20 Meticais

Mozambique gained independence from Portugal in June 1975, and the Banco de Moçambique was established almost immediately to replace the Banco Nacional Ultramarino — the colonial institution that had controlled the territory's currency. This 1980 issue belongs to the first generation of coins produced under the FRELIMO government, at a moment when the country was simultaneously rebuilding its financial infrastructure and fighting a destabilizing insurgency backed by Rhodesian and later South African intelligence services.

The copper-nickel alloy chosen here was a deliberate step up from the lighter denominations of the same series, signaling the 20 meticais as a coin meant for substantive transactions rather than small change.