Malawi 1 Florin 1964

History

Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com

Description

The pound was Malawi's currency until 1971. From 1932, when the country was known as Nyasaland, it used the Southern Rhodesian pound. In 1955, this was replaced by the Rhodesia and Nyasaland pound. After gaining independence in 1964, Malawi introduced its own currency, the Malawian pound, which was divided into 20 shillings, each containing 12 pence. In 1971, the pound was replaced by the decimal kwacha at a rate of 2 kwacha for 1 pound.

Engraver: Paul Vincze

Obverse	Person (politician, revolutionary, entrepreneur) Hastings Banda Depicts a portrait of Hastings Banda right, country name in banner below. Hastings Kamuzu Banda (c. 1898 – 1997) was the leader of Malawi from 1964 to 1994, serving as Prime Minister and then its first president when the country became a republic in 1966. Educated abroad in fields like medicine and history, Banda returned to Malawi to advocate for independence from British colonial rule. He declared Malawi a one-party state under the Malawi Congress Party, and in 1971, became its President for Life. Despite modernizing infrastructure and education, Banda's rule was marked by severe repression, human rights abuses, and political killings. Under pressure, he agreed to end the one-party system in 1993 and lost the 1994 election. P.V. MALAWI
Reverse	Animal (fish, bird, mammal etc.) Elephant Depicts an elephant mother with its calf in a tender scene, date and denomination in English letters below. P.V. 1964 FLORIN
Edge	Interrupted reeded