The Botswana pulas (currency code BWP) is the official currency of Botswana. It is often denoted by the symbol p. It is subdivided into 100 thebe. The name pulas means "money" in Setswana. The ISO 4217 code is BWP, and the distinct identifying code is BWP .The first pula circulated in 1966, coins were introduced in 1967. The current pula was introduced in 1982.Until 1966, Rhodesia and Nyasaland pound was circulating in Northern and Southern Rhodesia (now Zambia and Zimbabwe) and in the British protectorate of Bechuanaland (now Botswana). The Rhodesian and Nyasaland pound, which was interchangeable at par with the British pound sterling, suffered from a chronic shortage of coins. In 1965, when the decision was made to replace the pound with a more suitable currency, it was decided to use the South African rand as the new currency. However, a few months later, a change of government in South Africa led to the abandonment of the rand in favour of the "pula" which was introduced on June 30, 1966.
