Lesotho loti

Lesotho loti
ISO 4217
CodeLSL (numeric: 426)
before 1985: LSM
Subunit0.01
Unit
Unitloti
Pluralmaloti
SymbolL‎ or M (pl.)
Denominations
Subunit
1100sente
Plural
 sentelisente
BanknotesM10, M20, M50, M100, M200
Coins1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 lisente, L1, M2, M5
Demographics
User(s) Lesotho (alongside South African rand)
Issuance
Central bankCentral Bank of Lesotho
 Websitewww.centralbank.org.ls
Valuation
Inflation6.8%
 SourceCentral Bank of Lesotho, August 2006
 MethodCPI
Pegged withSouth African rand at par

The loti (plural: maloti) is the currency of the Kingdom of Lesotho. It is subdivided into 100 sente (pl. lisente). It is pegged to the South African rand on a 1:1 basis through the Common Monetary Area, and both are accepted as legal tender within Lesotho. The loti was first issued in 1966, albeit as a non-circulating currency. In 1980, Lesotho issued its first coins denominated in both loti and lisente (dated 1979) to replace the South African rand, but the rand remains legal tender.

The name derives from the Sesotho loti, "mountain," while sente is from English "cent".[1][2]

In 1985, the ISO 4217 code was changed from LSM into LSL.

  1. ^ "Definition of SENTE". www.merriam-webster.com.
  2. ^ "Definition of LOTI". www.merriam-webster.com.