I was pretty pleased to add this one to my collection of colonial Africa coins. A half-rupee minted for the IBEAC - Imperial British East Africa Company. With an original mintage of just 10,000 coins, they are much scarcer than the rupee and can be tough to find. IMPERIAL BRITISH EAST AFRICA COMPANY AR ½ Rupee (24.2, 5.83g, 12h) Dated 1890. Heaton & Sons mint, Birmingham, UK Obverse: Crowned sun above ribbon reading LIGHT AND LIBERTY, IMPERIAL BRITISH EAST AFRICA COMPANY around Reverse: Wreath containing HALF RUPEE with Arabic translation in three lines; MOMBASA above, date below References: Numista 21322 Mintage: 10,000 Scarce, low mintage issue. The Imperial British East Africa Company (IBEAC) was founded in 1888 with the goal of developing British trade and influence in the territory of East Africa. With oversight of nearly a quarter million square miles, the IBEAC was also responsible for administration and given quasi-governmental powers. In 1890, the IBEAC began work on a 600-mile road in preparation for a railway that was to connect the port of Mombasa with the distant border of Uganda. However, conflict with rival interests led to a civil war which halted the project, and ultimately led to the company's bankruptcy and dissolution in 1896. Rupee: IMPERIAL BRITISH EAST AFRICA COMPANY AR Rupee (30.3mm, 11.65g, 6h) Dated 1888. Heaton & Sons mint, Birmingham, UK Obverse: Crowned sun above ribbon reading LIGHT AND LIBERTY; ONE RUPEE above, MOMBASA below Reverse: IMPERIAL BRITISH EAST AFRICA COMPANY above pair of scales; in between scales, Arabic inscription عدل [Justice]; below, H over · 1888 · References: Numista 17050 Mintage: 94,000 British East Africa Protectorate: BRITISH EAST AFRICA PROTECTORATE, 1895-1920 CU Pice (26mm, 6.48g, 12h) Dated 1897. Bombay mint, India Obverse: VICTORIA·DEI·GRA·BRITT·REGINA·FID·DEF·IND·IMP·, crowned bust of Queen Victoria left Reverse: EAST · AFRICA · PROTECTORATE around ornate design containing ONE 1 PICE, · 1897 · below References: Numista 7273 Mintage: 640,000 Scarcer date. In NGC encapsulation, graded MS 61 BN. Only four graded higher between NGC and PCGS. The Berlin Conference of 1885 and the signing of the General Act officially established British control over the region of east Africa containing what is now Kenya and Uganda. In 1888, administrative control of this territory was granted to the newly formed Imperial British East Africa Company. However, the company was not a success, and in 1895 the territory was declared a British government protectorate, to be administered by the Foreign Office. This state of affairs lasted until 1920, at which point the British East Africa Protectorate became a Crown colony. There are a handful of other IBEAC coins I haven't yet acquired. The hunt continues! Thanks for taking a look! Post what you will.
Nice, all three of your coins are really nice, especially the 1/2 Rupee with that super low mintage, it's a beauty! Here's my one and only!
Nice! I once started a set of French Colonial coins (Africa included, of course). At the time, the scope was just too large (every coin from every colony)... so I narrowed it down and focussed on the French Influence in Morocco.
I don't have any African coins currently, though I have owned several coins from the Portuguese colonies there over the course of my collecting journey. Plus a random smattering of coins from Egypt, South Africa, Tunisia, etc.
If you define the set as when it was strictly a French colony, there are a little over 40 coins. This period goes from 1912 - 1956, and it is a fairly easy set with lots of high grade coins. I've decided to take it back and trace the history of French influence in Morocco (there's been friction since at least the early 1800's, due to Morocco's fierce independence, obviously strategic location, and proximity to Algeria). I've got over 160 coins in this set, and still need plenty more to fill in what I'm envisioning.
Here are my two Mombasa coins, the quarter anna and 1 rupee. Also a 1 pysa from Zanzibar, which is also in that area.
Nice set. It's kind of surprising how available the silver 1 rupee coins are, in good condition. They don't seem to have circulated an awful lot.
My only East African coin was much more modern. (We lived in Tanzania when I was a little kid- in 1972.) This remains the top-pop, sole certified example, simply because there aren't droves of people lining up to pay $40-50 to PCGS to certify a $3 coin. This one is no longer in my collection roster because I gave it to my sister as a keepsake.
That's a neat type. Tanzania used to be part of German East Africa - I have a couple of those coins, nothing more modern though!
