Catalog
50 Thebe
| Issuer | Bank of Botswana |
|---|---|
| Year | 1976-1985 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | An African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer), the national bird of Botswana, is depicted in left-facing profile in the central field, rendered with fine feather detail on the wings and body. The denomination 50 THEBE is inscribed in bold raised lettering arcing along the upper portion of the field above the bird. The design is contained within a plain rim with milled edge. |
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| Reverse lettering | 50 THEBE |
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| Additional information |
Botswana's currency, the pula, launched in August 1976 as a direct replacement for the Rand, which had circulated since independence in 1966. The decision to establish a sovereign currency came a full decade after independence — unusually late — driven by Botswana's early economic dependence on South Africa and its membership in the Common Monetary Area. Diamond revenues from the Orapa mine, operational since 1971, finally gave the government the financial footing to justify a standalone monetary system.
The series ran through 1985 without significant design revision, reflecting monetary stability rare for sub-Saharan Africa during that period.