South Africa banknotes launched with Mandela image

A poster showing safety features of a bank note bearing the image of former president Nelson Mandela, at a press launch, in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. New South African banknotes featuring the image of former president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela are going into circulation. Reserve bank governor Gill Marcus made the first purchase using the new rand notes at a small shop in Pretoria Tuesday. She says the country tries to upgrade its notes every seven years for security reasons as technologies change. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

A poster showing safety features of a bank note bearing the image of former president Nelson Mandela, at a press launch, in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. New South African banknotes featuring the image of former president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela are going into circulation. Reserve bank governor Gill Marcus made the first purchase using the new rand notes at a small shop in Pretoria Tuesday. She says the country tries to upgrade its notes every seven years for security reasons as technologies change. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

Reserve bank governor Gill Marcus put bank notes bearing the image of former president Nelson Mandela into a till, at a press launch, in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. New South African banknotes featuring the image of former president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela are going into circulation. Reserve bank governor Gill Marcus made the first purchase using the new rand notes at a small shop in Pretoria Tuesday. She says the country tries to upgrade its notes every seven years for security reasons as technologies change. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

Reserve bank governor Gill Marcus displays bank notes bearing the image of former president Nelson Mandela, in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. New South African banknotes featuring the image of former president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela are going into circulation. Reserve bank governor Gill Marcus made the first purchase using the new rand notes at a small shop in Pretoria Tuesday. She says the country tries to upgrade its notes every seven years for security reasons as technologies change. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

JOHANNESBURG (AP) ? New South African banknotes featuring the image of former president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela are going into circulation.

Reserve Bank Governor Gill Marcus made the first purchase using the new rand notes at a small shop in Pretoria on Tuesday. She says the country tries to upgrade its notes every seven years for security reasons as technologies change.

The new 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 rand banknotes feature Mandela's image on one side and the other side maintains the Big Five animals already on the bills.

Marcus said Mandela was shown the new banknotes and that he was delighted.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-11-06-South%20Africa-Mandela-Banknotes/id-7d62d0c370a544f0aea911137b78f48a

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