Wikipedia

Botswana pula

Thepula(also known as the Botswana dollar) is thecurrencyofBotswana.It has theISO 4217codeBWPand is subdivided into 100thebe.Pulaliterally means "rain" inSetswana,becauserainis very scarce in Botswana—home to much of theKalahari Desert—and therefore valuable and a blessing.[1][2]The word also serves as the national motto of the country.

Botswana pula
Obverse of 2 pula (1980s)Reverse of 2 pula (1980s)
ISO 4217
CodeBWP (numeric:072)
Subunit0.01
Unit
Unitpula
SymbolP‎
Denominations
Subunit
 1⁄100thebe
Banknotes10, 20, 50, 100, 200 pula
Coins5, 10, 25, 50 thebe, 1, 2, 5 pula
Demographics
Date of introduction23 August 1976
Official user(s)Botswana
Unofficial user(s)Zimbabwe
Issuance
Central bankBank of Botswana
 Websitewww.bankofbotswana.bw
Valuation
Inflation2.50% (April 2020)
 SourceBank of Botswana,7 July 2016
 MethodCPI

A sub-unit of the currency is known asthebe,or "shield",[3]and represents defence.[4]The names were picked with the help of the public.[4]

History

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The pula was introduced on 23 August 1976, subsequently known as "Pula Day", replacing therandat par. One hundred days after the pula was introduced, the rand ceased to be legal tender in Botswana.[5]

Coins

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In 1976, coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 thebe. The 1 thebe was struck in aluminium, with the 5 thebe in bronze and the others incupro-nickel.These coins were round except for the scalloped 1 pula. Bronze,dodecagonal2 thebe coins were introduced in 1981 and discontinued after 1985. In 1991, bronze-plated steel replaced bronze in the 5 thebe, nickel-plated steel replaced cupro-nickel in the 10, 25 and 50 thebe and the 1 pula changed to a smaller,nickel-brass,equilateral-curveseven-sided coin. A similarly shaped, nickel-brass 2 pula was introduced in 1994. In 2004, the composition was changed to brass-plated steel and the size was slightly reduced.[6]

Following the withdrawal of the 1 and 2 thebe in 1991 and 1998 respectively, smaller 5, 10, 25 and 50 thebe coins were introduced, with the 5 and 25 thebe coins being seven-sided and the 10 and 50 thebe coins remaining round.[7]A bimetallic 5 pula depicting amopane caterpillarand a branch of themopane treeit feeds on was introduced in 2000 composed of a cupronickel centre in a ring made of aluminium-nickel-bronze.[8]

A new series of coins was introduced in 2013.[9]All previous coins were demonetized with effect from 28 August 2014, and remained exchangeable to current coins for 5 years until 28 August 2019.[10]

The word "Ipelegeng" is found on the coins, which literally means "to carry your own weight" or "to be self-sufficient or independent" but in general has various different meanings in the Tswana language.[11]

Botswana pula coins
Image Value Composition Diameter Weight Thickness Edge Issued Demonetized
1 thebe Aluminium 18.5 mm 0.8 g 1.22 mm Smooth 1976–1991 1 July 2014
2 thebe Bronze 17.4 mm (dodecagonal) 1.8 g 1.05 mm Smooth 1981–1985 1 July 2014
5 thebe Bronze 19.5 mm 2.8 g 1.17 mm Reeded 1976–1989 1 July 2014
5 thebe Bronze-plated steel 19.5 mm 2.8 g 1.28 mm Smooth or reeded 1991–1996 1 July 2014
5 thebe Bronze-plated steel 17 mm (heptagonal) 2.41 g 1.75 mm Smooth 1998–2009 1 July 2014
5 thebe Nickel-plated steel 18 mm (heptagonal) 2.218 g 1.3 mm Smooth 2013 current
10 thebe Copper-nickel 22 mm 4 g 1.33 mm Reeded 1976–1989 1 July 2014
10 thebe Nickel-plated steel 22 mm 3.8 g Reeded 1991 1 July 2014
10 thebe Nickel-plated steel 18 mm 2.8 g 1.75 mm Reeded 1998–2008 1 July 2014
10 thebe Nickel-plated steel 20 mm 2.8 g 1.4 mm Reeded 2013 current
25 thebe Copper-nickel 25 mm 5.8 g Reeded 1976–1989 1 July 2014
25 thebe Nickel-plated steel 25 mm 5.73 g Reeded 1991 1 July 2014
25 thebe Nickel-plated steel 20 mm (heptagonal) 3.5 g 1.8 mm Smooth 1998–2009 1 July 2014
25 thebe Nickel-plated steel 22 mm (heptagonal) 4.2 g 1.6 mm Smooth 2013 current
50 thebe Copper-nickel 28 mm 11.4 g 2.3 mm Reeded 1976–1985 1 July 2014
50 thebe Copper-nickel 28 mm 11.4 g 2.3 mm Reeded 1976–1985 1 July 2014
50 thebe Nickel-plated steel 28 mm 11.4 g 1991 1 July 2014

50 thebe Nickel-plated steel 21.3 mm 4.82 g 2.2 mm Smooth 1996–2001 1 July 2014
50 thebe Nickel-plated steel 24 mm 5.3 g 1.8 mm Reeded 2013 current
1 pula Copper-nickel 29.5 mm; scalloped (with 12 notches) 16.4 g Smooth 1976–1987 1 July 2014
1 pula Nickel-brass 24 mm (heptagonal) 8.8 g 2.7 mm Segmented (10 reeds per 7 sections) 1991–2007 1 July 2014
1 pula Bronze-plated steel 26 mm 7.8 g Smooth 2013–2016 current
2 pula Nickel-brass 26.4 mm (heptagonal) 6.3 g 2.4 mm Segmented (19 reeds per 7 sections) 1994 1 July 2014

2 pula brass-plated steel 24.6 mm (heptagonal) 6.02 g 2 mm Segmented (19 reeds per 7 sections) 2004 1 July 2014
2 pula Bi-metallic;bronze-plated steel in center,nickel-plated steel in ring 27 mm 7.3 g 2 mm Reeded 2013–2016 current
5 pula Bi-metallic;copper-nickelin center,brassin ring 23.5 mm 6 g 2 mm Reeded 2000–2007 1 July 2014
5 pula Bi-metallic;copper-nickelin center,brassin ring 28 mm 8.7 g 2.2 mm Segmented 2013–2016 current

Banknotes

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On 23 August 1976,[12]theBank of Botswanaintroduced notes in denominations of 1, 2, 5, and 10 pula; a 20 pula note followed on 16 February 1978. The 1 and 2 pula notes were replaced by coins in 1991 and 1994, whilst the first 50 and 100 pula notes were introduced on 29 May 1990 and 23 August 1993, respectively.[12]The 5 pula note was replaced by a coin in 2000. The original 1, 2 and 5 pula banknotes weredemonetizedon 1 July 2011.

The current series of notes was introduced on 23 August 2009[13]and contains, for the first time, a 200 pula banknote.

In response to the concern of the poor quality of the paper of the 10 pula banknote, the Bank of Botswana unveiled a 10 pula banknote inpolymerin November 2017 which was issued to the public on 1 February 2018.[14]

In 2020, the Bank of Botswana issued a new 10 pula polymer banknote that features an image of the current President of Botswana,Mokgweetsi Masisi.[15]

Banknotes of the Botswana pula (2009 issue)
Image Value Main colour Obverse Reverse Watermark
10 pula Green PresidentSeretse Khama Ian Khama Parliament building,Gaborone Rampant zebra and electrotype 10
20 pula Red Kgalemang Tumediso Motsete Mining equipment Rampant zebra and electrotype 20
50 pula Brown PresidentSir Seretse Khama Okavango Deltaswamps, boat, fish eagle Rampant zebra and electrotype 50
100 pula Blue Three chiefs (Sebele I,Bathoen I,Khama III) Diamond sorting,open-pitdiamond mine Rampant zebra and electrotype 100
200 pula Purple Female teacher and children Zebras Rampant zebra and electrotype 200
Banknotes of the Botswana pula (10 Pula polymer banknotes)
Image Value Main colour Obverse Reverse Watermark
10 pula Green PresidentSeretse Khama Ian Khama Parliament building,Gaborone Rampant zebra window
10 pula Green PresidentMokgweetsi Masisi Parliament building,Gaborone Rampant zebra window
Current BWP exchange rates
FromGoogle Finance: AUDCADCHFCNYEURGBPHKDJPYUSDZAR
FromYahoo! Finance: AUDCADCHFCNYEURGBPHKDJPYUSDZAR
FromXE.com: AUDCADCHFCNYEURGBPHKDJPYUSDZAR
From OANDA: AUDCADCHFCNYEURGBPHKDJPYUSDZAR

Zimbabwe

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Due tohyperinflation in Zimbabwefrom 2006 to 2008, the government of Zimbabwe has allowed circulation of foreign currency since 2008. TheZimbabwean dollarbecame obsolete on 12 April 2009. Several currencies, including theSouth African randand Botswana pula, circulate inZimbabwe,[16]along with theZimbabwean bond notesandbond coins.

Lesotho

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The wordpulaalso serves as part of the national motto of theKingdom of Lesotho.As in Botswana, it means "rain" in theSotho languageand is considered a synonym for "blessing".

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Pula currency".FactRepublic.com.2018-11-09.Retrieved2020-05-26.
  2. ^"History of Botswana Currency | Bank of Botswana".www.bankofbotswana.bw.Retrieved2020-05-26.
  3. ^Masire, Ketumile(2006).Very brave or very foolish?.Macmillan Botswana. p. 81.ISBN978-99912-404-8-0.Pula(rain) was an easy choice for the currency, and the decimal coins were calledthebe(shield).(Memoirs of a former president of Botswana)
  4. ^abStandard Chartered Review.Standard Chartered Bank. 1976. p. 9.The new namespulaandthebewere chosen following an invitation to the public to submit a their suggestions [...] The meaning of "thebe" is shield — the traditional means of defence.
  5. ^"History of Botswana Currency | Bank of Botswana".www.bankofbotswana.bw.Retrieved2020-05-25.
  6. ^"History of Botswana Currency | Bank of Botswana".www.bankofbotswana.bw.Retrieved2020-05-23.
  7. ^"OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE NEW FAMILY OF BOTSWANA COIN AT BANK OF BOTSWANA CASH MANAGEMENT CENTRE GABORONE BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT"(PDF).27 February 2014.Retrieved17 February2019.
  8. ^"Coinage of Botswana".www.worldofcoins.eu.Retrieved2020-05-26.
  9. ^"New Family of Coins | Bank of Botswana".www.bankofbotswana.bw.Retrieved2020-05-23.
  10. ^"Republic of Botswana - Government portal".www.gov.bw.Archived fromthe originalon 30 October 2014.Retrieved12 January2022.
  11. ^"1 Pula, Botswana".
  12. ^abLinzmayer, Owen (2011). "Botswana".The Banknote Book.San Francisco, CA: www.BanknoteNews.com.Retrieved2011-08-21.
  13. ^"Botswana issues new note series".BanknoteNews.Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-25.Retrieved2011-09-05.
  14. ^Lekopanye Mooketsi (15 February 2019)."Khama Launches New Bank Notes".Retrieved17 February2019.
  15. ^10 PulaNumista (https://en.numista.com). Retrieved on 2021-09-19.
  16. ^AlongsideZimbabwean dollar(suspended indefinitely from 12 April 2009),euro,US dollar,pound sterling,South African rand,Indian rupee,Australian dollar,Chinese yuanandJapanese yen.The US dollar has been adopted as the official currency for all government transactions in Zimbabwe.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related toBotswana pula.
Preceded by:
South African rand
Reason:creation of independent currency
Ratio:at par 		Currency ofBotswana
1976 – 		Succeeded by:
Current
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