Lesotho loti

The Loti (plural: Maloti) is the currency of the Kingdom of Lesotho. It is subdivided into 100 Lisente (sg. Sente). It is pegged to the South African rand on a 1:1 basis through the Common Monetary Area, and both are accepted as legal tender within Lesotho. The loti was first issued in 1966, albeit as a non-circulating currency. In 1980, Lesotho issued its first coins denominated in both loti and lisente (dated 1979) to replace the South African Rand, but the Rand remains legal tender.

Lesotho loti
ISO 4217
CodeLSL
Denominations
Subunit
 1/100sente
Pluralmaloti
 sentelisente
SymbolL or M (pl.)
BanknotesM10, M20, M50, M100, M200
Coins1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 lisente, L1, M2, M5
Demographics
User(s) Lesotho (alongside South African rand)
Issuance
Central bankCentral Bank of Lesotho
 Websitewww.centralbank.org.ls
Valuation
Inflation6.8%
 SourceCentral Bank of Lesotho, August 2006
 MethodCPI
Pegged withSouth African rand at par

The name derives from the Sesotho loti, "mountain," while sente is from English "cent."[1][2]

Coins

In 1980, coins dated 1979 were introduced in denominations of 1 sente, 2, 5, 10, 25 and 50 lisente and 1 loti. In 1996, 2 and 5 maloti coins were introduced, followed by 20 lisente in 1998.

Coins in circulation are:

  • 5 lisente
  • 10 lisente
  • 20 lisente
  • 50 lisente
  • 1 loti
  • 2 maloti
  • 5 maloti

Banknotes

In January 1980, banknotes dated 1979 (the last two digits of the year of issue are the serial number prefix denominator) were introduced in denominations of 2, 5 and 10 maloti.[3] 20 and 50 maloti notes were added in 1981, followed by 100 and 200 maloti in 1994.

On 1 March 2011, at a celebration marking its 30th anniversary, the Central Bank of Lesotho launched a new series of banknotes dated 2010 aimed at fighting the spread of counterfeits. The notes 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, and the founder of the Basotho nation, King Moshoeshoe I, on the right.[4]

2011 Series
ValueDimensionsMain ColorDescriptionDate of issueDate of first issueWatermark
ObverseReverse
10 maloti 130 x 70 mm Red and Yellow Mokorotlo hat registration device; King Moshoeshoe II, King Letsie III, and King Moshoeshoe I; Lesotho coat of arms Cosmos flowers (Cosmos bipinnatus) 2010 March 1, 2011 Lesotho coat of arms and electrotype 10
20 maloti 135 x 70 mm Purple and light blue Mokorotlo hat registration device; King Moshoeshoe II, King Letsie III, and King Moshoeshoe I; Lesotho coat of arms Basotho huts (mokhoro) 2010 March 1, 2011 Lesotho coat of arms and electrotype 20
50 maloti 138 x 70 mm Violet Mokorotlo hat registration device; King Moshoeshoe II, King Letsie III, and King Moshoeshoe I; Lesotho coat of arms Men on horseback 2010 March 1, 2011 Lesotho coat of arms and electrotype 50
100 maloti 140 x 70 mm Green Mokorotlo hat registration device; King Moshoeshoe II, King Letsie III, and King Moshoeshoe I; Lesotho coat of arms Shepherd with flock 2010 March 1, 2011 Lesotho coat of arms and electrotype 100
200 maloti 145 x 70 mm Orange Mokorotlo hat registration device; King Moshoeshoe II, King Letsie III, and King Moshoeshoe I; Lesotho coat of arms Man on horse 2015 April 1, 2016 King Moshoeshoe I in top hat, electrotype 200 capped with Basotho hat, and Cornerstones

See also

References
  1. "Definition of SENTE". www.merriam-webster.com.
  2. "Definition of LOTI". www.merriam-webster.com.
  3. Linzmayer, Owen (2012). "Lesotho". The Banknote Book. San Francisco, CA: www.BanknoteNews.com.
  4. Lesotho to issue new notes in March 2011 BanknoteNews.com. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
Current LSL exchange rates
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Preceded by:
South African rand
Ratio: at par		 Currency of Lesotho
1980 –
Concurrent with: South African rand (legal tender)		 Succeeded by:
Current
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