2017-09-04 Mon

The Berlin conference in 1885 divided Africa amongst the European powers, in which the region of Uganda and Kenya were assigned to the Britain. In 1895 a Protectorate was proclaimed over the territories controlled by the Imperial British East Africa Company (IBEAC).

This company issued the Mombasa coins from 1888 to 1890 which were minted in India and had a mixture of denominations like Rupee, Annas and Pice. The above-shown image depicts a bronze Pice minted in 1898.

These coins were struck under British administration and in 1897, 1898 and 1899. This Pice was one hundredth of silver rupee from British India. The dies for these coins were manufactured in London.

After the formation of Protectorate, all the coins depicted the portrait of British imperial heads like Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, King George V, etc.

The coinage of East African Protectorate has many variations which make them a precious form of collectable and has spiked the interesting of collector across the globe.

To know more about British East Africa click here.