Catalog
10 Maloti - Moshoeshoe II
| Issuer | Lesotho |
|---|---|
| Year | 1966 |
| Type | Coin pattern |
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| Obverse description | Bare-headed effigy of King Moshoeshoe II facing right, with a finely detailed portrait rendered in high relief, the neck truncation signed 'A.COLOMBO' in small incuse letters. The surrounding legend reads 'BOIPUSO LESOTHO INDEPENDENCE' along the upper arc and 'MOSHOESHOE I' along the lower arc, flanked by small star stops. A beaded border encircles the entire design. |
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| Reverse description | The national coat of arms of Lesotho occupies the central field, depicting a Basotho warrior seated on a crocodile skin within a shield, flanked by two rearing horses as supporters, with a spear, knobkierie, and traditional hat above. A scroll beneath the shield bears the national motto 'KHOTSO PULA NALA' (Peace, Rain, Prosperity). Below the arms, the denomination '10 MALOTI' is inscribed in large characters, with the date '1966' and the fineness mark '900/1000' appearing in the lower field, all within a beaded border. |
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| Additional information |
Lesotho's independence from Britain on October 4, 1966 prompted a small run of commemorative gold issues, with this piece among the first coinage struck in the name of the new kingdom. Moshoeshoe II, then 26 years old, had been installed as paramount chief in 1960 and became king upon independence — though effective power rested almost immediately with Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan, who would eventually depose him twice.
The KM#Pn8 designation places this within the pattern series, indicating it was not released into general circulation.