Zimbabwe 100 Trillion Dollar Note

The most recognisable hyperinflation banknote in the world. Own a genuine piece of 2008–2009 history — complete guide, security features & current collector values.

Genuine Zimbabwe 100 Trillion Dollar banknote front and back

Shop Genuine Notes How to Spot a Fake

Quick Facts

Denomination

100,000,000,000,000 Zimbabwe Dollars
(One Hundred Trillion)

Issued

16 January 2009
(dated 2008 on the note)

Catalog

Pick P-91 / TBB B191a

Size

148 × 74 mm
Predominantly blue with peach accents

Design & History

This note was part of the third Zimbabwean dollar series and circulated for only a few months before the currency was abandoned. It has become the global symbol of hyperinflation.

Obverse (Front)

Chiremba Balancing Rocks (Domboremari) near Epworth, southeast of Harare. These granite formations have appeared on Zimbabwean notes since 1981 and symbolise the balance between development and nature.

Also features a stylised cow & grain underprint and the Zimbabwe Bird in optically variable ink.

Reverse (Back)

Victoria Falls (“the Smoke that Thunders”) on the left and a Cape buffalo on the right. The buffalo is often mistaken for an elephant by first-time collectors.

Why it matters

Printed under severe international sanctions, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe could not obtain traditional security paper. The result is a note with no watermark and no embedded security thread — a key fact for authentication.

Friendly tip: Many online “how to spot a fake” guides still tell people to look for a watermark or security thread. On a genuine 100 Trillion those features do not exist. Looking for them will cause you to reject real notes.

Technical Specifications

Catalog Number	Pick 91 (P-91)
Series	Third Dollar (ZWR), 2008–2009
Dimensions	148 mm × 74 mm
Primary Colour	Blue with peach accents
Signature	Dr. Gideon Gono, Governor
Printer	Fidelity Printers & Refiners, Harare
Paper	Cotton-based (no traditional watermark)
Serial Format	AA + 7 digits (most common). ZA = replacement
Demonetised	2015

Security Features & How to Authenticate

These are the real security elements on a genuine note. Use them together — no single feature is enough on its own.

Optically Variable Ink (OVI) Zimbabwe Bird — tilts and shifts colour (usually green to gold/bronze). This is the main modern security device.
Colour-shifting “RBZ” stripe — 3 mm wide patterned stripe on the left that changes colour when tilted.
Two-colour serial numbers — one serial in red (vertical), one in black (horizontal). Under UV they react differently.
Intaglio (raised) printing — you can feel the texture of the rocks, bird and denomination with your fingertip.
UV-reactive elements — fibres and certain design parts glow under a genuine UV light (best tested in a dark room).
No watermark and no embedded security thread — these were never present on genuine notes of this series.

Genuine vs Typical Counterfeit – Quick Comparison

Most fakes sold online are low-quality novelty prints or deliberate collector fakes. Here’s what usually separates them.

Genuine Note

• Crisp, slightly textured paper feel
• Strong colour-shift on bird & RBZ stripe
• Serial numbers sharp and correctly placed
• Correct size (148 × 74 mm)
• Fine intaglio detail on rocks and bird
• UV reaction present but not overly bright or “neon”

Common Fakes

• Flat, smooth or shiny paper
• Little or no colour-shift (or wrong colours)
• Blurry or poorly aligned serials
• Slightly wrong size or proportions
• Flat printed “rocks” with no raised feel
• Either no UV reaction or exaggerated neon glow

Practical advice: Hold the note under normal light and tilt it slowly. Then check the feel of the raised print. If both the colour-shift and the texture feel right, you are usually looking at a genuine example. When in doubt, buy from a trusted dealer who specialises in these notes.

Why Collectors Love This Note

Ultimate Conversation Piece

Fourteen zeros on a single banknote still stops people in their tracks. Perfect for display or as a memorable gift.

Finite Supply

The currency was demonetised in 2015. No more will ever be printed. Surviving high-grade examples are becoming scarcer.

Historical Snapshot

It captures a very specific moment: the peak of hyperinflation, international isolation, and the creative solutions the Reserve Bank had to invent.