ISO 4217 Code：SLL
User：Sierra Leone
Inflation：1%
Source：The World Factbook, 2002 est.
Subunit：1/100 cent
Symbol：Le
Coins：
Freq. used：100 leones
Rarely used ：10, 50, 500 leones
Banknotes：500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10 000 leones
Central bank：Bank of Sierra Leone
Website：http://www.bankofsierraleone-centralbank.or
The leone is the currency of Sierra Leone, a country on the West African coast. It is divided into 100 cents.
History
The leone was introduced in 1964. It replaced the West African pound at a rate of 1 pound = 2 leones. Past denominations eliminated from circulation because of inflation include: ?, 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents as well as the 1 leone coin pictured. A commemorative 2 leone was minted in 1976, for the Regional Conference for Africa. If the coin was issued is not known.
As well some banknotes have also been eliminated through replacement and inflation. These include a 50 cent, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 leone banknotes issued at various times.
For an earlier Sierra Leone currency, see Sierra Leonean dollar.
Denominations
Present banknotes in use are: 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 & 10,000 leones. 10,000 leones notes have been in circulation for less than a year and are at present still infrequently encountered. This means that most transactions take place in bundles of 5000 leones notes. Because of inflation, there will be a 20,000 Leone Banknote issued later, at a date to be /confirm/ied.
Coins in circulation: 10, 50, 100 & 500 leones. Actually, only the 100 leones is available in any quantity. Most shopkeepers and restaurants rarely encounter 500 leones.
Specimen notes are issued to banks to familiarize the local inhabitants with any currency changes. These are issued by Thomas de la Rue printers of the UK. Availability to collectors is limited. This author obtained a small quantity from the Central Bank in Freetown after much discussion. The denominations received were 500L, 1000L & 5000 Leones. The 'bank' ran out of the 2000L & 10000L denominations. None of the 2000L Specimen notes were sighted during a 2005 visit to Freetown. The 10000L was seen in different banks stuck down to the sides of booths. Collector value of these notes is unknown but a set of 3 will appear in an auction sale in Australia in Sydney, held by Noble Numismatics Pty Ltd, between March 28-30 2007.
Collecting Sierra Leone Currency
Notes are generally in a very grubby condtion, averages very good to fine. 10,000 leones at best very fine. The Central Bank is an unhelpful source for banknotes and coins.
Coins tend to be in very fair condition, with 100 leones being slightly better. A few dealers sell older coins and banknotes but their conditions are generally very bad.
The prices in the Pick catalogue for notes are inadequate considering difficulty in acquiring better grade notes. Coins are correctly or even over priced in the Krause-Mishler catalogue.
References
World coin gallery Ronald Wise page on Sierra Leones banknotes. 塞拉利昂利昂样币 塞拉利昂利昂铸币
- 塞拉利昂利昂铸币
