Coinage of the Gambia

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The reverse of the 1 dalasi coin.

The 1 dalasi coin was made of copper-nickel.

It weighed 18.1 grams and had a diameter of 34 mm.


The reverse design depicted a slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus).

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The obverse of the 1 dalasi coin of 1987.

In 1987 the 1 dalasi was issued as a heptagonal coin.

Its size and weight were similar to those of the large UK 50 pence coin of that time.


The coin weighed 12.2 grams and had a diameter of 30.8 mm.

It replaced the large round 1 dalasi coin, which had a diameter of 34 mm.

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The reverse of the 1 dalasi coin of 1987.

The reverse of the 1 dalasi coin.

It featured the same mischievous-looking crocodile as before.

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NEW COIN SERIES OF 1998

President Jawara continued to rule until 1994, when a coup d'état led by Yahya Jammeh seized power. Following this, Jawara went into exile. However, he returned to Gambia in 2002, where he lived in retirement until his death.

From Wikipedia:

In 1998 a new coin series was introduced, in which the effigy of Dawda Jawara was dropped and replaced with the national coat of arms on the obverses. However, older Jawara era coins still commonly circulate as legal tender. The 1 dalasi coin was also downsized in size and weight, but none of the other coins was changed. Only 25 and 50 bututs and 1 dalasi coins are currently in circulation, they are of the 1998 issue which also included 1, 5 and 10 bututs coins but have since disappeared due to their low value.

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Obverse of the 1 dalasi coin of 1998.

Here you see the the coat of arms on the new obverse design of the 1 dalasi coin.

The 1 dalasi coin of 1998 was smaller and lighter than the 1987 version.

It weighed 8.8 grams and had a diameter of 28 mm.

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Obverse of the 1, 5, 10 and 50 bututs coins of 1998.

The 1 and 5 bututs coins of 1998 were made of copper-plated steel.

Previously they had been made of bronze.

Their designs and dimensions remained the same.


The 10 bututs coin of 1998 was made of brass-plated steel.

Previously it had been made of nickel-brass.

It design and dimensions remained the same.


The 1, 5 and 10 bututs coins were one-year coins only.

These denominations were no longer issued after 1998.


The 25 and 50 bututs coins of 1998 were made of copper-nickel as before.

The smaller 1 dalasi coin was also made of copper-nickel.

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METAL CHANGES OF 2008 AND 2014

From 2008 the 50 bututs and 1 dalasi coins were minted in nickel-plated steel.

Their designs and dimensions remained the same.


In 2014 the 25 bututs coin was minted in nickel-plated steel.

Its design and dimensions remained the same.


Previously these three coins had been minted in copper-nickel.

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RELATED TOPICS

British West Africa

Gambia: alternative predecimal designs

Gambia's predecimal to decimal design transition

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