Catalog
10 Thebe
| Issuer | Bank of Botswana |
|---|---|
| Year | 1976-1989 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| 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 | 1.39 mm |
| 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 | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | A sable antelope (Hippotragus niger) is depicted in full gallop facing right, rendered in fine relief against a plain field, conveying dynamism and naturalistic detail. The denomination numeral 10 appears prominently in the upper field above the legend THEBE, both in raised Latin characters. The design is uncluttered, with the wildlife motif as the sole decorative element, reflecting Botswana's rich natural heritage. |
| 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 |
Botswana's thebe coinage was introduced in 1976 when the country replaced the South African rand with its own currency — a politically significant move for a nation that had only gained independence a decade earlier in 1966. The Bank of Botswana managed the transition carefully, pegging the new pula to a basket of currencies rather than to the rand alone, which insulated the economy from South Africa's periodic monetary instability during the apartheid years.