Ethiopia. The nakfa currency was introduced in 1997 to replace the Ethiopian birr and is named after the town of Nakfa, a key stronghold during the independence struggle.
Back
A group of Eritrean schoolchildren in a classroom setting, representing education and the future of the nation. The scene emphasizes the government's focus on literacy and development in post-independence Eritrea. The Bank of Eritrea emblem appears at right, featuring the traditional camel motif that symbolizes endurance and survival in the arid Eritrean landscape.
History
The First Nakfa series was introduced on 24 May 1997, exactly four years after Eritrea's independence referendum. The nakfa replaced the Ethiopian birr at par and takes its name from the town of Nakfa, which served as the headquarters of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front during the independence war (1961–1991). This 1 nakfa note, dated 24.5.1997, represents the lowest denomination of the inaugural series. The imagery emphasizes themes of cultural identity, independence, and education as foundations of the new nation.
