5 Dalasis 1972, Gambia
| in Krause book | Number: 5a |
| Years of issue: | 1972 |
| Edition: | 4 657 197 |
| Signatures: | General manager: Mr. U. Tin Tun, Governor: Mr. Horace Reginald Monday Jr. |
| Serie: | 1971 - 1972 Issues |
| Specimen of: | 1972 |
| Material: | Cotton fiber |
| Size (mm): | 136 х 70 |
| Printer: | Bradbury, Wilkinson & Company Limited, New Malden |
* All pictures marked 
are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.
** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.
Description
Watermark:
Head of crocodile.
Avers:
Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, GCMG (born May 16, 1924) is a Gambian statesman who was the first leader of the Gambia, serving first as Prime Minister from 1962 to 1970 and then as President from 1970 to 1994.
Born Kairaba Jawara on May 16, 1924 at Barajally, MacCarthy Island Division (now Central River Division). His parents were Mamma Fatty and Almami Jawara, Sir Dawda was educated at the Methodist Boys’ High School in colonial Bathurst (now Banjul), then attended Achimota College in Ghana. He was trained as a veterinary surgeon at the Glasgow veterinary school. He completed his training at Liverpool University.
From 1962 until 1970, when the country was a Commonwealth realm with Elizabeth II as head of state, Jawara was Prime Minister and head of government. A 1970 referendum made the country a republic, and Jawara became the nation's first president on April 24 of that year. 
On left side is the Groundnutter Sailboat on the Gambia river.
The Gambia River is a major river in West Africa, running 1,130 kilometers (700 mi.) from the Fouta Djallon plateau in north Guinea westward through Senegal and the Gambia to the Atlantic Ocean at the city of Banjul. It is navigable for about half that length.
The river is strongly associated with the Gambia, the smallest country in mainland Africa, which consists of little more than the downstream half of the river and its two banks.
The Groundnutter boats are simple craft. Dug out from the trunk of a tree, the boat is then finished off with solid mahogany planks which are nailed to the upper edge of the boat sides. These planks increase the boat's cargo area. To make the vessel more seaworthy, Gambian sailors caulk the seams of the boat with tupp -- a type of rope and cotton filer. Once constructed, the wooden sides are brightly painted with colorful geometric and tribal designs befitting the rich culture of the Gambian nation.
Often, early in the morning, native farmers can be seen loading the huge bags of groundnuts into brightly colored boats, or Groundnutters, for the trip down the river to the processing plants. (Wind River Studios)
Denominations in numerals are in all corners. In words centered..
Revers:
Port of Bathurst, Gambia (Gambian capital, in 1973 renamed to Banjul). Workers at the shipyard overloading the bags with peanuts.
On background is the cargo ship at the pier.
Gambia - agrarian country with a monocultural economy direction. The dominant position in the economy owned by foreign, mainly British capital.
The dominant sector of the economy is agriculture, which gives about a third of GDP. The main crop - peanuts, which serves the main source of currency (40% of export value).
More than any other product or service, The Gambia depends on the peanut as a source of income. And for this reason, the court, which transport this vital resource to the market on the river Gambia, perhaps the most important vehicles in the country.
Denominations in numerals are in all corners. In words lower.
Comments:
On reverse of the banknote missing the traditional sailboat "The Groundnutter" (as opposed to the same picture on reverse of 1 Pound 1965 Gambia).
Apparently, in the early 1970s these boats have become very rare on the Gambia River.
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