KINGDOM OF LESOTHO
FIRST REIGN OF MOSHOESHOE II (1966-1970; 1970-1990; 1995-1996) - HOUSE OF MOSHESH
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE U.N. (F.A.O.) COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE
TWENTY MALOTI COIN CERTIFIED BY NGC PROOF 67 ULTRA CAMEO
OBV: WITHIN BEADED CIRCLE PORTRAIT BUST OF MOSHOESHOE I RIGHT FLANKED BY TWO FIVE-POINTED STARS AT RIGHT AND LEFT; COUNTRY NAME AND DATE ABOVE.
REV: BEADED CIRCLE WITHOUT, TWO FIVE-PINTED STARS ON EACH SIDE; WITHIN INNER CIRCLE LAMB WITH EWE EATING GRASS LEFT WITH MOUNTAIN BEHIND; DENOMINATION BENEATH; "A" PRIVY MARK WITHIN LOZENGE BETWEEN STARS AT LEFT.
KM # 12
ON THE 4TH OF OCTOBER, 1966, THE MOUNTAIN HOMELAND OF BASOTHO GAINED ITS INDEPENDENCE AFTER 100 YEARS OF BRITISH ADMINISTRATION, AND BECAME THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO, AND A MEMBER STATE IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS. LESOTHO IS A LANDLOCKED CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY SURROUNDED BY THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA.
ON THE OBVERSE OF THE COIN IS MOSHOESHOE I (1786-1870), A 19th CENTURY MINOR SOTHO CHIEFTAIN WHO BECAME KING OF THE BASOTHO PEOPLES. HE STRENGTHENED HIS NATION, WAS GRACIOUS TO THOSE HE VANQUISHED, AND WAS AN ABLE DIPLOMAT. HE GRANTED LAND AND PROTECTION TO LESS POWERFUL TRIBES AND REFUGEES FROM OTHER CONFLICTS, THUS STRENGTHENING HIS FOLLOWING. HE REPULSED TWO ATTACKS BY THE BRITISH IN 1851 AND 1852. HE WON THE FIRST (BOER) FREE STATE-BASOTHO WAR OF 1858, BUT LOST MUCH LAND IN THE LATER CONFLICTS. HE APPEALED TO QUEEN VICTORIA IN 1868 FOR HELP, AND THE BASUTOLAND BRITISH PROTECTORATE WAS ESTABLISHED. ALTHOUGH A PART OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE, BASUTOLAND REMAINED A VIABLE STATE. MOSHOEHOE NEVER SUFFERED A MAJOR DEFEAT, RETAINED MOST OF HIS KINGDOM AND RETAINED THE INTEGRITY OF HIS PEOPLE'S CULTURE.
THE REVERSE CELEBRATES LESOTHO'S PARTICIPATION IN THE FAO. THE FAO IS A SPECIALIZED AGENCY OF THE UNITED NATIONS LEADING INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO IRADICATE WORLD HUNGER, HELPING COUNTRIES TO IMPROVE AND MODERNIZE AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY PRACTICES AND SERVING AS A NUETRAL AND EQUAL FORUM TO DEBATE AND NEGOTIATE AGREEMENTS AND POLICIES.
CONTAINS 79.8810 GRAMS OF .917 FINE GOLD (2.3550 OZS AGW)
50 MM IN DIAMETER
ONLY 3,000 MINTED!
PARIS MINT
