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1 Pound 1965, Gambia

in Krause book Number: 2a
Years of issue: 1965 - 1970
Edition:
Signatures: Chairman: Mr. John Barraclough de Loynes , Director: Mr. Horace Reginald Monday
Serie: 1965 Issue
Specimen of: 1965
Material: Cotton fiber
Size (mm): 148 х 79
Printer: TDLR (Thomas de la Rue & Company), London

* All pictures marked magnify 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.

1 Pound 1965

Description

Watermark:

Watermark

Head of crocodile.

Avers:

1 Pound 1965

On left side is the Groundnutter Sailboat on the Gambia river.

GambiaThe 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.

Gambia GambiaThe 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 in lower right corner.

Revers:

1 Pound 1965

Gambia GambiaPort of Bathurst, Gambia. Workers at the shipyard overloading the bags with peanuts. On left side is sailboat "The Groundnutter".

On background is the cargo ship at the pier.

More than any other product or service, The Gambia looks to the groundnut - or peanut - as a source of income. And for this reason, the boats that carry this vital resource to market are perhaps the most important crafts that navigate the Gambia River.

Once the boats are loaded with the groundnuts, the farmers hoist the cloth sail and take their crop to the capital city of Bathurst (former name of Banjul), located at the mouth of the Gambia River. There, processing plants press the nuts to extract the oil which is a valuable export. Oil from the groundnut is exported for use in cooking and in producing soap and pharmaceuticals. As long as The Gambia depends on the groundnut, the Groundnutter boats will ply the Gambia River as they have since the 1800s.

Denominations in numerals are in all corners, in words on top.

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