Catalog
5 Pula Gemsbok
| Issuer | Bank of Botswana |
|---|---|
| Year | 1978 |
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| Technique | Milled |
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| Obverse description | The national coat of arms of Botswana occupies the central field, featuring a shield charged with cogwheels in chief and wavy lines with a bull's head in base, flanked by two zebras rampant serving as supporters. A scroll below bears the national motto PULA in raised legend. The country name BOTSWANA arcs along the upper periphery, with the date 1978 and the legend IPELEGENG inscribed in the lower field beneath the shield. |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | BOTSWANA 1978 IPELEGENG |
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| Additional information |
Botswana's early commemorative silver program was timed deliberately to coincide with the country's post-independence consolidation period — this piece was issued just twelve years after the 1966 declaration of independence from Britain. The .500 fineness was a practical compromise, keeping silver content meaningful while reducing production costs for a young central bank with limited hard currency reserves.
KM#11 is one of the more accessible issues from this series, with mintages sufficient to keep prices honest.