50000 Meticais Metical #353

Front

Cahora Bassa Dam on the Zambezi River in northwestern Mozambique. Completed in 1974, it is one of Africa's largest hydroelectric facilities and a major infrastructure project of colonial-era Mozambique. The dam created Lake Cahora Bassa, one of the continent's largest artificial lakes, and generates approximately 2,075 megawatts of power. The front also shows the Banco de Moçambique seal and decorative traditional patterns.

Back

Aires de Ornelas, Portuguese colonial administrator who served as Governor-General of Mozambique (1896–1897, 1906–1907). The back is an overprinted Banco Nacional Ultramarino 100 Escudos note from the colonial era. The overprint 'MOÇAMBIQUE CEM ESCUDOS' with date 'LISBOA, 27 de MARÇO de 1961' and decree reference 'DECRETO LEI Nº 39,221' was applied to convert colonial escudos into meticais following independence. Serial number C52856013 is visible.

History

This note is part of Mozambique's emergency currency series issued in 1993 during a period of severe economic crisis and hyperinflation following independence from Portugal (1975) and civil war (1977–1992). The Banco de Moçambique overprinted existing stocks of colonial-era Banco Nacional Ultramarino escudo notes, revaluing them as meticais at extremely high denominations. The 50,000 Meticais overprint on a 100 Escudos note reflects the massive devaluation of the currency. This series was replaced in 2006 when Mozambique redenominated its currency at a rate of 1,000:1, introducing the new metical (MZN). Pick P-137 corresponds to the 50,000 Meticais overprint on the 100 Escudos base note. The use of Cahora Bassa Dam imagery represents post-independence emphasis on national infrastructure despite the facility's colonial origins.