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500 Leones
| Issuer | Bank of Sierra Leone |
|---|---|
| Year | 1995-2003 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 500 Leones (500 SLL) |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Printer | Log in to see details |
| Designer(s) | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Log in to see details |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Central vignette of the fishing fleet at anchor in Freetown Harbour, set against a background underprint of fishing net; decorative borders incorporate stylised motifs of fish caught in a net. |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Signature(s) | Log in to see details |
| Protection type | Log in to see details |
| Protection description | Lion's head watermark. |
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| Comments |
The 500 Leones denomination was introduced as Sierra Leone's civil war — the RUF conflict that began in 1991 — was grinding through its worst years, with the country's economy in freefall and inflation eroding purchasing power so rapidly that even this mid-range note became effectively low-value currency within its own issue lifespan. The leone lost catastrophic ground against the dollar through the late 1990s.
Thomas De La Rue printed the series through a period when Sierra Leone had almost no functioning central banking infrastructure on the ground, making London-printed supply continuity the only realistic option for maintaining note availability.