View source for Botswana pula

{{short description|Currency of Botswana}}
{{Infobox currency
| image_1 = Botswana 2-pula banknote (1980s).png
| image_2 = 2pulab.png
| image_title_1 = Obverse of 2 pula (1980s)
| image_title_2 = Reverse of 2 pula (1980s)
| iso_code = BWP
| subunit_ratio_1 = {{frac|100}}
| subunit_name_1 = thebe
| unit = pula
| symbol = P
| used_banknotes = 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 pula
| used_coins = 5, 10, 25, 50 thebe, 1, 2, 5 pula
| using_countries = {{flag|Botswana}}
| unofficial_users = {{flag|Zimbabwe}}
| issuing_authority = [[Bank of Botswana]]
| issuing_authority_website = {{URL|www.bankofbotswana.bw}}
| inflation_rate = 2.50% (April 2020)
| inflation_source_date = [https://www.bankofbotswana.bw Bank of Botswana], 7 July 2016
| inflation_method = [[Consumer price index|CPI]]
| date_of_introduction = 23 August 1976
}}

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]]— playing a major role in rites of traditional Tswana belief; therefore valuable and the word extends its meaning as "blessing" or "fortune".<ref>{{cite journal |last=Gewald |first=Jan-Bart |title=El Negro, El Niño, Witchcraft and the Absence of Rain in Botswana |journal=African Affairs |date=Oct 2001 |volume=100 |issue=401 |pages=559-60 |doi=10.2307/3518701}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Pula currency|url=https://factrepublic.com/facts/20785/|date=2018-11-09|website=FactRepublic.com|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=History of Botswana Currency {{!}} Bank of Botswana|url=https://www.bankofbotswana.bw/content/history-botswana-currency|website=www.bankofbotswana.bw|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref> The word also serves as the national motto of the country.

A sub-unit of the currency is known as ''thebe'', or "shield",<ref>{{cite book|last=Masire|first=Ketumile|author-link=Ketumile Masire|title=Very brave or very foolish?|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gb8VAQAAIAAJ |year=2006|publisher=Macmillan Botswana |isbn=978-99912-404-8-0 |page=81 |quote= ''Pula'' (rain) was an easy choice for the currency, and the decimal coins were called ''thebe'' (shield).}} (Memoirs of a former president of Botswana)</ref> and represents defence. The names were picked with the help of the public.<ref name=Chartered>{{cite book|title=Standard Chartered Review|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RMq3AAAAIAAJ |year=1976|publisher=Standard Chartered Bank|page=9|quote= The new names ''pula'' and ''thebe'' were chosen following an invitation to the public to submit a their suggestions [...] The meaning of "thebe" is shield — the traditional means of defence.}}</ref>

==History==

The pula was introduced on 23 August 1976, subsequently known as "Pula Day", replacing the [[South African rand|rand]] at par. One hundred days after the pula was introduced, the rand ceased to be legal tender in Botswana.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of Botswana Currency {{!}} Bank of Botswana|url=https://www.bankofbotswana.bw/content/history-botswana-currency|website=www.bankofbotswana.bw|access-date=2020-05-25}}</ref>

At its introduction, the pula was pegged to the US dollar. In January 1979, the pula was changed to a floating, unpegged currency. Since June 1980, it has been pegged to a basket of currencies that reflects the country's trading patterns, comprising the [[South African rand]] and the [[International Monetary Fund]]'s [[special drawing rights]].<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.bis.org/publ/bppdf/bispap17m.pdf |title=Botswana's exchange rate policy |last1=Masalila |first1=Kealeboga |last2=Motshidisi |first2=Oduetse |publisher=Bank for International Settlements |work=BIS Papers |volume=17 |number=13 |date=May 2003 |access-date=2025-06-28}}</ref>

==Coins==

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 in [[cupro-nickel]]. These coins were round except for the scalloped 1 pula. Bronze, [[Dodecagonal coin|dodecagonal]] 2 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 curve|equilateral-curve]] [[Heptagonal coin|heptagonal]] 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of Botswana Currency {{!}} Bank of Botswana|url=https://www.bankofbotswana.bw/content/history-botswana-currency|website=www.bankofbotswana.bw|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bankofbotswana.bw/assets/uploaded/SPEECH-BY%20H%20E%20THE%20PRESIDENT-%20LAUNCH%20-OF-NEW-COIN.pdf |title=OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE NEW FAMILY OF BOTSWANA COIN AT BANK OF BOTSWANA CASH MANAGEMENT CENTRE GABORONE BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT |date=27 February 2014|access-date=17 February 2019}}</ref> A bimetallic 5 pula depicting a [[Imbrasia belina|mopane caterpillar]] and a branch of the [[mopane tree]] it feeds on was introduced in 2000 composed of a cupronickel centre in a ring made of aluminium-nickel-bronze.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Coinage of Botswana|url=http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?topic=37409.15|website=www.worldofcoins.eu|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref>

A new series of coins was introduced in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|title=New Family of Coins {{!}} Bank of Botswana|url=https://www.bankofbotswana.bw/index.php/press-release/new-family-coins|website=www.bankofbotswana.bw|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref> All previous coins were demonetized with effect from 28 August 2014, and remained exchangeable to current coins for 5 years until 28 August 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gov.bw/en/News/DEMONETISATION-OF-OLD-COIN-/ |title=Republic of Botswana - Government portal |website=www.gov.bw |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030045317/http://www.gov.bw/en/News/DEMONETISATION-OF-OLD-COIN-/ |archive-date=30 October 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces9364.html | title=1 Pula, Botswana }}</ref>

{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
|-
!colspan="9"| Botswana pula coins
|-
! Image !! Value !! Composition !! Diameter !! Mass !! Thickness !! Edge !! &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Issued&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<!--These invisible spaces are just a hack to remove awkward line breaks in the entire column; "style="white-space: nowrap;" doesn't seem to work. Can someone who knows more about wikitables come up with a better "hack"?--> !! Demonetized
|- style="text-align:center"
| 
| 1 thebe
| [[Aluminium]]
| 18.5&nbsp;mm
| 0.8&nbsp;g
| 1.22&nbsp;mm
| rowspan="2" | Smooth
| 1976–1991
| rowspan="5" | 1 July 2014
|- style="text-align:center"
| 
| 2 thebe
| [[Bronze]]
| 17.4&nbsp;mm (dodecagonal)
| 1.8&nbsp;g
| 1.05&nbsp;mm
| style="white-space: nowrap;"|1981–1985
|- style="text-align:center"
| 
| rowspan="4" | 5 thebe
| [[Bronze]]
| rowspan="2" | 19.5&nbsp;mm 
| rowspan="2" | 2.8&nbsp;g
| 1.17&nbsp;mm
| Reeded
| 1976–1989
|- style="text-align:center"
| 
| rowspan="2" | [[Bronze]]-plated steel
| 1.28&nbsp;mm
| Smooth or reeded
| 1991–1996
|- style="text-align:center"
| 
| 17&nbsp;mm (heptagonal)
| 2.41&nbsp;g
| 1.75&nbsp;mm
| rowspan="2" | Smooth
| 1998–2009
|- style="text-align:center"
| 
| [[Nickel]]-plated steel
| 18&nbsp;mm (heptagonal)
| 2.218&nbsp;g
| 1.3&nbsp;mm
| 2013
| current
|- style="text-align:center"
| 
| rowspan="4" style="white-space: nowrap;" |10 thebe
| [[Copper-nickel]]
| rowspan="2" | 22&nbsp;mm 
| 4&nbsp;g
| 1.33&nbsp;mm
| rowspan="6" | Reeded
| 1976–1989
| rowspan="3" | 1 July 2014
|- style="text-align:center"
| 
| rowspan="3" | [[Nickel]]-plated steel
| 3.8&nbsp;g
| 
| 1991
|- style="text-align:center"
| 
| 18&nbsp;mm 
| rowspan="2" | 2.8&nbsp;g
| 1.75&nbsp;mm 
| 1998–2008
|- style="text-align:center"
| 
| 20&nbsp;mm 
| 1.4&nbsp;mm 
| 2013
| current
|- style="text-align:center"
| 
| rowspan="4" | 25 thebe
| [[Copper-nickel]]
| rowspan="2" | 25&nbsp;mm 
| 5.8&nbsp;g
| 
| 1976–1989
| rowspan="3" | 1 July 2014
|- style="text-align:center"
| 
| [[Nickel]]-plated steel
| 5.73&nbsp;g
| 
| 1991
|- style="text-align:center"
| 
| [[Nickel]]-plated steel
| 20&nbsp;mm (heptagonal)
| 3.5&nbsp;g
| 1.8&nbsp;mm 
| rowspan="2" | Smooth
| 1998–2009
|- style="text-align:center"
| 
| [[Nickel]]-plated steel
| 22&nbsp;mm (heptagonal)
| 4.2&nbsp;g
| 1.6&nbsp;mm 
| 2013
| current
|- style="text-align:center"
| 
| rowspan="5" style="white-space: nowrap;" |50 thebe
| rowspan="2" | [[Copper-nickel]]
| rowspan="3" | 28&nbsp;mm 
| rowspan="3" | 11.4&nbsp;g
| rowspan="2" | 2.3&nbsp;mm 
| rowspan="2" | Reeded
| rowspan="2" | 1976–1985
| rowspan="4" | 1 July 2014
|- style="text-align:center"
| 
|- style="text-align:center"
| 
| rowspan="3" | [[Nickel]]-plated steel
| 
| 
| 1991
|- style="text-align:center"
| <br /> 
| 21.3&nbsp;mm 
| 4.82&nbsp;g
| 2.2&nbsp;mm 
| Smooth
| 1996–2001
|- style="text-align:center"
| 
| 24&nbsp;mm 
| 5.3&nbsp;g
| 1.8&nbsp;mm 
| Reeded
| 2013
| current
|- style="text-align:center"
| 
| rowspan="3" | 1 pula
| [[Copper-nickel]]
| 29.5&nbsp;mm; scalloped (with 12 notches)
| 16.4&nbsp;g
| 
| Smooth
| 1976–1987
| rowspan="2" | 1 July 2014
|- style="text-align:center"
| 
| [[Nickel]]-[[brass]]
| 24&nbsp;mm (heptagonal)
| 8.8&nbsp;g
| 2.7&nbsp;mm
| Segmented (10 reeds per 7 sections)
| 1991–2007
|- style="text-align:center"
| 
| [[Bronze]]-plated steel
| 26&nbsp;mm 
| 7.8&nbsp;g
| 
| Smooth
| 2013–2016
| current
|- style="text-align:center"
| 
| rowspan="3" | 2 pula
| [[Nickel]]-[[brass]]
| 26.4&nbsp;mm (heptagonal)
| 6.3&nbsp;g
| 2.4&nbsp;mm
| rowspan="2" | Segmented (19 reeds per 7 sections)
| 1994
| rowspan="2" | 1 July 2014
|- style="text-align:center"
| <br /> 
| [[Brass]]-plated steel
| 24.6&nbsp;mm (heptagonal)
| 6.02&nbsp;g
| rowspan="3" | 2&nbsp;mm
| 2004
|- style="text-align:center"
| 
| Bi-metallic; [[bronze]]-plated steel in center, [[nickel]]-plated steel in ring
| 27&nbsp;mm 
| 7.3&nbsp;g
| rowspan="2" | Reeded
| 2013–2016
| current
|- style="text-align:center"
| 
| rowspan="2" | 5 pula
| rowspan="2" | Bi-metallic; [[copper-nickel]] in center, [[brass]] in ring
| 23.5&nbsp;mm 
| 6&nbsp;g
| 2000–2007
| 1 July 2014
|- style="text-align:center"
| 
| 28&nbsp;mm 
| 8.7&nbsp;g
| 2.2&nbsp;mm
| Segmented
| style="white-space: nowrap;"|2013–2016
| current
|}

==Banknotes==
On 23 August 1976, the [[Bank of Botswana]] introduced 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.<ref name="banknotebook2011">{{cite book |last1=Linzmayer |first1=Owen |url=http://www.banknotebook.com |title=The Banknote Book |publisher=www.BanknoteNews.com |year=2011 |location=San Francisco, CA |chapter=Botswana |access-date=2011-08-21}}</ref> The 5 pula note was replaced by a coin in 2000. The original 1, 2 and 5 pula banknotes were [[demonetised|demonetized]] on 1 July 2011.

The current series of notes was introduced on 23 August 2009<ref>{{Cite web|title=Botswana issues new note series|url=http://banknotenews.com/files/ce54dcf6036240f2af83ddef571253ea-761.php|website=BanknoteNews|access-date=2011-09-05|archive-date=2011-06-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625000753/http://banknotenews.com/files/ce54dcf6036240f2af83ddef571253ea-761.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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 in [[Polymer banknote|polymer]] in November 2017 which was issued to the public on 1 February 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=4&aid=22&dir=2009/August/Monday24/|title=Khama Launches New Bank Notes|author=Lekopanye Mooketsi|date=15 February 2019|access-date=17 February 2019}}</ref>

In 2020, the Bank of Botswana issued a new 10 pula polymer banknote that features an image of the former President of Botswana, [[Mokgweetsi Masisi]].<ref>[https://en.numista.com/catalogue/note280476.html 10 Pula] Numista (https://en.numista.com). Retrieved on 2021-09-19.</ref>

{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
|-
! colspan="7" | Banknotes of the Botswana pula (2009 issue)
|-
! Image 
! !! Value !! Main colour !! Obverse !! Reverse !! Watermark
|-
| 
| 
| 10 pula
| Green
| [[List of heads of state of Botswana|President]] [[Ian Khama|Seretse Khama Ian Khama]]
| Parliament building, [[Gaborone]]
| Rampant zebra and electrotype 10
|-
| 
| 
| 20 pula
| Red
| [[Fatshe leno la rona|Kgalemang Tumediso Motsete]]
| Mining equipment
| Rampant zebra and electrotype 20
|-
| 
| 
| 50 pula
| Brown
| President [[Seretse Khama|Sir Seretse Khama]]
| [[Okavango Delta]] swamps, boat, fish eagle
| Rampant zebra and electrotype 50
|-
| 
| 
| 100 pula
| Blue
| Three chiefs ([[Sebele I]], [[Bathoen I]], [[Khama III]])
| Diamond sorting, [[open-pit]] diamond mine
| Rampant zebra and electrotype 100
|-
| 
| 
| style="white-space: nowrap;" |200 pula
| Purple
| Female teacher and children
| Zebras
| Rampant zebra and electrotype 200
|-
|}

{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
|-
!colspan="6"| Banknotes of the Botswana pula (10 Pula polymer banknotes)
|-
! Image !! Value !! Main colour !! Obverse !! Reverse !! Watermark
|-
| 
| rowspan="2" | 10 pula
| rowspan="2" | Green
| [[List of heads of state of Botswana|President]] [[Ian Khama|Seretse Khama Ian Khama]]
| rowspan="2" | Parliament building, [[Gaborone]]
| rowspan="2" | Rampant zebra window
|-
| 
| [[List of heads of state of Botswana|President]] [[Mokgweetsi Masisi]]
|-
|}

{{Exchange rate|BWP|ZAR}}

==Use in Zimbabwe==
Due to [[hyperinflation in Zimbabwe]] from 2006 to 2008, the government of Zimbabwe has allowed circulation of foreign currency since 2008. The [[Zimbabwean dollar]] became obsolete on 12 April 2009. Several currencies, including the [[South African rand]] and Botswana pula, circulate in [[Zimbabwe]],<ref name="Zimbabwe">Alongside [[Zimbabwean dollar]] (suspended indefinitely from 12 April 2009), [[euro]], [[United States dollar|US dollar]], [[pound sterling]], [[South African rand]], [[Indian rupee]], [[Australian dollar]], [[Renminbi|Chinese yuan]] and [[Japanese yen]]. The US dollar has been adopted as the official currency for all government transactions in Zimbabwe.</ref> along with the [[Zimbabwean bond notes]] and [[Zimbabwean bond coins|bond coins]].

==Lesotho==
The word ''pula'' also serves as part of the national motto of the [[Kingdom of Lesotho]]. As in Botswana, it means "rain" in the [[Sotho language]] and is considered a synonym for "blessing".

==See also==
*[[Economy of Botswana]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{refbegin}}
*{{numis cite SCWC|date=1991}}
*{{numis cite SCWPM|date=1994}}
*Schön, Günter und Gerhard, ''Weltmünzkatalog 1900–2010'', 39. Auflage, 2011, Battenberg Gietl Verlag, {{ISBN|978-3-86646-057-7}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Botswana pula}}
*[http://www.bis-ans-ende-der-welt.net/Botsuana-B-En.htm Historical banknotes of Botswana]

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{{n-before|currency=[[South African rand]]|ratio=at par|reason=creation of independent currency}}
{{n-currency|location=[[Botswana]]|start=1976}}
{{n-after}}
{{end}}
{{Economy of Botswana}}
{{Currency signs}}
{{Currencies of Africa}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Portal bar|Africa|Money|Numismatics}}

[[Category:Currencies of Africa]]
[[Category:Currencies of Botswana]]
[[Category:Currencies of Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:Currencies introduced in 1976]]
[[Category:Currency symbols]]
[[Category:Circulating currencies]]