Identify vignettes on Mozambique’s notes

mozambique_bdm_100_m_1980.06.16_b11a_p126_ab_7305625_f.jpgmozambique_bdm_500_m_1980.06.16_b12a_p127_aa_3009222_left.jpgmozambique_bdm_500_m_1980.06.16_b12a_p127_aa_3009222_right.jpgmozambique_bdm_1000_m_1980.06.16_b13a_p128_aa_0004581_f.jpgmozambique_bdm_5000_m_1988.02.03_b18a_p133a_za_0013097_f.jpgmozambique_bdm_20000_m_1999.06.16_b23a_p140_aa_6767546_f.jpgmozambique_bdm_50000_m_1993.06.16_b24a_p138_ec_7631113_r.jpgquerubim-artwork.jpg

Today’s challenge is to identify the following vignettes from Mozambique’s banknotes.

If you can precisely identify the proper name of any of the following—or have a lead which you think might be useful—please send me an email, preferably including a URL which links to evidence supporting your identification.

The following scene appears on the front of Mozambique’s 100-metical note (P126) dated 16 de JUNHO DE 1980.
IDENTIFIED: Five FRELIMO soldiers raising flag on 25 June 1975 at Machava stadium in Lourenço Marques (Maputo).
Courtesy of Martin Maillot.

The following two scenes appear on the front of Mozambique’s 500-metical note (P127) dated 16 de JUNHO DE 1980, so they may be related. The bottom scene could be a crowd waving their voter ID cards. However, I don’t like to publish guesses in The Banknote Book, so if anyone can properly identify this vignette, please do.

IDENTIFIED: Permanent Commission seated behind Samora Moisés Machel addressing People’s Assembly.
Courtesy of David Blair.

The following scene appears on the front of Mozambique’s 1,000-metical note (P128) dated 16 de JUNHO DE 1980. On the wall is inscribed FRELIMO [Frente de Libertação de Moçambique] PARTIDO DE VANGUARDA DA REVOLUÇÃO SOCIALISTA, so it appears to be a monument or memorial to liberation fighters, but I’ve been unable to find its official name or location.

IDENTIFIED: FRELIMO monument in Maputo in a small crescent-shaped square along Avenida Samora Machel, beside the old colonial Governor’s house (so called Casa de Ferro) and before the entrance gate of the Tunduru Botanic Gardens. At some point, the monument was replaced by a statue of the FRELIMO leader Samora Moises Machel, killed in a plane crash on 19 October 1986. Courtesy of Rocco Di Leone.

The following scene appears on the front of Mozambique’s 5,000-metical note (P133) dated 3 de FEVEREIRO DE 1988 and the 500-metical note (P134) dated 16 de JUNHO DE 1991. Is the statue/carving a famous one? If so, by whom, and what is the name?

IDENTIFIED: Wood sculpture by Alberto Mabungulane Chissano. Courtesy of Thomas Augustsson.

The following scene appears on the front of Mozambique’s 20,000-metical note (P140) dated 16 DE JUNHO DE 1999.

IDENTIFIED: Allegorical representation of education.
Coutesy of Frank van Tiel.

The following appears on the back of Mozambique’s 50,000-metical note (P138) dated 16 DE JUNHO DE 1993. Is this just decorative artwork, or does it have some other significance?

IDENTIFIED: Portion of ceramic low relief on the front of the bank headquarters by artist Querubim Lapa de Almeid. Courtesy of Rocco Di Leone.

Leave a Reply