On Friday the Central Bank of Kenya issued new generation coins in line with 2010 constitutional requirements. The Shilling currency coins were launched in Nairobi by President Uhuru Kenyatta. Symbols are shown in the new currency coins and not portraits of people. They also have features that make them accessible to the visually impaired(Sh1, Sh5, Sh 10, Sh 20). The Sh1 coin weighs 5.5g and is silver in colour with the image of a Giraffe, Sh 5 coin weighs 3.75 g, has a diameter of 19.5 mm with an image of Rhino on it. The Sh 10 coin weighs 5 g and has a diameter of 23 mm with a yellow outer and silver inner line. It has the image of a lion. The new Sh 20 coin weighs 9 grams with a diameter of 26 mm. On the outside it is silver and on the inside it is yellow. It has the image of an elephant.
Finally I managed to get a couple of the new Kenyan notes. As promised, there are marks for the visually impaired. Interestingly, they are impossible to feel. I do have other notes where it is not a problem, for example the Brazilian or Hungarian notes, but I could not feel a thing on the Kenyan shilling, and I got UNC notes. The marks are visible and recognizable.