Lesotho – 1966 – Independence Commemorative – Set of 3 Gold Coins and 4 Silver Coins

Lesotho – 1966 – Independence Commemorative Set – 3 gold coins and 4 silver coins – COA 1113

Details: Country: Lesotho Year of issue: 1966 Material: Gold + Silver Mintage: 1500 Total weight (fine): 25.64 g Special feature: With original case and certificate number 1113 The following 3 gold coins are included: 1 Maloti Material: Gold (.917) Weight: 3.994 g Fine weight: 3.662 g Diameter: 19.0 mm 2 Maloti Material: Gold (.917) Weight: 7.99 g Fine weight: 7.33 g Diameter: 22.0 mm 4 Maloti Material: Gold (.917) Weight: 15.98 g Fine weight: 14.65 g Diameter: 28.0 mm Description: After 100 years of British administration, the mountain homeland of the Basotho, an enclave within the Republic of South Africa, became an independent state in the Commonwealth on October 4, 1966, and is known as the Kingdom of Lesotho. To commemorate this historic event, the government of Lesotho minted a limited edition of gold and silver coins. The obverse features Moshoeshoe, the leader of the Basotho nation and one of the most important figures in 19th-century southern African history. He was born towards the end of the 18th century and died in 1870, shortly after placing his country under the protection of the British Crown. The reverse of the coins bears the coat of arms of Lesotho. The ponies allude to Basotho’s fame for its hardy mountain horses. The crocodile is the symbol of the Bakoena tribe, to which Moshoeshoe belonged, and is now considered a symbol of national unity. The Sesotho motto Khotso, Pula, Nala means peace, rain, abundance. The desire for peace was the dominant theme in Moshoeshoe’s life and still characterizes the Basotho today, although the nation has never been slow to take up arms in self-defense. Indeed, the shield, spear, and kiere are symbols of their valor in war. Peace is considered a prerequisite for abundance or prosperity, as is rain in a country that depends on agriculture.