When decimalised currency was introduced on 14 February 1961, those first rand notes were printed by Bradbury Wilkinson and Company in England. It was only with the introduction of the so-called Third Rand Series in 1966 that the bank notes, of a completely new design, were printed locally by the newly established South African Bank Note Company.
This company, with its printing works in Pretoria, was jointly owned by the South African Reserve Bank and by Bradbury Wilkinson Limited. That was forty years ago. 6. The South African Bank Note Company is now fully owned by the South African Reserve Bank and continues to print quality bank notes for South Africa and for the export market.