Here is the complete financial historical report of Lesotho, in International English, including all relevant details about its currency history and current status:

Financial Historical Report of Lesotho

Basic Data

• Country ISO Code: LS

• Official Languages: English and Sesotho (Southern Sotho)

• Language ISO Codes: en (English), st (Sesotho)

• Current Official Currency: Lesotho Loti

• Currency ISO Code: LSL

Currency History in Lesotho

• Prior to independence, Lesotho (then Basutoland) used the South African pound as its currency, reflecting its status as a British protectorate surrounded by South Africa.

• The South African pound was replaced by the South African rand in 1961, which remained in use in Lesotho.

• In 1966, upon gaining independence, Lesotho introduced the Lesotho loti (plural: maloti) as its national currency. Initially, the loti was issued as a non-circulating currency used mainly for accounting purposes.

• In 1980, Lesotho issued its first circulating coins denominated in both loti and lisente (singular: sente), effectively replacing the South African rand in coin form, though the rand remains legal tender alongside the loti.

• The ISO 4217 currency code was changed from LSM to LSL in 1985.

Details of the Lesotho Loti

Coins

• First coins issued in 1980 (dated 1979) in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, and 50 lisente and 1 loti.

• Later additions included 2 and 5 maloti coins (introduced in 1996) and 20 lisente (introduced in 1998).

• Coins currently in circulation: 5, 10, 20, 50 lisente; 1, 2, 5 maloti.

Banknotes

• Banknotes are issued in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 maloti.

• Early banknotes were colorful and featured African tribal patterns, the Lesotho coat of arms, and portraits of prominent figures such as King Moshoeshoe II and King Letsie III.

• New series with modern security features were introduced in 2010, depicting historical figures and scenes of everyday life and agriculture in Lesotho.

• Banknotes bear signatures of the Governor of the Central Bank of Lesotho and the Minister of Finance.

Designs and Symbols

• Currency designs prominently feature national symbols such as the Basotho hat (mokorotlo), the national coat of arms, and local wildlife.

• The name "loti" derives from the Sesotho word for "mountain," reflecting the country's mountainous terrain.

• The fraction "sente" derives from the English word "cent."

Economic and Monetary Context

• Lesotho is a member of the Common Monetary Area (CMA), alongside South Africa, Namibia, and Eswatini.

• The loti is pegged at par (1:1) with the South African rand, which is also legal tender in Lesotho.

• This arrangement facilitates trade and economic stability but limits Lesotho’s independent monetary policy.

• The economy is based on agriculture, diamond mining, manufacturing, and remittances from Basotho workers in South Africa.

Commemorative Issues and Particularities

• Lesotho has issued commemorative coins and banknotes to mark national anniversaries and cultural events.

• Currency security features have been upgraded over time to combat counterfeiting.

Current Status

• The Lesotho loti and South African rand circulate freely and are both accepted as legal tender in Lesotho.

• The loti remains the official currency and a symbol of national sovereignty.

Language Context

• Sesotho (Southern Sotho) is widely spoken and is an official language alongside English.

• English is used in government, education, and official documents, while Sesotho is the primary language for daily communication and cultural expression.

• Currency and official materials often include Sesotho language elements, reinforcing national identity.

This report provides a thorough overview of Lesotho’s monetary history, current currency system, and linguistic context, emphasizing the coexistence of the Lesotho loti and South African rand within the Common Monetary Area framework.

If you would like, I can prepare a translation of this report into Portuguese (Brazilian) or French.