Lesotho 1984 100 maloti

Sincona sale 94, lot 2092

This specimen was lot 2092 in Sincona sale 94 (Zürich, October 2024), where it sold for 3,600 CHF (about US$ including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"LESOTHO Moshoeshoe II. 1966-1990, 100 Maloti 1984. Auf die Olympischen Spiele in Los Angeles. Freestyle Gymnastik. NGC PF69 ULTRA CAMEO. Das durch NGC höchstbewertete Exemplar. (kingdom of Lesotho, Moshoeshoe II, 1966-1990, 100 Maloti of 1984, for the Los Angeles Olympics, freestyle gymnastics. Finest certified by NGC.)"

Lesotho, formerly the British protectorate of Basutoland, was formed to curb the encroachment of white settlers on the lands of the Basuto. Entirely surrounded by South Africa and completely dependent on it economically, Lesotho struggled with the corrosive effect of apartheid. The end of the supremacist regime has not brought prosperity to Lesotho. Moshoeshoe II himself had a checkered career before his death in a car wreck in 1996, being exiled more than once. The plural of sente is lisente. The plural of loti is maloti. The SCWC and Numista both say only two pieces of this design were struck.

Recorded mintage: est. 2.

Specification: 11.50 g, 0.916 fine gold, 0.338 troy oz AGW, 26 mm diameter, this specimen 11.51 g.

Catalog reference: KM 69, Fr-22a.

Source:

• Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• ^[1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 94: World and Swiss Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2024.

Link to:

• 1976 100 maloti, 10th Anniversary of independence
• 1983 sente
• 1983 10 lisente
• 1983 50 lisente
• 1985 2 lisente
• Coins and currency dated 1984