The Mombasa Rupee of British East Africa
2016-12-02 Fri
Once upon a time the ancient currency of India crossed the Indian borders and spread across many countries of Asia and Africa. The East African Protectorate adopted Rupee as a denomination on the coins issued by Imperial British East Africa Company.In 1888 the Imperial British East Africa Company (IBEAC) which was based in Bombay was given a charter by Queen Victoria to trade in East Africa. Indian commercial laws, the Stamp, Designs, Insolvency acts were adopted and the Indian Rupee was the East African currency until 1920.
When the sultan of Zanzibar ceded control over the port of Mombasa to British administration, the place became the chief mint of the British to mint British Indian rupees and fractions. Known as Mombasa rupees, these coins are remarkable. Made of 0.917 pure silver, the Mombasa Rupees weighed around 11.66 grams.
These hefty silver coins depict the symbol of the Imperial British East Africa Company - Crown above radiant sun with the motto LIGHT AND LIBERTY on the obverse along with the denomination of one rupee at the top and Mombasa at the bottom.
The reverse depicts a scale with Arabic letters in the centre with Imperial British East Africa Company written around it. The date is seen at centre bottom with H written above it. The H stands for Heaton - mint in Birmingham for Mombasa.
With Less than a hundred thousand were minted, these coins are somewhat rare.
Latest News
-
Ghiyath Shah as Heir Apparent
2025-09-25 ThuGhiyath Shah was the ruler of the Malwa Sultanate, reigning from 1456 to 1500. From 1456 to 1469, he...
-
Malwa Sultan Mahmud Shah Silver Coins
2025-09-11 ThuMalwa Sultan Mahmud Shah minted silver coins in round and square flans. <br><br> For round coins,...
-
Malwa Sultan Mahmud Shah Billon coin
2025-08-26 TueMalwa Sultan Mahmud Shah's billon coins followed three weight standards: 100 rati, 96 rati, and 80 r...
-
Fascinating Archaeological Facts on Postage Stamps - 91
2025-08-23 SatRhinoceros is one of the oldest land mammal species existing in India. There are five species of rhi...
-
Fascinating Archaeological Facts on Postage Stamps - 90
2025-08-23 SatUthiramerur, a Village in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, is notable for its Temple inscriptions that descr...