Fresh currency

[Russ16]

Headed to Zim with CMS in a few weeks. They said I need to bring fresh bills for tops as Zim has a prohibition on older currency.

Was in the bank today and decided to to go ahead and get my tip money. They didn’t have a fresh bills in smaller denominations.

For those of you who’ve been where did you get fresh bills? My bank didn’t seem to have an idea and is going to have the branch manager call me Monday.

 

[375Fox]

Did they specify what “fresh” bills means? I bring newer issue notes but not clean fresh bills. For 100s I tell bank to sort through for 2013 and 2017 issue. After getting robbed once on a trip, I won’t go overboard trying to bring too many small bills that take up a large volume, but bring maybe 1000 total in 5s-20s and some 1s. The notes they use in Zimbabwe look terrible. I wouldn’t stress too much about fresh notes just bring newer issue, relatively clean notes, without tears.

 

[Tdruck]

Heading to Zim in two weeks. My PH said to pay him upon return to the states for everything including tips. He is supposed to send me a tipping guide via email.
He also said that I don't need to get an money exchanged to Zimbabwean currency.
I will take a couple thousand American. Hidden somewhere on my person.

TD

 

[Mark458]

Most African countries want American notes dated 2009 or newer because of the enhanced security features.

 

[375Fox]

Heading to Zim in two weeks. My PH said to pay him upon return to the states for everything including tips. He is supposed to send me a tipping guide via email.
He also said that I don't need to get an money exchanged to Zimbabwean currency.
I will take a couple thousand American. Hidden somewhere on my person.

TD

Under no circumstance consider exchanging your US for whatever Zimbabwe notes they currently have. Only the government would be happy about that or whoever sold them to you. The country operates on USD because their notes hold no value.

 

[arniet]

Big head, no picture frame, and color shift.

Go here to see what they want:
https://www.uscurrency.gov/denominations

 

[Mark458]

I had a client there years ago after their currency collapsed and he got all of his kids a million dollar note as a gag gift. Cost him around $40 I believe

 

[375Fox]

Heading to Zim in two weeks. My PH said to pay him upon return to the states for everything including tips. He is supposed to send me a tipping guide via email.
He also said that I don't need to get an money exchanged to Zimbabwean currency.
I will take a couple thousand American. Hidden somewhere on my person.

TD

Is this a Zimbabwe PH or a South African PH acting as an agent there? For a country with a cash shortage I’m very surprised they’d recommend not paying tips in cash. That’s not standard in countries outside South Africa and Namibia that don’t have a reputable banking system. I’d have some concerns not paying staff tips directly.

 

[Sideshow]

Used to have this fight constantly throughout East Africa. So long as the Bills are within the last six years you’re good to go. They get abit pissy if they’re too creased or dirty.

On a side note when coming through the Serengeti was paying at the gate. The guy was getting all upset at some dirty bills and pulled out a counterfeit bill reader. Lol bad mistake on his part as I offloaded all my creased, out of date and dirty USD. The look on his face when he was left with that. He complained the banks won’t take this!! My response take your reader show em there good, followed by a shrug and not my problem.
Few months later coming though he took one look at me and said “Tea break” turned to his colleague “You take this one”

 

[375Fox]

Used to have this fight constantly throughout East Africa. So long as the Bills are within the last six years you’re good to go. They get abit pissy if they’re too creased or dirty.

On a side note when coming through the Serengeti was paying at the gate. The guy was getting all upset at some dirty bills and pulled out a counterfeit bill reader. Lol bad mistake on his part as I offloaded all my creased, out of date and dirty USD. The look on his face when he was left with that. He complained the banks won’t take this!! My response take your reader show em there good, followed by a shrug and not my problem.
Few months later coming though he took one look at me and said “Tea break” turned to his colleague “You take this one”

For USDs the only date printed on them is the edition. I think 2017 is as recent as you can get for 100s at least.

 

[Sideshow]

For USDs the only date printed on them is the edition. I think 2017 is as recent as you can get for 100s at least.

Yep looks like it. They say so long as it has the blue strip you’re good to go. Think that started in 2013.
I did see a few contrefit notes whilst on the job. I even had some five pound bills for bribes. But they got destroyed when oil leaked through there hidey hole.

 

[leslie hetrick]

i bought a few 200,000 dollar notes for the grandchildren at .25 cents usd when i was there. i was told i could buy a slice of bread with one, with out butter. they were not even good ass wipes.

 

[Sideshow]

i bought a few 200,000 dollar notes for the grandchildren at .25 cents usd when i was there. i was told i could buy a slice of bread with one, with out butter. they were not even good ass wipes.

Before USD was made the main currency we used change money on the black market then go fill up with diesel 1300lt worth. I would have a black rubbish bag filled with 100zim notes. They then brought out the $500 Zim. Which helped a bit. Think the bank rate was 55 to 1 usd. Black market 1500 when I first got there they then started on these next

 

[Russ16]

A lot of what my bank had was easily 10+ years old.

I asked for clarification and CMS said they need to be post 2009. Which is helpful.

 

[spike.t]

Same as here ..you just need the latest security ones...and as said no ink marks..writing etc on them....or even smallest tear....

 

[Hyde Hunter]

I had a client there years ago after their currency collapsed and he got all of his kids a million dollar note as a gag gift. Cost him around $40 I believe

that is what Cal Papas used to give all his graduating students

 

[MacJenkins]

This use to be a thing 10 ish years ago. Last few trips I just take good newish notes. Go buy something while you’re there and your change will be the most disgusting US bills you have ever seen. I was owed $5 change last month and what came out of the till was not going in my pocket. Told him to keep it!

 

[Bejane]

Headed to Zim with CMS in a few weeks. They said I need to bring fresh bills for tops as Zim has a prohibition on older currency.

Was in the bank today and decided to to go ahead and get my tip money. They didn’t have a fresh bills in smaller denominations.

For those of you who’ve been where did you get fresh bills? My bank didn’t seem to have an idea and is going to have the branch manager call me Monday.

just get some $20s $10s and $5s that are not old. not overused, faded, torn notes

 

[Sideshow]

This use to be a thing 10 ish years ago. Last few trips I just take good newish notes. Go buy something while you’re there and your change will be the most disgusting US bills you have ever seen. I was owed $5 change last month and what came out of the till was not going in my pocket. Told him to keep it!

Oldest trick in the book handing you dirty notes. Next time tell them to keep what you wanted to buy! See how fast they find a clean one. I’ve even walked out gone to the next store and been chased with new notes waving saying we have clean!! The other sellers trick is to be slow, like sudden death slow. We are so used punctual service that when you get slow it’s like wtf. Been in restaurants where the food came fast but the bill took so long we walked out…..funny how fast it turned up then. The trick is you need to play it like you don’t need it at all! Even if you really do. I’m not saying be rude. Just look like you don’t want it. Then you usual get fair service. Just remember that you’re an ambassador for your country. How you behave reflects on the next interaction!
Anyway back to the original post.