Bust of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam 3/4 right.

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (1900–1985) was a Mauritian politician, statesman and philanthropist. He was a leader in the Mauritian independence movement, and served as the first Chief Minister and Prime Minister of Mauritius, as well as its sixth Governor-General. He was the Chairperson of the Organisation of African Unity from 1976 to 1977. As the leader of the Labour Party, Ramgoolam fought for the rights of labourers and led Mauritius to independence in 1968.

As Mauritius' first Prime Minister, he played a crucial role in shaping modern Mauritius' government, political culture and foreign policy. He worked for the emancipation of the Mauritian population, established free universal education and free health care services, and introduced old age pensions. He is known as the "Father of the Nation". His son, Navin Ramgoolam, has had three terms as Prime Minister of Mauritius.

Depicts a coat of arms of Mauritius dividing date, the country name above, and the value below.

The coat of arms of Mauritius was designed by the Mayor of Johannesburg in 1906, Johann Van Der Puf. In the lower left quarter is a key and on the right-hand side is a white star, which is referred to in the Latin motto “Stella Clavisque Maris Indici” meaning “Star and Key of the Indian Ocean". In the left upper quarter is lymphad. In the right upper quarter are 3 palm trees.

A lymphad or galley is a single-masted ship propelled by oars. In addition to the mast and oars, the lymphad has three flags and a basket. The word comes from the Scottish Gaelic long fhada, meaning a longship or birlinn.

Engraver: George Edward Kruger Gray