2008 Zimbabwe 1 Billion & 100 Trillion Dollars PMG 68 EPQ Hyperinflation P-83 P-91 Set

2008 Zimbabwe 1 Billion & 100 Trillion Dollars PMG 68 EPQ Hyperinflation P-83 P-91 Set

This 2-note graded set brings together two of the most dramatic pieces of modern paper money: Zimbabwe’s 1 Billion Dollar and legendary 100 Trillion Dollar banknotes, both dated 2008 and both certified PMG Superb Gem Unc 68 EPQ. Struck during the final, chaotic months of Zimbabwe’s third-dollar (ZWR) currency, these notes are textbook artifacts of one of the worst hyperinflation episodes ever recorded.

Authenticity & certification

• Issuing authority: Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

• Year / series: 2008 “Trillion Series,” third dollar (ZWR) issues.

• Catalog numbers:

  • 1 Billion Dollars – Pick 83

  • 100 Trillion Dollars – Pick 91

• Signatory: Both notes bear the printed signature of Dr. Gideon Gono, Governor of the Reserve Bank during the hyperinflation period.

• Grading: Each note is encapsulated and certified by PMG as Superb Gem Uncirculated 68 EPQ, confirming original, exceptional paper quality on the 70-point scale.

Historical significance – money losing value by the hour

By mid-2008, Zimbabwe’s official annual inflation rate was estimated at 231 million percent, and later calculations put peak monthly inflation in November 2008 at around 79.6 billion percent, meaning prices could double in roughly a day.

To keep up with prices that were racing ahead of its own printing presses, the Reserve Bank repeatedly sliced zeros off the currency and then printed even larger denominations, culminating in the 100 Trillion Dollar note – one of the largest face values ever placed on a circulating banknote and widely recognized as the Zimbabwean issue with the most zeros.

Design & features – 1 Billion Dollars (Pick 83)

• Obverse: Shows the iconic Chiremba Balancing Rocks near Epworth, a geomorphological rock formation that has appeared on Zimbabwean currency since 1981 and also serves as the central bank’s logo.
  Stylized grain, livestock motifs, and the Zimbabwe Bird printed in optically variable ink (OVI) reinforce themes of agriculture and national identity.

• Reverse: Depicts palm trees of the National Herbarium and Botanic Garden in Harare and a trumpeting African elephant standing in the bush – a nod to Zimbabwe’s wildlife and tourism economy.

• Security elements: Late-series Zimbabwe notes were produced with simplified security, notably an OVI security stripe and a printed “shadow watermark” motif rather than a true watermark or embedded thread, a cost-saving measure under international sanctions.

The note is printed predominantly in green, with “1 000 000 000” repeated around the borders to emphasize the extraordinary face value.

Design & features – 100 Trillion Dollars (Pick 91)

• Obverse: Again features the Chiremba Balancing Rocks, rendered in blue-violet tones, with denomination inscriptions that stretch almost the full width of the note: “ONE HUNDRED TRILLION DOLLARS.”

• Reverse:

  • Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya) on the left, one of Africa’s most spectacular natural landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  • A powerful African/Cape buffalo on the right, symbolizing strength and endurance.

• Security elements: Features the Zimbabwe Bird in OVI, a 3-mm colour-shifting security stripe, microprinting, and a printed “faux watermark” showing a cow and plants in the watermark area instead of a traditional embedded watermark.

The staggering “100 000 000 000 000” numerals dominate both sides, making this note an instant conversation piece even among non-collectors.

Remarkable denominations & catalog details

• 1 Billion Dollars (P-83): Part of the first wave of the 2008 high-denomination issues, bridging the gap between millions, billions, and the later trillions. It illustrates how quickly “billion” became trivial in everyday transactions.

• 100 Trillion Dollars (P-91): The highest denomination ever issued by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and a global icon of hyperinflation, with more zeros than almost any other note ever placed into circulation.

Collector’s value

Together in matching PMG 68 EPQ holders, these notes form a ready-made mini-collection that tells the entire story arc of Zimbabwe’s collapse in purchasing power—from “only” one billion to a scarcely imaginable one hundred trillion dollars. The combination of ultra-high denominations, dramatic designs featuring balancing rocks, Victoria Falls, and African megafauna, and top-tier third-party certification makes this set a standout showpiece for any world currency, error, or hyperinflation-themed collection—and an unforgettable gift for anyone fascinated by economics or history.