The AOA (Angolan kwanza) is the currency of Angola. Four different currencies using the name kwanza have circulated since 1977.
The currency derives its name from the Kwanza River (Cuanza, Coanza, Quanza).
AOA (Angolan kwanza) sign: Kz; ISO 4217 code: AOA
AOA banknotes and coins
The first coins issued for the kwanza currency did not bear any date of issue, although all bore the date of independence, “11 de Novembro de 1975”. They were in denominations of 50 lwei, 1, 2, 5 and 10 kwanzas. 20 kwanza coins were added in 1978. The last date to appear on these coins was 1979.
On 8 January 1977, banknotes dated 11 DE NOVEMBRO DE 1975 were introduced by the Banco Nacional de Angola (National Bank of Angola) in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 kwanzas.The 20 kwanza note was replaced by a coin in 1978.
Angola launched the “Waterfall Edition” series of banknotes in 2012, with denominations of 5 kwanzas, 10 kwanzas, 50 kwanzas, 100 kwanzas, 200 kwanzas, 500 kwanzas, 1000 kwanzas, 2000 kwanzas, 5000 kwanzas, 10000 kwanzas.
Angola’s first series of banknotes in 2020 are: 200 Angolan Kwanza, 500 Angolan Kwanza, 1000 Angolan Kwanza, 2000 Angolan Kwanza, 5000 Angolan Kwanza.