Botswana, 1976 AD., Republic, 1 Thebe, KM 3.

Botswana, Republic, 1976 AD.,
1 Thebe (18,5 mm / 0,71 g), aluminium, 0,80 g theor. mint weight, mintage 15.000.000 , medal alignment ↑↑ (0°), reeded edge,
Obv.: BOTSWANA - IPELEGENG / PULA / 1976 , national arms (tribal shield with tusk and stalk flanking, ribbon incribed "PULA" below), date below.
Rev.: 1 / THEBE , value to upper right of Turako bird´s head facing r.
KM 3 .

Year / Mintage
1976 15,000,000
1976 26,000 Proof
1981 10,000 Proof
1983 5,000,000
1984 5,000,000
1985 ?
1987 ?
1988 ?
1989 ?
1991 ?

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 considered a blessing. Thebe means "shield".

The turacos make up the bird family Musophagidae (literally "banana-eaters"), which includes plantain-eaters and go-away-birds. In southern Africa both turacos and go-away-birds are commonly known as louries.