Botswana 1981 pula

from the Mountain Groan Collection

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. Shown is a copper-nickel pula, featuring a zebra on the reverse. The type was struck 1976-77, 1981, 1985-87. The superseding type (KM 24) was only 8.7 g.

Recorded mintage: unknown plus 10,000 proofs.

Specification: 16.4 g, copper-nickel, 29.5 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM 4.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.

Link to:

• 1981 2 thebe
• 1984 thebe
• 1984 5 thebe
• 1984 10 thebe
• 1984 25 thebe
• 1984 50 thebe
• 1991 pula
• Coins and currency dated 1981