Botswana pula

Botswana pula
Obverse of 2 pula (1980s)	Reverse of 2 pula (1980s)
ISO 4217
Code	BWP (numeric: 072)
Subunit	0.01
Unit
Unit	pula
Symbol	P‎
Denominations
Subunit
1⁄100	thebe
Banknotes	10, 20, 50, 100, 200 pula
Coins	5, 10, 25, 50 thebe, 1, 2, 5 pula
Demographics
Date of introduction	23 August 1976
Official user(s)	Botswana
Unofficial user(s)	Zimbabwe
Issuance
Central bank	Bank of Botswana
Website	www.bankofbotswana.bw
Valuation
Inflation	2.50% (April 2020)
Source	Bank of Botswana, 7 July 2016
Method	CPI

The pula (also known as the Botswana dollar) 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 and a blessing.^[1]^[2] The word also serves as the national motto of the country.

A sub-unit of the currency is known as thebe, or "shield",^[3] and represents defence.^[4] The names were picked with the help of the public.^[4]

^ "Pula currency". FactRepublic.com. 2018-11-09. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
^ "History of Botswana Currency | Bank of Botswana". www.bankofbotswana.bw. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
^ Masire, Ketumile (2006). Very brave or very foolish?. Macmillan Botswana. p. 81. ISBN 978-99912-404-8-0. Pula (rain) was an easy choice for the currency, and the decimal coins were called thebe (shield). (Memoirs of a former president of Botswana)
^ ^a ^b Standard Chartered Review. Standard Chartered Bank. 1976. p. 9. 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.

[1] "Pula currency". FactRepublic.com. 2018-11-09. Retrieved 2020-05-26.

[2] "History of Botswana Currency | Bank of Botswana". www.bankofbotswana.bw. Retrieved 2020-05-26.

[3] Masire, Ketumile (2006). Very brave or very foolish?. Macmillan Botswana. p. 81. ISBN 978-99912-404-8-0. Pula (rain) was an easy choice for the currency, and the decimal coins were called thebe (shield). (Memoirs of a former president of Botswana)

[Chartered-4] Standard Chartered Review. Standard Chartered Bank. 1976. p. 9. 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.

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