Illustrated Specimen Details: 10 Butut of the Gambia
Example Specimen: 10 Butut, 1971 (Republic of the Gambia)
Authority & Design: This nickel brass circulation coin represents the official fractional currency of the Republic of the Gambia. Starting with the reverse, the central field prominently displays a double-spurred spurfowl, accompanied by the denomination "10 BUTUTS" inscribed in both Latin and Arabic ("بتوت") scripts. Transitioning to the obverse, the coin features the portrait of Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, who served as the first President of the Gambia during the 1970-1994 period. The outer legend bears the state title "REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA". The elegant design was crafted by Michael Gaspard Rizzello, a renowned English sculptor of Italian descent, and the series was minted at the Royal Mint in Llantrisant, United Kingdom.
Denomination: 10 Butut
Date: 1971
Metal: Nickel brass
Weight: 6.3 g | Diameter: 26 mm
Mintage: 3,000,000 | Mint: Royal Mint (Llantrisant, United Kingdom)
Estimated value: 1$
DENOMINATION GUIDE — WHERE & WHEN (world coins catalog by names & emitents)
- REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA (1971-present): butut = 1/100 of the Gambian dalasi currency
The linguistic origins of the butut: The name of the coin directly originates from the word "butuut" in Wolof, which is one of the primary national languages of the Gambia. In this linguistic context, it literally translates to "small", perfectly indicating its economic role as the smallest fractional unit of the local monetary system.
History and Economic Role of the Butut
The butut was officially established as the national fractional currency of the Gambia in 1971. This momentous year marked the country's formal transition to a modern decimal monetary system, which successfully led to the complete withdrawal of the older local Gambian pound notes and pre-decimal fractional coins from everyday circulation.
Introduction of the Decimal System
Shortly after the historical proclamation of the Republic in 1970, the Royal Mint in the United Kingdom was commissioned to strike a completely new series of decimal coins. These were issued to the public in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 bututs, alongside the larger 1 dalasi coin. Interestingly, to ease the public's transition to the new currency, the reverse designs of these new decimal coins intentionally replicated the familiar artistic motifs previously seen on the Gambian pence and shilling coins that circulated during the 1966-1970 era.
Modern Circulation and Numismatic Significance
Today, the butut technically remains the legal fractional unit of the Gambian dalasi. However, due to continuous economic inflation and the rising cost of living over the decades, the smaller denominations have largely vanished from active daily commerce. Despite this, the original 1971 series remains highly popular among numismatists as a beautiful representation of the Gambia's post-colonial financial independence and its rich natural heritage.