The Gambia is a small West African country, bordered by Senegal on all sides except for its coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. It is the smallest country on the African mainland. The capital city is Banjul.
Before independence, The Gambia used the British West African pound as its currency, with coins issued for British West Africa also circulating in Gambia. These coins included denominations such as the halfpenny, penny, threepence, sixpence, shilling, and florin.
Following independence in 1965, The Gambia continued to use the Gambian pound, which maintained parity with the British pound. However, in 1971, The Gambia adopted its own currency, the dalasi, replacing the Gambian pound. At that time, new coins were introduced.
The first series of coins issued in 1971 included denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 bututs, as well as 1 dalasi. These coins featured various motifs, symbols, and designs representing Gambian culture, wildlife, and national identity.
Copper-nickel is commonly utilized for lower denomination coins like the 1, 5, and 10 butut coins, while brass is often used for mid-range denominations such as the 25 butut coin and cupro-nickel is frequently used for higher denomination coins, including the 50 butut and 1 dalasi coins.
Over the years, there have been updates and changes to the designs and compositions of Gambian coins, reflecting developments in the country and its economy. Coins in circulation in Gambia now include denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 bututs, as well as 1 dalasi. These coins feature various designs, often depicting national symbols, wildlife, or cultural motifs.
