Coinage of Lesotho

Started by <k>, December 16, 2016, 10:01:59 PM

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<k>

Map of Southern Africa.gif

Map of Southern Africa.

Map of Lesotho.jpg

Map of Lesotho.

From Wikipedia:

The Kingdom of Lesotho is a country in southern Africa. It is completely surrounded by South Africa. It is just over 30,000 km2 (11,583 sq mi) in size and has a population slightly over two million. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The name Lesotho translates roughly into the land of the people who speak Sesotho. About 40% of the population lives below the international poverty line of US $1.25 a day.
 
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See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#1
Lesotho flag 1966-1987.png

Lesotho flag 1966-1987.

Basutoland gained its independence from Britain and became the Kingdom of Lesotho in 1966. The first flag of Lesotho was introduced on October 4 1966, the day of Lesotho's full independence from the United Kingdom. It featured a prominent white mokorotlo. (A Mokorotlo is a type of straw hat widely used for traditional Sotho (South Africa and Lesotho) clothing, and is the national symbol of the Basotho and Lesotho peoples. The hat's design is believed to have been inspired by the conical mountain Mount Qiloane). The blue background of the flag stood for sky and rain, the white for peace, the green stripe for land, and the red stripe for faith.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#2
Coat of arms of Lesotho (1966-2006).png

Coat of arms of Lesotho (1966-2006).

The first coat of arms of Lesotho was adopted on 4 October 1966 following independence. Pictured is a crocodile on a Basotho shield. This is the symbol of the dynasty of Lesotho's largest ethnicity, the Sotho. Behind the shield there are two crossed weapons, an assegai (lance) and a knobkierie (club). To the left and right of the shield are supporters of the shield, two Basutho horses. In the foreground there is a ribbon with the national motto of Lesotho: Khotso, Pula, Nala ("Peace, Rain, Prosperity"). The crocodile on the shield was retained from the arms of Basutoland, the predecessor to Lesotho.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#3
Lesotho 50 licente 1966.JPG

Lesotho: 50 licente, 1966.

Upon independence in 1966, Lesotho issued a commemorative set of collector coins. The 5, 10, 20 and 50 licente coins were in silver, wilhe the 1 maloti coin was in gold. Below is an image of the 50 licente coin. The same designs, apart from the denomination, appeared on the obverse and reverse. The obverse features a portrait of King Moshoeshoe I, who is considered the historical father of the Basotho nation.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#4
Lesotho.jpg

Lesotho, the Mountain Kingdom.


The loti (plural: maloti) is the currency of the Kingdom of Lesotho. Loti means 'mountain' in the Sesotho, and Lesotho is known as the Mountain Kingdom because of its mountainous terrain.

The loti It is subdivided into 100 lisente. 'Lisente' is the plural of sente, which means 'cent'. The loti is pegged to the South African rand on a 1:1 basis throughout the Common Monetary Area, and both are accepted as legal tender within Lesotho.

In 1980 Lesotho issued its first circulating coins denominated in both loti and lisente. They replaced the South African rand in Lesotho. The Rand remains legal tender. These first coins were dated 1979.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#5
Moshoeshoe II.jpg

King Moshoeshoe II of Lesotho.


Moshoeshoe II (1938 – 1996) was the paramount chief of Lesotho.

He was previously known as Constantine Bereng Seeiso.

He was paramount chief Seeiso from 1960 to 1966.


The country gained independence from Britain in 1966.

He was then king of Lesotho from 1966 until his death in 1996.

His portrait appeared on the coinage from 1979 to 1989.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>




The 1 sente and the 2 and 5 lisente coins were made of nickel-brass.

Above you see how the King's portrait looked on those coins.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>




The 1 sente coin had a diameter of 16.5 mm and weighed 1.5 grams.

The reverse of the 1 sente coin featured a mokorotlo.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>




The mokorotlo is a type of straw hat.

It is widely used for traditional Sotho (South Africa and Lesotho) clothing.

It is the national symbol of the Basotho and Lesotho peoples.

The hat's design was allegedly inspired by the conical mountain Mount Qiloane.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>




The 2 lisente coin had a diameter of 19.5 mm and weighed 2.5 grams.

The reverse design featured a cow.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>




The 5 lisente coin had a diameter of 23.35 mm and weighed 4 grams.

The reverse featured an agave americana.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>




The 10, 25 and 50 lisente and 1 loti coins were made of copper-nickel.

Above you see how the obverse of the copper-nickel coins looked.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>




The 10 lisente coin had a diameter of 23.35 mm and weighed 4 grams.

The reverse design featured an angora goat.

The animal is also known as a mohair goat.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>




The 25 lisente coin had a diameter of 21.7 mm and weighed 3.5 grams.

The reverse design featured a woman in traditional costume.

She is weaving a straw basket. In the background are traditional huts.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.