10 000 Leones

Thomas De La Rue printed this note during a period when Sierra Leone's leone had shed four zeros through the 2004 redenomination — itself a response to inflation that had reduced the original currency to near-worthlessness following years of civil conflict and economic collapse. The 10,000 leone denomination, unthinkable before the redenomination, became routine within a few years of the new series entering circulation.

The print run of just over 12 million is modest by West African standards, suggesting the denomination was treated as a high-value reserve note rather than everyday tender.