Botswana 1966-B 50 cents
The republic of Botswana, landlocked in Southern Africa, was the protectorate of Bechuanaland prior to independence from Great Britain in 1966. Lacking minerals valuable on the world market, Botswana has escaped the violence afflicting its neighbors Angola, Zimbabwe and South Africa. It, unfortunately, has not escaped the ravages of AIDS. This silver fifty cents probably intended to circulate with the South African rand, which was legal tender in Botswana until 1976, when the pula was adopted. A gold ten thebe (KM 2) was issued at the same time; there is no evidence it ever circulated.
Wikipedia comments, "Sir Seretse Goitsebeng Maphiri Khama, GCB, KBE (1 July 1921 – 13 July 1980) was a Motswana politician who served as the first President of Botswana, a post he held from 1966 to his death in 1980."
Recorded mintage: 40,000 plus 10,000 proofs.
Specification: 10 g, 0.800 fine silver, 27 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 1.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
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