Lesotho – 1966 – 10 Maloti – Moshoeshoe II – Gold – Essai / sample minting

Lesotho – 1966 – 10 Maloti – Moshoeshoe II – Gold – Essai / sample minting

This extremely rare 10 Maloti gold coin was issued as an official pattern coin in 1966 to celebrate the independence of the Kingdom of Lesotho. It was not intended for circulation and served exclusively for representational or archival purposes.

The obverse shows the bust of King Moshoeshoe II, the reverse the national coat of arms of Lesotho with the national motto “Khotso Pula Nala” – peace, rain, prosperity.

According to current knowledge , only seven known examples of this coin exist worldwide – making it one of the rarest gold issues from the African continent.

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Technical data:

• Country of issue: Lesotho

• Year: 1966

• Face value: 10 Maloti

• Type: Official Pattern

• Material: Gold (900/1000)

• Weight: approx. 16.08 g

• Fine gold content: approx. 14.47 g

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Motifs:

• Front:
  King Moshoeshoe II with traditional feather headdress, inscription: BOIPUSO LESOTHO INDEPENDENCE MOSHOESHOE I

• Back:
  National coat of arms of Lesotho above the value 10 MALOTI and the year 1966 , inscription: KHOTSO PULA NALA

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Special features:

• Minted in the year of Lesotho’s independence

• Test embossing

• Fine weight of approx. 14.47 g for 900 gold

• Only seven known specimens worldwide

• Highly interesting for collectors of African gold coins and international rarities

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An exceptionally rare gold coin from the period of African decolonization – politically significant, numismatically outstanding.