National Currencies and Sovereignty: Banknote Iconography in Colonial and Postcolonial Zimbabwe, 1964–2024

ABSTRACT This paper examines how Zimbabwean banknote iconography from the colonial and post‐colonial eras reflects the interplay of politics, history, heritage and religion. National currencies have become a key component of modern nation‐states. They serve as symbols of state power and sovereignty and are used in daily transactions. Some have argued that national currencies can be useful vehicles for mass communication and propaganda. In Zimbabwe, banknotes have been used to convey both covert and overt nationalist messages. Ideologies of the ruling elite are frequently incorporated in banknotes to shape public opinion. Through semiotic analysis, among other methods, we contend that these banknotes serve as repositories of the nation‐state's collective memory. Banknotes iconography is informed by major events and mirrors local and foreign policies that shape the course of the country's history. The study established that banknotes can reveal periods of socio‐economic and political stability as well as turbulent times. The basic premise of this paper is that nation‐states frequently use banknotes as a platform for mass communication.