The face of one of South Africa’s most venerated figures, Nelson Mandela, will now grace the surface of the country’s new bank notes, President Jacob Zuma announced.

“With this humble gesture we are expressing our deep gratitude, as the South African people, to a life spent in service of the people of this country and in the cause of humanity worldwide," Zuma said.

Mandela, 93, served as South Africa’s first Black president and is known worldwide for his contribution toward the fight against apartheid.

Although Zuma did not say exactly when the new money would be rolled out, Mandela’s image is slated to appear on all of the country’s new notes. The announcement came on the 22nd anniversary of Mandela’s release from prison. The anti-apartheid activist and former president of South Africa served 27 years in a South African prison before he was released and began helping usher South Africa into a new era of racial equality.

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(Photo: STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP/Getty Images)