1969 GOLD LESOTHO 10 MALOTI NGC PROOF 66 ULTRA CAMEO "F.A.O .FOOD & AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS"

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

TEN MALOTI COIN CERTIFIED BY NGC PROOF 66 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 3/4 DEPICTION OF TRADITIONAL FARMER LEADING TWO YOKED OXEN RIGHT; DENOMINATION BENEATH.

KM # 11

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 39.94 GRAMS OF .917 FINE GOLD (1.1775 OZS AGW)

40 MM IN DIAMETER

 3,000 MINTED!