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5 Thebe
| Issuer | Bank of Botswana |
|---|---|
| Year | 1998-2009 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Pula (1976-date) |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | A finely detailed rendering of a red-billed hornbill (Tockus erythrorhynchus) is depicted in left-facing profile, perched upon a stylized branch that extends across the lower field. The bird's characteristic large curved red bill, streaked plumage on the breast and wings, and long graduated tail feathers are rendered with naturalistic precision. The denomination numeral 5 appears in bold relief in the upper field, with the denomination legend THEBE immediately below it, both centered above the bird. |
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| Edge | Log in to see details |
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| Additional information |
Botswana's thebe coinage — thebe meaning "shield" in Setswana — was introduced in 1976 when the country replaced the South African rand with its own currency, the pula, just a decade after independence. The copper-plated steel composition adopted for this later series reflects a shift driven by rising copper prices globally through the 1990s, a practical economic adjustment made by numerous smaller nations during the same period.