Been wanting one of these for awhile

1897 British East Africa Protectorate copper Pice. They aren't terribly scarce in general, but very nice specimens don't appear very often. I was pleased to have been able to acquire this mint-state specimen - which also happens to be a first-year issue and a rather scarce date.

I love collecting coins from the age of exploration and colonialization - especially those of Africa. This one is a jewel.

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 at both 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.


This coin pairs nicely with my IBEAC silver 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
Rich cabinet toning. 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.
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I hope you enjoy! Feel free to comment and/or post your own coins of colonial Africa or whatever else is relevant!

 

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Nice Pics and write-up. I have no experience with these types of coins, but I like them and your post.

 

The age of exploration and colonization is one of my main areas of interest too. I didn't realize the coin you posted was issued in 1897 as I have only seen 1898 and assumed it was a one-year coin, as many African coins are from the 1800s. I don't have a picture of mine but yours is nicer. Here are some other early African coins I have. Most aren't too rare.

1791 Sierra Leone 1 penny

1814 Angola 1 macuta

1821 St. Helena Halfpenny

1882 Zanzibar 1 pysa


1888 Mombasa 1 rupee. Recently I was at a major coin show and I asked a bunch of dealers if they had one of these and came up empty. A little later I realized I already owned one, so I'm glad I didn't find one or I'd have doubles.

1888 Mombasa quarter anna


1890 Eritrea 1 lira

1904 German East Africa 1 rupie. Gotta love the hat.

1914 Italian Somalia 1 rupia

1925 Cameroon 1 franc