Comments on 'Coinage of Botswana'

[<k>]

Parent topic:  Coinage of Botswana
The parent topic (above) gives an overview of the coinage of Botswana.

Please post any comments, questions or corrections in this topic here.

Your comments are welcome.

[africancoins]

Something your topic led me to notice...

The following webpage links the name "J.H.WASER" from below the portrait on the 1966 coins of Botswana, to Swiss painter Joseph Hermann Waser.

https://www.trycollect.com/en/articles/897-joseph-hermann-waser

Weltmünzkatalog attributes the "B" mint mark on these coins to Swiss Mint, Bern.

Could anyone have anything to confirm the designer/artist information in the link above?

Thanks Mr Paul Baker

[<k>]

Interestingly, the Botswanan authorities sent these requirements for the coinage of the Royal Mint (UK) in May 1996. The Royal Mint had previously produced all of Botswana's coinage. It seems, though, that the subsequent amendments were carried out by the South African Mint.

Numista lists the smaller 50 thebe coin as having first been issued in 1996. However, Gerhard Schön's catalogue lists it as having first been produced in 1998.

[<k>]

Botswana, 1 pula, 1991.




Botswana, 1 pula, 2013.




Malawi, 50 tambala, 2004.

In 2013 the Botswanan 1 pula coin showed the zebra against a scenic background.

Malawi had issued such a design back in 2004.

However, Botswana was first with a zebra on a circulation design (1 pula, 1976).

See also:

Pictorial coin designs with added or deleted details.

The portrayal of animals in coin design.

[africancoins]

Numista may well list a 1996 date for 50 Thebe (specifications as per the 1998 type) – but no one can find an image.

From the Royal Mint (UK) document that is the source of the table in the second reply to this topic.. Towards the end of 1996 the Botswanan authorities enquired with Royal Mint (UK) about having some 5 Thebe coins made. Stocks of that denomination were running low in Botswana at this time. Royal Mint (UK) was later told by the Botswanans that the South African Mint had made a better offer and so had been awarded the 5 Thebe contract. None of that correspondence mentioned a possible 50 Thebe 1996. Furthermore, even at the end of 1996, the specifications for the whole of the 1998 series was still to be agreed to.

Thanks Mr Paul Baker

[africancoins]

In relation to the 2 Pula 1994, about the rhinoceros portrayed you have said: - "It was the first rhinoceros to appear on a circulation coin."

There is an Indian Rhinoceros on the Republic of India 25 Paise KM-54 type. See such as here: -

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces1610.html

The earliest pieces of that type are dated 1988.

Thanks Mr Paul Baker

[<k>]

Numista may well list a 1996 date for 50 Thebe (specifications as per the 1998 type) – but no one can find an image.

Thank you, for that.

I notice that one of your African pages has some interesting information about a variant 5 thebe coin of 1996.

See: Botswana 5 Thebe KM-4 and subtypes there of.

In relation to the 2 Pula 1994, about the rhinoceros portrayed you have said: - "It was the first rhinoceros to appear on a circulation coin."

There is an Indian Rhinoceros on the Republic of India 25 Paise KM-54 type.

The earliest pieces of that type are dated 1988.

I must amend that post, then.

I was looking at my spreadsheet of African designs and forgot that rhinos also occur in Asia!

[<k>]

Botswana, 5 thebe, 2007 and 2013.




Swaziland 10 cents, 2011, 2015.

I find it interesting that the South African Mint (SAM) eventually took over the minting of the coinages of both Botswana and Swaziland (now Eswatini) from the Royal Mint (UK).

SAM then later used similar tactics in developing the coinages.

When Botswana's 1 thebe coin was discontinued, the 5 thebe became the lowest denomination of the series and the only red coin. In the next update of the coinage, SAM therefore made it a white coin to match the other thebe denominations.

Swaziland's 10 cents coin also eventually became the lowest denomination of its series and likewise the only red coin. In the next update of the coinage, SAM therefore also made it a white coin to match the other cent denominations. See the images above.

[<k>]

Botswana, 50 thebe, 1976 and 1998.




Swaziland, 20 cents, 1974 and 2002.




Swaziland, 50 cents, 1974 and 1998.

As I mentioned the South African Mint (SAM) eventually took over the minting of the coinages of both Botswana and Swaziland (now Eswatini) from the Royal Mint (UK). SAM sometimes applied similar changes to both coinages.

Look at the images above. In each case, the coin on the left was minted by the Royal Mint (UK). The coin on the right was minted by the South African Mint. Same theme and basic design, except SAM has made its mark by altering a design or two.

[<k>]

THE ZEBU ON COINS




Brazil, 5 centavos, 1975.




Madagascar, 2 francs, 1965.




Madagascar, 5 francs, 1947.




India, ½ anna, 1954.  Zebu.

Which other countries featured the zebu on coins?

Not many. But India was the first, from 1950 to 1955, on the ½, 1 and 2 annas coins.

Madagascar has featured the zebu on various denominations and coin types.

Botswana produced three versions of its 25 thebe coin.

Each depicts a zebu. Below you see the first version.



Botswana, 25 thebe, 1976.

[<k>]

In relation to the 2 Pula 1994 you have said: - "It was the first rhinoceros to appear on a circulation coin."

There is an Indian Rhinoceros on the Republic of India 25 Paise KM-54 type.

The earliest pieces of that type are dated 1988.

A further correction. Zambia issued the first circulation coin that featured a rhino.

It was the 10 kwacha coin of 1992. This was a one-year type.

I have corrected my main Botswana topic.

AFRICAN RHINOCEROS ON CIRCULATION COINS

Botswana - 2 pula, 1994.
Kenya - 5 shillings, 2018.
Mozambique - 10 000 meticais, 2003.
South Sudan - 50 piasters, 2015.
Tanzania - 50 shilingi, 1996.
Zambia - 10 kwacha, 1992.
Zimbabwe - $5, 2001.

[<k>]

ZEBRAS ON CIRCULATION COINS

Botswana - 1 pula, 1976.
Eritrea - 25 cents, 1997.
Malawi - 50 tambala, 2004.
Tanzania - 10 senti, 1977.

Only three other countries have featured a zebra on a circulation coin.

Botswana was definitely the first to do so.

[<k>]

Leaves of the mopane tree.




Botswana, 5 pula, 2007.




Botswana, 5 pula, 2013.

There are interesting differences between the Botswanan 5 pula coins of 2007 and 2013.

Both feature stylised mopane leaves within the outer ring.


The 2007 version did not show the stylised leaves on the obverse.

They appeared only on the reverse.


The 5 pula coin of 2013 featured them on both the obverse and reverse.

Botswana, 2 pula, 2013.

Heads of sorghum are shown within the outer ring.

Some coins have small pictorial objects near the rim or in the outer ring of the coin.

I call these 'rim devices' because they are near the rim.

See: Coins with rim devices.

[<k>]

Here you see the first series of Botswana's coins, dated 1976.

Notice where the word IPELEGENG appears.

In every case but one it appears on the obverse.

The exception is the 25 thebe coin.

Here it appears only on the reverse, beneath the zebu design


According to Numista, that 25 thebe type was issued from 1976 to 1989.

However, Numista also describes it as a circulating commemorative coin.

What does it commemorate? Numista states that it commemorates World Food Day.

Numista adds the abbreviation FAO to World Food Day in its description of the coin.


F.A.O. stands for the Food and Agricultural Organization.

The F.A.O. is a body of the United Nations, which runs various programs.

One of these programs was a coin program, to publicise F.A.O. and its aims on coins.


Usually we expect a commemorative coin to be issued for a single year, not for several.

Did this coin commemorate every single World Food Day from 1976 to 1989?

Perhaps it would be better to call it just a special issue, rather than a commemorative one.

After all, the words World Food Day do not appear anywhere on the coin.

But what does IPELEGENG mean?

Numista states:

The word "Ipelegeng" literally means "to carry your own weight" or "to be self sufficient or independent".

In general it has got different meanings in Tswana language.

Ipelegeng is also a South African city and a Botswana program created for reducing the poverty in the country.

This clearly designates the coin as a FAO-themed issue, rather than a commemorative.

The next version of the 25 thebe coin was issued in 1991.

Only the metal was changed, from copper-nickel to nickel-plated steel.

The coin's size, circular shape, obverse and reverse designs and legends remained the same.

Numista once more describes this type as a circulating commemorative coin.


The word IPELEGENG still appeared on the reverse only.

On all the other denominations, it appeared on the obverse only.



In 1998 the 25 thebe coin became heptagonal.

The word IPELEGENG still appeared on the reverse only.

On all the other denominations, it appeared on the obverse only.

Numista describes the 1998 version of the 25 thebe as a standard circulation coin.

The abbreviation 'FAO' is no longer mentioned.


In 2013 Botswana issued an amended series of the coins.

Look at the image of the 25 thebe coin of 2013, above.

Notice that the word IPELEGENG now appears on both the obverse and the reverse.

Numista describes this 2013 version as a standard circulation coin.

The abbreviation 'FAO' is not mentioned.




The word IPELEGENG still does not appear on the reverse of the other 2013 coins.

The obverse of all the coins (not shown) does feature the word, however.


Why does Numista no longer designate the 25 thebe coins of 1998 and 2013 as FAO?

After all, they do still carry the word IPELEGENG on the reverse.

This clearly differentiates it from all the other denominations.


Is  the 25 thebe still a FAO coin?

If not, it should no longer include IPELEGENG on its reverse.