The Bank of Botswana marked its 50-year Golden Jubilee by issuing a special commemorative banknote—the first ever in the country’s history. Also, in the spirit of victory, the note features an image of Botswana’s Olympic gold medalist, Letsile Tebogo and his fellow Olympic teammates.
The central bank chose the 50 Pula denomination for its commemorative note to correspond with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Central Bank of Botswana. The special note was issued earlier this month.
The banknote is printed on paper as a limited edition and will circulate alongside the existing banknote. Both of the 50-Pula notes are valid as legal tender.
Visual imagery and design
The design of the commemorative banknote is similar to that of the existing 50 Pula note in that it incorporates elements of Botswana’s heritage, achievements, and tourism industry. However, the commemorative note integrates unique new elements in honor of the Golden Jubilee.
Front side of Botswana commemorative note
The front side of the commemorative depicts two points of pride for Botswana:
- The Bank of Botswana headquarters building in Gaborone. It symbolizes the bank’s 50 years of service in managing Botswana’s financial system.
- The Motswedi diamond, the second-largest diamond ever found in the world, discovered in Botswana. This highlights the vital role of mineral resources in Botswana’s economy.
Reverse side of Botswana commemorative note
The back of the banknote depicts Botswana’s 2024 Olympians: Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori, Busang Kebinatshipi and Anthony Pesela, in recognition of their historic achievements. In a press release, the Bank of Botswana explained that including the athletes on the banknote is “a symbol of triumph and excellence and is intended to inspire the young generation to ambitious action.”
Advanced security features
The commemorative banknote is protected by many the same security features as the 50-Pula note already in circulation. However, enhanced security features have been added to the commemorative note. For example, the commemorative note has a windowed holographic micro-lenses security thread called ANIMA™ which has an animated running man effect. This is a fitting tribute to Botswana’s victorious Olympian runners.
Sources/References:
Bank of Botswana
Banknote Industry News
Notafilia
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