5 pula 1982 specimen
Market Prices
6 salesAbout This Note
This is a 1982 Botswana 5 Pula specimen note from the Bank of Botswana, printed by Thomas de la Rue and graded UNC. The note features President Sir Ketumile Masire in formal portrait on the obverse and gemsbok antelopes in an African savanna landscape on the reverse, both rendered in fine engraved detail. As a specimen overprint example with pristine condition and sharp printing quality, this note represents an important reference piece from Botswana's early post-independence currency period.
Common. As a regular-issue specimen note from a relatively recent period (1982) with substantial print runs typical of national circulation currency, this note remains readily available in the collector market. eBay transaction data shows consistent sales in the $13–$81 range for UNC examples over multiple years, with catalogue values at $35 for UNC grade, confirming active supply and moderate collector demand rather than scarcity.
Issued in 1982, this note commemorates Botswana's early years as an independent nation (since 1966) and reflects the country's economic development under President Q.K.J. Masire's leadership. The depicted wildlife—the helmeted guinea fowl and gemsbok antelopes—celebrate Botswana's natural heritage and connection to the African savanna, which was central to national identity and the tourism economy that helped drive the country's prosperity during this period.
The obverse features a formal three-quarter portrait of President Sir Ketumile (Quett) Masire positioned left-center, rendered in classical banknote portraiture style wearing a business suit and tie. The Botswana national coat of arms, featuring two rearing zebras flanking a shield with a cross motif and ceremonial headdress, is positioned prominently in the top right. A helmeted guinea fowl (numida meleagris) appears at center, symbolizing Botswana's wildlife. The note employs a mauve and purple color scheme with beige and green accents, framed by decorative botanical borders. The reverse depicts two gemsbok antelopes with characteristic long curved horns in an African savanna landscape with acacia trees, emphasizing the nation's natural heritage. Both sides display large denomination numerals '5' in corners and bilingual text in English and Setswana.
Front side: '5' (denomination), 'Bank of BOTSWANA' (English), 'MINISTER OF FINANCE' (signature line), 'GOVERNOR' (signature line), 'This note is legal tender for Five Pula' (legal tender declaration), 'SPECIMEN' (overprint), 'C/6 000000' (serial number format). Back side: '5' (denomination), 'BANKA YA BOTSWANA' (Setswana: Bank of Botswana), 'Pula tse Tlhano' (Setswana: Five Pula), 'SPECIMEN' (overprint), 'THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY, LIMITED' (printer attribution).
Intaglio (engraved) printing by Thomas de la Rue & Company, Limited, London. The fine detail visible in the portrait, wildlife illustrations, and decorative elements is characteristic of high-quality steel engraving used for banknote production. The sharp line work and crisp denomination numerals confirm professional security printing standards of the era.
This is catalogued as Pick P-8bs (specimen variant). The 'bs' designation indicates this is a specimen overprint example; standard circulation varieties for this base Pick number include P-8a, P-8b, and P-8c (all printed by TDLR). The specimen variants are P-8s1 and P-8s2. The serial number format 'C/6 000000' is consistent with specimen notation. This example displays the standard specimen overprint in red diagonal text across the center of both obverse and reverse.
