Lesotho 25 Lisente

Description

The Loti is the official currency of the Kingdom of Lesotho, and its name derived from the Sesotho language “loti”, which means mountain. It circulates alongside the South African rand through the Common Monetary Zone, and both are accepted as legal tender in Lesotho. The first issue of the Loti was made in 1966, although it was not considered a circulating currency until 1980 when the first loti coins were issued to replace the rand. Even so, the South African rand remains legal tender in the kingdom. The kingdom introduced the first coin series in denominations of 1 sente, 2, 5, 10, 25 and 50 lisente and 1 loti in 1979, followed by 2 and 5 maloti in 1996 and 20 lisente in 1998.

The 25 Lesotho lisente coin front design features the bust of Moshoeshoe II (1938 – 1996), who was the Paramount Chief of Basutoland wearing a military uniform and with the National Coat of Arms on his hat. The reverse coin design illustrates a Lesotho native women wearing a traditional outfit weaving a jar on a Lesotho huts background and the denomination. This coin is part of the 1979 – 1989 series, its rim is milled, and its color is silver.

Text: Kingdom of Lesotho, H.M.Moshoeshoe II, 1979, 25 lisente.