Coins from Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Formerly known as the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana took on its new name after becoming independent on 30 September 1966. Botswana is said to have the best perceived corruption ranking in Africa since at least 1998. Hard to believe, but Botswana is currently Africa's oldest continuous democracy. Topographically flat, the Kalahari Desert covers around 70% of the 581,730 km² (224,610 square miles) land. It has a population of just over 2 million people, making Botswana one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. The capital and largest city, Gaborone is home to only 10% of the population. In the 1960s it had a GDP per capita of about US$70 per year, but since then has transformed itself into one of the world's fastest-growing economies. The economy is sustained by mining, cattle, and tourism. Today, Botswana has an astonishing GDP per capita of about $18,825 per year as of 2015, which is one of the highest in Africa, a growth of almost 27,000% from 1960. The currency is the Pula (translated as rain) divided into 100 Thebe (raindrops). The first coins were issued to commemorate the independence in 1966, while first circulation coins were only issued in 1976, 10 years after independence.
Wikidata: Q963
Rand (1961-1976)
50 Cents (Independence) ND (1966)
Non-circulating coin: Independence
Silver (.800) • 10 g • ⌀ 27 mm
KM# 1, Schön# 1, N# 17784
10 Thebe (Independence) ND (1966)
Non-circulating coin: Independence
Gold (.900) • 11.29 g • ⌀ 24.5 mm
KM# 2, Schön# 2, N# 61830
Pula (1976-date)
100 Thebe = 1 Pula
2 Thebe (World Food Day) FAO 1981-1985
Circulating commemorative coin: FAO - World Food Day
Bronze • 1.8 g • ⌀ 17.4 mm
KM# 14, Schön# 4, N# 3528
25 Thebe (World Food Day) 1976-1989
Circulating commemorative coin: (World Food Day) FAO
Copper-nickel • 5.73 g • ⌀ 25 mm
KM# 6, Schön# 7, N# 4375
25 Thebe (World Food Day) 1991
Circulating commemorative coin: (World Food Day) FAO
Nickel clad steel • 5.73 g • ⌀ 25 mm
KM# 6a, Schön# 7a, N# 8961
2 Pula (Commonwealth Games) 1986
Non-circulating coin: Commonwealth Games
Silver (.500) • 28.28 g • ⌀ 38.61 mm
KM# 17, Schön# 17, N# 107209
2 Pula (Commonwealth Games) 1986
Non-circulating coin: Commonwealth Games
Silver (.925) • 28.28 g
KM# 17a, Schön# 17a, N# 107210
2 Pula (Slaty Egret) 1986
Non-circulating coin: Wildlife Series - Slaty Egret
Silver (.925) • 28.28 g • ⌀ 38.61 mm
KM# 18, Schön# 18, N# 27423
2 Pula (Save the Children Fund) 1989
Non-circulating coin: Save the Children Fund
Silver (.925) • 28.28 g • ⌀ 38 mm
KM# 22, Schön# 22, N# 84747
2 Pula 2013-2016
Bimetallic: bronze plated steel centre in nickel plated steel ring • 7.3 g • ⌀ 27 mm
KM# 36, Schön# 37, N# 57611
5 Pula (Independence) ND (1976)
Non-circulating coin: 10th Anniversary of Independence
Silver (.925) • 28.28 g • ⌀ 38.6 mm
KM# 9, Schön# 10, N# 23188
5 Pula (Independence; Silver Proof Issue) 1976
Non-circulating coin: 10th Anniversary of Independence
Silver (.925) • 28.28 g • ⌀ 38 mm
KM# 9a, Schön# 10a, N# 23189
5 Pula (Gemsbok) 1978
Non-circulating coin
Silver (.500) • 28.30 g • ⌀ 38.61 mm
KM# 11, Schön# 12, N# 46476
5 Pula (Gemsbok) 1978
Non-circulating coin
Silver (.925) • 28.50 g • ⌀ 38.61 mm
KM# 11a, Schön# 12a, N# 134977
5 Pula (Disabled persons) 1981
Non-circulating coin: International Year of Disabled Persons
Silver (.925) • 28.500 g • ⌀ 38.61 mm
KM# 15, Schön# 15, N# 43697
5 Pula (Disabled persons; Peidfort) 1981
Pattern: International Year of Disabled Persons
Silver
KM# P1, N# 309644
5 Pula (Wildlife) 1986
Non-circulating coin: Wildlife - Red Lechwes
Gold (.917) • 15.98 g • ⌀ 28 mm
KM# 19, Schön# 19, N# 88609
5 Pula (Pope's Visit) 1988
Non-circulating coin: Pope's Visit
Copper-nickel • 28 g • ⌀ 38.5 mm
KM# 20, Schön# 21, N# 31976
5 Pula (Pope's Visit) 1988
Non-circulating coin: Pope's Visit
Silver (.925) • 28.28 g
KM# 20a, Schön# 21a, N# 107212
5 Pula (Summer Olympics) 1988
Non-circulating coin: 1988 Summer Olympics
Silver (.925) • 28.28 g • ⌀ 38 mm
KM# 21, Schön# 20, N# 47061
5 Pula (Save the Children Fund) 1989
Non-circulating coin: Save the Children Fund
Gold (.917) • 10.00 g • ⌀ 25 mm
KM# 23, Schön# 23, N# 107226
5 Pula 2000-2007
Bimetallic: copper-nickel centre in brass ring • 6.0 g • ⌀ 23.5 mm
KM# 30, Schön# 31, N# 9187
5 Pula 2013-2016
Bimetallic: copper-nickel centre in brass ring • 8.7 g • ⌀ 28 mm
KM# 37, Schön# 38, N# 57610
10 Pula (Klipspringer) 1978
Non-circulating coin: Wildlife Series - Klipspringer
Silver (.500) • 35.00 g • ⌀ 42 mm
KM# 12, Schön# 13, N# 107229
10 Pula (Klipspringer) 1978
Non-circulating coin: Wildlife Series - Klipspringer
Silver (.925) • 35 g • ⌀ 41 mm
KM# 12a, Schön# 13a, N# 32328
150 Pula (Independence) 1976
Non-circulating coin: 10th Anniversary of Independence
Gold (.917) • 15.98 g • ⌀ 28.4 mm
KM# 10, Schön# 11, N# 86516
150 Pula (Brown Hyena) 1978
Non-circulating coin: Conservation series
Gold (.900) • 33.437 g • ⌀ 34 mm
KM# 13, Schön# 14, N# 66449
150 Pula (Year of Disabled Persons) 1981
Non-circulating coin: International Year of Disabled Persons
Gold (.917) • 15.98 g • ⌀ 28.4 mm
KM# 16, Schön# 16, N# 107239
150 Pula (Year of Disabled Persons; Piedfort) 1981
Pattern: International Year of Disabled Persons
Gold
KM# P2, N# 310145
The Numista referee for coins of this issuer is Pcoetzee5.
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