Botswana 1978 150 pula
This specimen was lot 23618 in Heritage sale 3015 (Long Beach, September 2011), where it sold for $3,737.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Republic gold 150 Pula 1978, PF69 Ultra Cameo NGC, featuring the Brown Hyena." This issue is one of a series featuring Botswana wildlife.
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. Coin denominations are thebe and pula. Pula translates as the word 'rain', a scarce commodity in this arid region.
Recorded mintage: 664 plus 219 proofs.
Specification: 33.437 g, 0.900 fine gold, .968 oz. AGW.
Catalog reference: KM 13.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach and Warren Tucker, Heritage World Coin Auction 3015, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2011.
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