Catalog
10 Kwacha Pygmy Hippopotamus
| Issuer | Malawi |
|---|---|
| Year | 2005 |
| Type | Non-circulating coin |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Log in to see details |
| Obverse description | The central field features the national coat of arms of Malawi in high relief, flanked by its two heraldic supporters: a lion to the left and a leopard to the right, both rampant. The shield displays the rising sun, wavy bars representing Lake Malawi, and a lion passant. Above the shield, an African fish eagle with spread wings serves as the crest, while below, a scroll bears the national motto UNITY AND FREEDOM. The date 2005 is divided by the arms, with '20' to the left and '05' to the right. The circumferential legend REPUBLIC OF MALAWI arcs along the upper rim, and the denomination 10 KWACHA appears along the lower rim. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Log in to see details |
| Mint | Log in to see details |
| Mintage | Log in to see details |
| Additional information |
Malawi's wildlife coin program of the mid-2000s targeted the collector market almost exclusively, with pieces like this one never intended for domestic circulation. The pygmy hippopotamus — native to West Africa, not Malawi — was chosen for its novelty appeal rather than any regional zoological significance. Liberia and Malawi both issued collector coins featuring fauna entirely outside their borders during this period, a practice driven by Geneva-based and European licensing intermediaries who managed the programs end-to-end.