100 Nakfa

The 1997 Eritrean series — of which this is the highest denomination — was the country's first nationally issued currency, replacing the Ethiopian birr after independence was formally consolidated following the 1993 referendum. The two-year lag before issuing a distinct currency was deliberate: Eritrea needed time to establish the Bank of Eritrea and negotiate printing contracts before cutting monetary ties with Addis Ababa.

Giesecke & Devrient had extensive experience printing post-colonial inaugural series, and the choice was unsurprising. Clarence Holbert, an American designer with prior African currency work, handled the design brief for the full set.