50000000 (50 Million) Dollars Zimbabwe Dollar (fourth dollar) #629

Front

Special Agro-Cheque issued by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe showing wildlife imagery with a giraffe at left side, representing Zimbabwe's natural heritage. The note displays '100000000000' (100 billion) as the serial/control number and denomination of 100 billion dollars at lower right. The front features guilloche patterns and intricate line work typical of Zimbabwe's hyperinflation-era emergency currency, issued during the period when the country experienced one of history's worst cases of hyperinflation.

Back

Bearer cheque format issued by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, clearly stating 'Pay the bearer on demand FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS on or before 30th June 2008 for the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe'. Issue date printed as '2nd April 2008'. Signed by Dr. G Gono, Governor of the Reserve Bank. The note bears serial number AJ7241547 and control number 02022909. This was part of the emergency bearer cheque series issued during Zimbabwe's catastrophic hyperinflation crisis of 2007-2008.

History

This is a 50 million Zimbabwe dollar bearer cheque from the 2008 emergency series, issued during Zimbabwe's catastrophic hyperinflation period when the Reserve Bank issued 'agro-cheques' and 'bearer cheques' with expiration dates as emergency currency. The issue date of 2nd April 2008 and expiration date of 30th June 2008 (printed on back) are clearly visible. Note the discrepancy: the FRONT shows '100000000000' (100 billion) while the BACK states '50000000' (50 million) — this appears to be a mismatched pair or an error note combining elements from different denominations. During this period, Zimbabwe experienced monthly inflation rates exceeding 79.6 billion percent, leading to the demonetization of the Zimbabwe dollar on 12 April 2009 and adoption of a multi-currency system. Dr. Gideon Gono served as Governor of the Reserve Bank from 2003-2013, presiding over the hyperinflation crisis. These bearer cheques were intended as temporary agricultural financing instruments but circulated as de facto currency. Pick #58 corresponds to the 50 million dollar bearer cheque dated 2008.