| Botswana pula | |||||
|
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| ISO 4217 Code | BWP | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| User(s) | Botswana | ||||
| Inflation | 8.5% | ||||
| Source | Bank of Botswana, December 2006 | ||||
| Method | CPI | ||||
| Subunit | |||||
| 1/100 | thebe | ||||
| Symbol | P | ||||
| Coins | 5, 10, 25, 50 thebe, 1, 2, 5 pula | ||||
| Banknotes | 10, 20, 50, and 100 pula | ||||
| Central bank | Bank of Botswana | ||||
| Website | www.bankofbotswana.bw | ||||
The pula is the currency of Botswana. It has the ISO 4217 code BWP and is subdivided into 100 thebe. Pula literally means "rain" in Setswana, because rain is very scarce in Botswana - home to much of the Kalahari Desert - and therefore valuable. Pula also means "blessing" as rain is a blessing to these desert people. Thebe means "shield".
฿ • ₵ • ¢ • $ • ₡ • B/. • ₫ • € • ƒ • ₲ • ₭
£ • ₤ • ₥ • ₦ • ₱ • P • R • Sk • ₨
৲ • S/. • ৳ • R$ • $ • ₮ • ₩ • ¥ • zł • ₴ • ₪ Former signs
₳ • ₢ • ₰ • ₯ • ₠ • ₣ • Lm • ℳ • ₧ • I/.• Kčs 
Contents |
History
The pula was introduced in 1976, replacing the South African rand at par. Despite a 12% devaluation in May 2005, the pula remains one of the strongest currencies in Africa.
Coins
In 1976, coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 5 thebe and 1 pula. The 1 thebe was struck in aluminium, with the 5 pula in bronze and the others in cupro-nickel. The coins were round except for the scalloped 1 pula. Bronze, dodecagonal 2 thebe coins were introduced in 1981. In 1991, nickel-plated steel replaced cupro-nickel in the 5, 10, 25 and 50 thebe, with the 1 pula changed to a smaller, nickel-brass, equilateral-curve heptagonal coin. A similarly shaped, nickel-brass 2 pula was introduced in 1994. In 1998, following the withdrawal of the 1 and 2 thebe, smaller 5, 10, 25 and 50 thebe coins were introduced, with the 5 and 25 thebe heptagonal. A bimetallic 5 pula was introduced in 2000.
Banknotes
In 1976, the Bank of Botswana introduced notes in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 pula. The 1 and 2 pula notes were replaced by coins in 1991 and 1994, whilst 50 and 100 pula notes were introduced in 1992 and 1993, respectively. The 5 pula note was replaced by a coin in 2000. According to a press release[1], the old 1, 2 and 5 pula banknotes were demonetized on July 1, 2006, but can be exchanged at the central bank for 5 years.
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See also
References
- ^ Nachthund on behalf of Bank of Botswana (2006-02-06). Demonetization of P1, P2 and P5 Banknotes. Retrieved on 2006-07-31.
- Krause, Chester L. and Clifford Mishler (1991). Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1801-1991, 18th ed., Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-150-1.
- Pick, Albert (1994). Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: General Issues, Colin R. Bruce II and Neil Shafer (editors), 7th ed., Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-207-9.
External links
- Don's World Coin Gallery - Botswana
- Ron Wise's World Paper Money - Botswana Mirror site
- Tables of Modern Monetary Systems by Kurt Schuler - Botswana Mirror site
- The Global History of Currencies - Botswana
- Global Financial Data currency histories table (
Microsoft Excel format)
| Preceded by: South African rand Reason: creation of independent currency Ratio: at par |
Currency of Botswana 1976 – |
Succeeded by: Current |
