Catalog
5 Pula Independence, Silver Proof Issue
| Issuer | Bank of Botswana |
|---|---|
| Year | 1976 |
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| Thickness | 3 mm |
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| Obverse description | Left-facing bust of Sir Seretse Khama, first President of Botswana, rendered in high relief with a finely modelled portrait in a contemporary style. The effigy occupies the central field, with the subject shown in a suit and tie. The circumscribed legend reads '10TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE 1966-1976' along the upper arc, and 'SIR SERETSE KHAMA' along the lower arc, both separated by raised dots. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
Botswana's 1976 silver proof was issued to mark a decade of independence from Britain, achieved in 1966 when the former Bechuanaland Protectorate became one of Africa's few peaceful post-colonial transitions. The timing also coincided with the early years of diamond revenue from Orapa — discovered in 1967 — which would soon transform one of the world's poorest nations into a regional economic anomaly.
The .925 specification and 28.28g weight place this squarely in the Royal Mint proof tradition, almost certainly struck in London under contract rather than domestically.