Lesotho

Lesotho new sig/date (2015) 50-loti note (B224b) confirmed

Lesotho_CBL_50_maloti_2013.00.00_B224b_P23_AL_001250_fLesotho_CBL_50_maloti_2013.00.00_B224b_P23_AL_001250_r
B224b: Like B224a, but new signature and new date (2013). Prefix AL.

Courtesy of Claudio Marana.

Lesotho new sig/date (2015) 10-loti note (B222b) confirmed

Lesotho_CBL_10_maloti_2013.00.00_B222b_P21_AR_001001_fLesotho_CBL_10_maloti_2013.00.00_B222b_P21_AR_001001_r
B222b: Like B222a, but new signature and new date (2013). Prefix AR.

Courtesy of Claudio Marana.

Lesotho new sig/date (2013) 100-loti note (B225b) confirmed

Lesotho_CBL_100_maloti_2013.00.00_B225b_P24_AR_931803_fLesotho_CBL_100_maloti_2013.00.00_B225b_P24_AR_931803_r
B225b: Like B225a, but new date (2013), new signature (Rets’elisitsoe A. Matlanyane). Prefix AR.

Courtesy of .

Lesotho new sig/date (2013) 20-loti note (B223b) confirmed

Lesotho_CBL_20_maloti_2013.00.00_B223b_P22_AM_680562_f
Lesotho_CBL_20_maloti_2013.00.00_B223b_P22_AM_680562_r
B223b: Like B223a, but new date (2013), new signature (Rets’elisitsoe A. Matlanyane), and couple removed from house doorway on back. Prefix AM.

Courtesy of .

Lesotho new 200-loti note (B226) confirmed

Originally reported in mid-February 2016, the Central Bank of Lesotho has introduced a new 200-loti banknote with see-through Optiks thread.

Lesotho_CBL_200_maloti_2015.00.00_B226a_PNL_AA_001991_f
Lesotho_CBL_200_maloti_2015.00.00_B226a_PNL_AA_001991_r
B226 (PNL): 200 maloti (US$14)
Orange. Front: Basotho hat (mokorotlo) as registration device; King Moshoeshoe II, King Letsie III, and King Moshoeshoe I; coat of arms with crocodile on shield flanked by Basotho horses; holographic patch. Back: Man on horse; Basotho hat (mokorotlo). Optiks security thread. Watermark: King Moshoeshoe I in top hat, electrotype 200 capped with Basotho hat, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 145 x 70 mm.
a. 2015. Signature 9. Prefix AA. Intro: 01.04.2016.

Courtesy of .

Lesotho new 200-loti note reported for introduction "soon"

According to an article dated 17 February 2016 on the PublicEye Online, the Central Bank of Lesotho will soon introduce a new 200-loti banknote as soon as all the necessary formalities are completed. Currently the largest denomination is 100 maloti (B225, introduced in 2011).

Courtesy of Cleo Phas.

Lesotho chapter of The Banknote Book is now available


The Lesotho chapter of The Banknote Book is now available for individual sale and as a free download to subscribers.

This 10-page catalog covers notes issued by the Lesotho Monetary Authority in 1979, and the Central Bank of Lesotho from 1981 to present. Revised 20 April 2016.

Each chapter of The Banknote Book includes detailed descriptions and background information, full-color images, and accurate valuations. The Banknote Book also features:
  • Sharp color images of note’s front and back without overlap
  • Face value or date of demonetization if no longer legal tender
  • Specific identification of all vignette elements
  • Security features described in full
  • Printer imprint reproduced exactly as on note
  • Each date/signature variety assigned an individual letter
  • Variety checkboxes for tracking your collection and want list
  • Date reproduced exactly as on note
  • Precise date of introduction noted when known
  • Replacement note information
  • Signature tables, often with names and terms of service
  • Background information for historical and cultural context
  • Details magnified to distinguish between note varieties
  • Bibliographic sources listed for further research

Subscribe to The Banknote Book
If you collect the entire world or a large number of countries, buying a subscription is the best deal because it's less expensive than buying chapters individually, and it entitles you to every chapter currently available as well as everything published—or revised (click here to see the Change Log)—during the term of your subscription.

Subscribe
Sign up for Email Notifications
If you would like to receive email notifications whenever a new chapter of The Banknote Book is published, please join the email list.

Sign up

Lesotho 50-loti note dated 1993 confirmed


50 maloti (US$7.45), 1993. Like P14, but new date.

Courtesy of Andrew Roberts.

The Challenge: Identify flora on Lesotho's banknotes

Today’s challenge is to identify the following plants and flowers from Lesotho’s banknotes.

If you can precisely identify the proper name of any of the following—or have a lead which you think might be useful—please post a comment, preferably including a URL which links to evidence supporting your identification.

This plant appears as the registration device on Lesotho’s 20-loti note dated 1990 (P12):

IDENTIFIED: Agave plant and flowers.

This left and flowers appear as the registration device on Lesotho’s 100-loti note dated 2001 (P19):

IDENTIFIED: Calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) leaf and flowers.

This plant appears as the registration device on Lesotho’s 200-loti note dated 1994 (P20):


These flowers appear on the back of Lesotho’s 10-loti note dated 2010 (PNL):

IDENTIFIED: Cosmos flowers.

Lesotho new 2-maloti variety confirmed


The blue underprint which appears to the right of the portait on earlier issues of the 2-maloti note P1 (bottom image) is missing on later issues (top image), then returns on still later issues.

Courtesy of Andrew Roberts.

Lesotho to issue new notes in March 2011

According to a Sunday Express article, on 26 November 2010, at a celebration marking its 30th anniversary, the Central Bank of Lesotho launched a new set of banknotes aimed at fighting the spread of counterfeits. According to a press release dated 5 January 2011, the new notes are expected to hit the streets in March 2011 and will eventually replace the existing notes. The new banknotes feature a portrait of the three royal family members: the current king, His Majesty Letsie III is in the middle, his father King Moshoeshoe II is on the left, with the founder of the Basotho nation, King Moshoeshoe I, on the right. The famous Basotho hat, the mokorotlo, is also visible on the new notes as well as the Lesotho coat of arms.


CBL B22 (PNL): 10 maloti (US$0.90)
Red and yellow. Front: Mokorotlo hat registration device; King Moshoeshoe II, King Letsie III, and King Moshoeshoe I; coat of arms. Back: Flowers; mokorotlo hat registration device. Windowed security thread with demetalized CBL and four-leaf clovers. Watermark: Coat of arms, 10, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 130 x 70 mm. 2010. Signature 8. Intro: 01.03.2011.


CBL B23 (PNL): 20 maloti (US$1.80)
Purple and light blue. Front: Mokorotlo hat registration device; King Moshoeshoe II, King Letsie III, and King Moshoeshoe I; coat of arms. Back: Thatch-roofed round houses; mokorotlo hat registration device. Windowed security thread with demetalized CBL and four-leaf clovers. Watermark: Coat of arms, 20, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 135 x 70 mm. 2010. Signature 8. Intro: 01.03.2011.


CBL B24 (PNL): 50 maloti (US$4.55)
Violet. Front: Mokorotlo hat registration device; King Moshoeshoe II, King Letsie III, and King Moshoeshoe I; coat of arms. Back: Men on horseback; mokorotlo hat registration device. Windowed security thread with demetalized CBL and four-leaf clovers. Watermark: Coat of arms, 50, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 138 x 70 mm. 2010. Signature 8. Intro: 01.03.2011.


CBL B25 (PNL): 100 maloti (US$9.05)
Green. Front: Mokorotlo hat registration device; King Moshoeshoe II, King Letsie III, and King Moshoeshoe I; coat of arms. Back: Shepard with flock; mokorotlo hat registration device. Windowed security thread with demetalized CBL and four-leaf clovers. Watermark: Coat of arms, 100, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 140 x 70 mm. 2010. Signature 8. Intro: 01.03.2011.

Courtesy of Thomas Krause and Hermann Huber.

Lesotho new date (2009) 100-maloti note confirmed


100 maloti (US$12.80), 2009. Like Pick 19d, but new date.

Courtesy of Andrew Roberts.

Lesotho new date (2009) 50-maloti note confirmed


50 maloti (US$4.55). Like Pick 17, but new date, new signature (Moeketsi Senaoana), the colors are more vibrant, the watermark of the coat of arms now includes the denomination (not electrotype), as well as Cornerstones, and a windowed security thread. Printer: (TDLR).

Courtesy of Ricardo Castedo.

Lesotho new date (2009) 10-maloti note confirmed


10 maloti (US$1.55), 2009. Like Pick 15, but new date (2009), new signature (E. M. Matekane, GOVERNOR), and Cornerstone watermarks.

Courtesy of Andrew Roberts.

Lesotho new date (2007) 100-maloti note confirmed


100 maloti (US$12.80), 2007. Like LSL100 dated 2006, but new date (larger type), new signature (Moeketsi Senaoana, GOVERNOR), wider windowed security thread with CBL 100 added, and larger coat of arms watermark with electrotype 100 added.

Courtesy of Andrew Roberts.

Lesotho new date (2005, 2007, and 2009) 20-maloti notes confirmed


20 maloti (US$3.05), 2005. Like P16, but new date and new signature (E. M. Matekane, GOVERNOR).


20 maloti (US$3.05), 2007 and 2009. Like Pick 16, but new dates, new signature (Dr. M. Senaoana, GOVERNOR), windowed security thread, and electrotype 20 added to arms watermark. Six-digit serial number with single- and double-letter prefixes.

Courtesy of Andrew Roberts and Page’s Coins and Currency.

Lesotho new date (2006) 100-maloti note confirmed


100 maloti (US$15.30), 2006. Like P19, but new date and new signature (E. M. Matekane, GOVERNOR).

Courtesy of Andrew Roberts.

Lesotho new dates (2005 and 2006) 10-maloti notes confirmed


10 maloti (US$1.55), 2005 and 2006. Like P15, but new dates and new signature (E. M. Matekane, GOVERNOR).

Courtesy of Andrew Roberts.