Mozambique has just introduced its new Metical banknotes and coins, but there are worries that these could cause confusion to visitors.

For a period of six months the old money will remain in circulation alongside the new money.

"Unsuspecting visitors run the risk of confusing the money or even to get duped in cash transactions," warns GuideToMozambique.com.

The Mozambican Central Bank says that it is not introducing a new currency, but rather a "new family" of notes and coins.

Effectively three zeros are taken off the amounts on the bank notes.

This has been done with the intention of to giving the Metical a more robust appearance internationally.

Consumers and businesses are expected to find the new money easier to use.

Both the old and the new money are called Metical in the singular and Meticais in the plural, which is confusing in itself, although in the interim the new family of the Metical will be referred to as MTn.

Six new banknotes are issued ranging in value from 20 to 1.000 Meticais.

At the current exchange rate of 25 MTn to the dollar, the smallest note is worth $0,80, while the largest note equals $40.

All banknotes will have Mozambique's first president Samora Machel on the front.

Mozambique's wildlife is displayed on the reverse side.

The coins in the new family of Meticais range in value from 1 to 10 Meticais and 1 to 50 cents (Centavos).

The coins depict scenes representing Mozambican economy, society and culture.

Visitors are advised to do some research before visiting Mozambique, a good place to start is the section of the GuideToMozambique website dealing with the new Metical notes and coins, which includes a helpful conversion table.