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British East Africa Coins

The monetary history of British East Africa is fascinating and reflects the political and economic changes in the region. From the late 19th century to the mid-20th century, this area experienced several transformations in its monetary system, influenced by British colonial rule and subsequent independence movements.

Colonial coins and banknotes

During the colonial period, the East African Rupee was the main currency in circulation. Introduced in 1906, it replaced the various local and foreign currencies previously in use. Banknotes and coins of this era typically featured the effigy of the reigning British monarch and symbols of colonial power. An important milestone was the creation of the East African Currency Board in 1919, which was responsible for the issuance and regulation of currency in the region until the 1960s.

Transition to independence

With the advent of independence in East African countries, there was a gradual transition to national currencies. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania initially maintained a common currency, the East African Shilling, introduced in 1966. However, in the 1970s, each country adopted its own national currency. An interesting numismatic aspect of this period is the evolution of designs on banknotes and coins from representing colonial symbols to reflecting the identity and culture of the newly independent nations.

If you are a passionate collector, this catalog offers the possibility to create your own personal collection from this list. You can add your coins and generate a free PDF catalog from a complete database and our management tools. In addition, once registered, you will have the opportunity to exchange coins with other collectors around the world easily and free of charge.

British East Africa is a country that does not exist today. It is now part of the United Kingdom coins.

The most valuable coins

The most valuable British East Africa coins and sought after by collectors according to Foronum statistics are the following:

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The valuation of these coins has been achieved through a meticulous algorithm that considers the current market, taking into account aspects such as material, weight, diameter, edge, year of mintage, mint of manufacture and the number of coins produced. Coins with limited mintages and in good condition are usually among the most valuable.

Coin Catalog

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1 cent

FO#10706 KM#22
Price: 1,00€ - 6,47€
Year: 1922-1935
Weight: 1,91 g
Composition: Bronze
Diameter: 20,20 mm
Edge: Smooth

1 cent

FO#9316 KM#5a
Price: 3,45€
Year: 1909-1910
Weight: 2,80 g
Composition: Copper-nickel
Diameter: 22,20 mm
Edge: Smooth

1 florin

FO#10713 KM#17
Year: 1920
Weight: 11,66 g
Composition: Silver (0,500)
Diameter: 30,00 mm
Edge: Ribbed

10 cents

FO#8209 KM#26.2
Price: 2,05€ - 3,03€
Year: 1942-1945
Weight: 9,40 g
Composition: Bronze
Diameter: 30,60 mm
Edge: Smooth

50 cents

FO#10714 KM#27
Year: 1937-1944
Weight: 3,89 g
Composition: Silver (0,250)
Diameter: 21,00 mm
Edge: Ribbed

10 cents

FO#7281 KM#26.1
Price: 0,95€ - 7,00€
Year: 1937-1941
Weight: 11,34 g
Composition: Bronze
Diameter: 30,60 mm
Edge: Smooth

1 shilling

FO#10717 KM#28.4
Price: 11,20€
Year: 1944-1946
Weight: 7,77 g
Composition: Silver (0,250)
Diameter: 27,80 mm
Edge: Ribbed

5 cents

FO#10703 KM#18
Price: 1,67€ - 10,32€
Year: 1921-1936
Weight: 6,50 g
Composition: Bronze
Diameter: 25,30 mm
Edge: Smooth

25 cents

FO#10702 KM#15
Year: 1920
Weight: 2,90 g
Composition: Silver (0,500)
Diameter: 18,00 mm
Edge: Ribbed

50 cents

FO#9314 KM#4
Year: 1906-1910
Weight: 5,80 g
Composition: Silver (0,800)
Diameter: 23,60 mm
Edge: Ribbed

50 cents

FO#10704 KM#20
Year: 1921-1924
Weight: 3,80 g
Composition: Silver (0,250)
Diameter: 21,10 mm
Edge: Ribbed

1 shilling

FO#7282 KM#31
Price: 2,47€ - 7,50€
Year: 1948-1952
Weight: 7,81 g
Composition: Copper-nickel
Diameter: 27,80 mm
Edge: Ribbed

1 cent

FO#10710 KM#12
Year: 1920-1921
Weight: 3,00 g
Composition: Copper-nickel
Diameter: 22,40 mm
Edge: Smooth

1 cent

FO#10720 KM#32
Year: 1949-1952
Weight: 1,70 g
Composition: Bronze
Diameter: 20,00 mm
Edge: Smooth

1/2 cent

FO#9317 KM#6
Year: 1908
Weight: 1,00 g
Composition: Aluminium
Diameter: 20,30 mm
Edge: Smooth

1 paise (Mombasa)

FO#21627 KM#1.1
Price: 36,00€
Year: 1888
Weight: 6,15 g
Composition: Bronze
Diameter: 254,90 mm
Edge: Smooth

1/2 cent

FO#9318 KM#6a
Year: 1909
Weight: 1,90 g
Composition: Copper-nickel
Diameter: 20,20 mm
Edge: Smooth

10 cents

FO#10193 KM#19
Price: 1,69€ - 24,11€
Year: 1921-1936
Weight: 11,14 g
Composition: Bronze
Diameter: 31,00 mm
Edge: Smooth

1 cent

FO#9315 KM#5
Year: 1907-1908
Weight: 1,90 g
Composition: Aluminium
Diameter: 22,90 mm
Edge: Smooth

1 pice

FO#9311 KM#1
Year: 1897-1899
Weight: 6,30 g
Composition: Bronze
Diameter: 26,00 mm
Edge: Smooth

Other resources to find coins and banknotes of British East Africa

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