when did the botswana currency first come into circulation
1976
title: Botswana pula text: Botswana pula The pula is the currency of Botswana. It has the ISO 4217 code "BWP" and is subdivided into 100 "thebe". "Pula" literally means "rain" in Setswana, because rain is very scarce in Botswana — home to much of the Kalahari Desert — and therefore valuable and a blessing. The word also serves as the national motto of the country. A sub-unit of the currency is known as "thebe", or "shield", and represents defence. The names were picked with the help of the public. The pula was introduced in 1976, replacing the South African rand at par. Despite a title: Botswana pula text: series of notes was introduced on 23 August 2009 and contains for the first time, a 200-pula banknote. In response to the concern of the poor quality of the paper of the 10 pula banknote, the Bank of Botswana revealed a 10 pula banknote in polymer in November 2017 and was issued to the public on February 1, 2018. Due to hyperinflation in Zimbabwe in 2006 to 2008, the government has allowed circulation of foreign currency since September 2008. Local currency became obsolete on April 12, 2009. Several currencies, including the South African rand and Botswana pula circulate in Zimbabwe, title: Botswana pula text: 12% devaluation in May 2005, the pula remains one of the strongest currencies in Africa. In 1976, coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 thebe and 1 pula. The 1 thebe was struck in aluminium, with the 5 thebe in bronze and the others in cupro-nickel. These coins were round except for the scalloped 1 pula. Bronze, dodecagonal 2 thebe coins were introduced in 1981 and discontinued after 1985. In 1991, bronze-plated steel replaced bronze in the 5 thebe, nickel-plated steel replaced cupro-nickel in the 10, 25 and 50 thebe and the 1 pula changed title: Botswana pula text: ring made of aluminium-nickel-bronze. A new series of coins was introduced in 2013. On August 23, 1976, the Bank of Botswana introduced notes in denominations of 1, 2, 5, and 10 pula; a 20-pula note followed on February 16, 1978. The 1 and 2 pula notes were replaced by coins in 1991 and 1994, whilst the first 50 and 100 pula notes were introduced on May 29, 1990 and August 23, 1993, respectively. The 5 pula note was replaced by a coin in 2000. The original 1, 2 and 5 pula banknotes were demonetized on 1 July 2011. The current title: Botswana pula text: along with the Zimbabwean Bond Coins. The word "Pula" also serves as part of the national motto of the Kingdom of Lesotho. As in Botswana, it means "rain" in the Sotho language and is considered a synonym for blessing. The Botswana Pula became widely known internationally through numerous references in the "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" by Alexander McCall Smith, making it possible for readers worldwide to get an idea of the Pula's purchasing power. Botswana pula The pula is the currency of Botswana. It has the ISO 4217 code "BWP" and is subdivided into 100 "thebe". "Pula" literally means