The national currency of the United Republic of Tanzania is the Tanzanian shilling symbolized by TZS. The shilling is subdivided into 100 senti and consists of coins and banknotes. Currently coins with denominations of 50, 100,200 and 500 are in circulation in the country. In the earlier times, banknotes of the same denominations had been introduced by the Bank of Tanzania, but nowadays notes of larger values has been introduced to circulation in the country. A new series of notes came into existence in Tanzania in 2011 and these notes had many security features that prevented counterfeiting. Banknotes in circulation in the country today are 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, and 10,000 shilling (locally known as shillingi).
The TZS 500 note is green in color and has pictures of Tanzanian coat of arms and Sheikh Albeid Amani Karume on its obverse side. On the reverse side of the note are the pictures of University of Dar es Salaam central hall building, graduating students wearing caps and gowns, and the Rod of Asclepius (a Greek mythological deity associated with healing and medicinal arts.
Similarly, the TZS 1000 note is blue in color and has pictures of Tanzanian coat of arms, first President Julius Kambarage Nyerere, and Bismarck Rock in Mwanza Harbor on its obverse side. On the reverse side of the note are the pictures of a coffee plant, State House (Kulu), and a building with flag in Dar es Salaam.
In the same way, the TZS 2000 note is orange in color and has pictures of Tanzanian coat of arms and a lion on its obverse side and pictures of palm trees, Omani Arab Fort (Ngome Kongwe) in Zanzibar’s Stone Town, and carved block on the reverse side. Likewise, the TZS 5000 note is purple in color and has pictures of Tanzanian coat of arms, a plant and a rhinoceros on its obverse side while on the reverse side of the note, there is a picture of Cyanid Leaching plant of the gold mines of Geita.
Finally, the largest currency in the country with a denomination of 10,000 (TZS 10000) is red in color and has pictures of Tanzanian coat of arms and an elephant on its obverse side. The reverse side of the same note carries pictures of flowers and Bank of Tanzania headquarters building in Dar es Salaam.
