50 pula 1992 specimen
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4 salesAbout This Note
This is a pristine 1992 specimen note of the 50 Botswana pula, issued by the Bank of Botswana and printed by Fidelity Printers in Harare, Zimbabwe. The note features an impressive multi-colored design with a formal portrait of President Sir Ketumile Masire on the obverse and rich landscape imagery depicting Botswana's agricultural and wildlife heritage on the reverse, including elephants and a malachite kingfisher. As a specimen note with the characteristic red diagonal SPECIMEN overprint and serial number F00000001, this example is in uncirculated condition with pristine surfaces and sharp detail throughout.
Common. The eBay price history provided shows regular sales in the $20–$147.50 range depending on professional grade, with typical UNC catalogue value around $80 in 2019. Regular-issue notes from major African central banks in the early 1990s, especially in common denominations like 50 pula, typically had substantial print runs and remain readily available in the collector market. As a specimen overprint (designated P-14s), this is slightly less common than circulated examples, but specimen notes were issued to banks and institutions as a matter of standard practice and are not scarce.
Issued in 1992, this note represents an important period in Botswana's post-independence monetary history under President Sir Ketumile Masire's leadership. The reverse imagery—featuring agricultural development, wildlife (elephants and fish eagles), and natural landscape elements—reflects Botswana's economic transition and national pride in its natural resources during the early 1990s. The bilingual presentation in English and Setswana reinforces the nation's cultural identity and commitment to indigenous language representation on official currency.
The obverse features a formal right-facing portrait of President Sir Ketumile Quett Jasper Masire in suit and tie, positioned center-left with ornate geometric borders flanking both sides. The central design element is a vibrant malachite kingfisher rendered in a decorative circular frame with radiating rainbow patterns, symbolizing Botswana's rich avifauna. The Botswana coat of arms appears in the upper right with shield and ornamental elements. The reverse depicts scenes of national importance: a man standing in a grain field on the left representing agricultural development, and on the right, two African elephants in a natural savanna landscape with acacia trees, water elements, and elevated terrain, collectively symbolizing the nation's wildlife heritage and economic foundations. Large ornamental numerals '50' frame both sides. The color palette combines beige, tan, green, brown, and gold tones with pink/magenta accents.
FRONT: Bank of BOTSWANA (English), MINISTER OF FINANCE (English), GOVERNOR (English), This note is legal tender for Fifty Pula (English), 50 (numeral). BACK: BANKA YA BOTSWANA (Setswana: Bank of Botswana), Pula tse di Masome Mathlano (Setswana: Fifty Pula), 50 (numeral). SPECIMEN OVERPRINT: SPECIMEN (English, diagonally across both front and back). SERIAL NUMBER: F00000001 (specimen prefix with standard format).
Intaglio (engraved) printing on multicolored underprint, characteristic of high-security currency production. The detailed portrait work, fine line security patterns, geometric borders, and landscape engraving all show the hallmarks of professional intaglio technique. Printed by Fidelity Printers Limited, Harare, Zimbabwe, without company imprint designation on the note itself. Fine line patterns and multi-color security printing visible throughout the design.
This is the specimen variety (Pick P-14s) distinguished by the red SPECIMEN overprint applied diagonally across the note and the specimen serial number prefix (F00000001). The PMG population data indicates the catalogued variant P-14a corresponds to Fidelity Printers (FPZH) printing, which matches this note. The 1992 date and Fidelity Printers attribution establish this as the standard first-year issue of this design type before the later Thomas de la Rue printing (referenced as P-19 in catalog sources).
