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East African shilling

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East African shilling
  • Shilingi ya Afrika Mashariki (Swahili)
  • Scellino dell'Africa orientale (Italian)
  • Shilinka Bariga Afrika (Somali)
  • شلنق شرق أفريقي (Arabic)
Unit
SymbolSh or /-[1]‎
Denominations
Superunit
 20pound (£)
Subunit
 1⁄100cent
Banknotes5/-, 10/-, 20/-, 100/-, 200/-, 1000/-, 10,000/-
Coins1 ct, 5 cts, 10 cts, 50 cts, 1/-
Demographics
User(s)All in the 20th century:
Issuance
Central bankEast African Currency Board
This infobox shows the latest status before this currency was rendered obsolete.

The East African shilling was the sterling unit of account in British-controlled areas of East Africa from 1921 until 1969.[2] It was issued by the East African Currency Board. It is also the proposed name for a common currency that the East African Community plans to introduce.

The shilling was divided into 100 cents, and twenty shillings were 1 pound.

The old East African Shilling (left), East African Shilling (right)

History

First East African shilling

Unlike elsewhere in the possessions of the British Empire that used the sterling, in British East Africa the shilling instead of the pound was the primary unit of account, with the pound being a superunit mainly used for recording government and business transactions whose totals would be needlessly large if quoted solely in shillings.

This anomalous state of affairs arose because the first currency used by the British colonial authorities in British East Africa was the rupee, not sterling. The East African shilling was introduced to Kenya, Tanganyika, and Uganda in 1921, replacing the short-lived East African florin at a rate of 2 shillings to 1 florin. The florin had been introduced because of increasing silver prices after World War I. At that time, the Indian rupee was the currency of the British East African states. The rupee, being a silver coin, rose in value against sterling. When it reached the value of two shillings, the authorities decided to replace it with the florin. From the florin thence came the East African shilling. The currency remained pegged to one shilling sterling and was subdivided into 100 cents.[3][4][5] In 1936, Zanzibar joined the currency board, and the Zanzibari rupee was replaced at a rate of 1/50 to 1 Zanzibari rupee.[4] It was replaced by local currencies (Kenyan shilling, Ugandan shilling, and Tanzanian shilling) following the territories' independence.[3][4][5]

In 1951, the East African shilling replaced the Indian rupee in the Aden colony and protectorate, which became the South Arabian Federation in 1963. In 1965, the East African Currency Board was breaking up, and the South Arabian dinar replaced the shilling in the South Arabian Federation at a rate of 20 shillings to 1 dinar.[2][6]

The shilling was also used in parts of what is now Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea when they were under British control. Before 1941, these areas, then known as Italian East Africa, used the Italian East African lira. In 1941, as a result of World War II, Britain regained control and introduced the shilling, at a rate of 1 shilling to 24 Lire. Italian Somaliland was returned to Italy in 1949 as a UN Trusteeship and soon switched to the somalo, which was at par with the shilling. British Somaliland gained independence in 1960, and joined what had been Italian Somaliland to create Somalia. In that year, Somalia began using the Somali shilling (replacing the Somali somalo) at par with the East African shilling.[7]

Ethiopia regained independence in 1941, with British support, and began using the East African shilling. Maria Theresa thalers, Indian rupees, and Egyptian pounds were also legal tender at the beginning of this time, and it is unclear exactly when this status ended. Full sovereignty was restored in late 1944, and the Ethiopian dollar was reintroduced in 1945 at a rate of $1 = 2 shillings.[8] Eritrea was captured from the Italians in 1941, and began using the East African shilling, as well as the Egyptian pound. The lira was demonetised in 1942. When Eritrea formed a federation with Ethiopia in 1952, the dollar, which was already in use in Ethiopia, was also adopted in Eritrea.[9]

Second East African shilling

It has been rumoured that the East African Shilling will be revived by the East African Community, which consists of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Somalia, as part of the community's monetary union.[citation needed] The monetary union's target date has been set to 2031 following delays caused in part due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and the admission of new member states, including the DRC and Somalia.[10]

Coins

Issued during the reign of George V

Issued during the reign of George V
Image Value Catalogue number Technical parameters Description Dates Remarks
Mass Composition Obverse Reverse
[1] 1 cent KM 22 Bronze "GEORGIVS V", "REX ET IND:IMP:", crown, value "EAST AFRICA", value, date 1922-1935 central hole
5 cents KM 18 1921-1936
10 cents KM 19
[2] 50 cents
1⁄2 shilling 		KM 20 3.8879g 25% silver "GEORGIVS V", "REX ET IND:IMP:", bust of George V Dual value, "EAST AFRICA", lion in front of mountain, date 1921-1924
[3] 1 shilling KM 21 7.7759g Value, "EAST AFRICA", lion in front of mountain, date 1921-1925
For table standards, see the coin specification table.

Issued during the reign of Edward VIII

Issued during the reign of Edward VIII
Image Value Catalogue number Composition Description Dates Remarks
Obverse Reverse
[4] 5 cents KM 23 Bronze "EDWARDVS VIII", "REX ET IND:IMP:", crown, value "EAST AFRICA", value, date 1936 Central hole
10 cents KM 24
For table standards, see the coin specification table.

Issued during the reign of George VI

As GEORGIVS VI

Issued during the reign of George VI as GEORGIVS VI
Image Value Catalogue number Technical parameters Description Dates Remarks
Mass Composition Obverse Reverse
1 cent KM 29 Bronze "GEORGIVS VI", "REX ET IND:IMP:", crown, value "EAST AFRICA", value, date 1942 central hole
5 cents KM 25 1936 central hole
KM 25.1 1937-1941 central hole, thick flan
[5] KM 25.2 1941-1943 central hole, thin flan
KM 25.3 1942 NO central hole, thin flan
10 cents KM 26.1 1937-1941 some with central hole, some without, thick flan
KM 26.2 1942-1945 central hole, thin flan
50 cents
1⁄2 shilling 		KM 27 3.8879g 25% silver "GEORGIVS VI", "REX ET INDIÆ IMPERATOR", bust of George VI Dual value, "EAST AFRICA", lion in front of mountain, date 1937-1944
1 shilling KM 28.1 7.7759g Value, "EAST AFRICA", lion in front of mountain, date 1937-1944 edge reeding spaced out
KM 28.2 1941 rare, thicker rim, larger milling, minor design differences
KM 28.3 1942-1943 retouched central image on reverse
KM 28.4 1944-1946 same as KM 28.1 with edge reeding close
For table standards, see the coin specification table.

As GEORGIVS SEXTVS

Issued during the reign of George VI as GEORGIVS SEXTVS
Image Value Catalogue number Composition Description Dates Remarks
Obverse Reverse
[6] 1 cent KM 32 Bronze "GEORGIVS SEXTVS REX", crown, value "EAST AFRICA", value, date 1949-1952 central hole
[7] 5 cents KM 33 1949-1952
10 cents KM 34 1949-1952
[8] 50 cents
1⁄2 shilling 		KM 30 Cupronickel "GEORGIVS SEXTVS REX", bust of George VI Dual value, "EAST AFRICA", lion in front of mountain, date 1948-1952
[9] 1 shilling KM 31 Value, "EAST AFRICA", lion in front of mountain, date 1948-1952
For table standards, see the coin specification table.

Issued during the reign of Elizabeth II

Issued during the reign of Elizabeth II
Image Value Catalogue number Composition Description Dates Remarks
Obverse Reverse
[10] 1 cent KM 35 Bronze "QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND", crown, value "EAST AFRICA", value, date 1954-1962 central hole
[11] 5 cents KM 37 1955-1963
10 cents KM 38 1956-1964
[12] 50 cents
1⁄2 shilling 		KM 36 Cupronickel "QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND", bust of Elizabeth II Dual value, "EAST AFRICA", lion in front of mountain, year of minting 1954-1963
For table standards, see the coin specification table.

Issued after independence

Issued after independence
Image Value Catalogue number Composition Description Dates Remarks
Obverse Reverse
[13] 5 cents KM 39 Bronze "SENTI TANO", 5, "FIVE CENTS", "EAST AFRICA" "EAST AFRICA", "5", date 1964 central hole
[14][15] 10 cents KM 40 "SENTI KUMI", 10, "TEN CENTS", "EAST AFRICA" "EAST AFRICA", "10", date 1964
For table standards, see the coin specification table.

Krause, Chester L.; Clifford Mishler (2003). 2004 Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1901–Present. Colin R. Bruce II (senior editor) (31st ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0873495934.

Banknotes

Main article: Banknotes of the East African shilling

In 1921, notes were issued by the East African Currency Board in denominations of 5/-, 10/-, 20/-, 100/-, 200/-, 1,000/- and 10,000/-, with the notes of 20 shillings and above having their denominations expressed also in pounds (£1, £5, £10, £50 and £500). In 1943, 1/- notes were issued, the only occasion that such notes were produced. 1,000/- notes were only issued until 1933, with 10,000/- notes last issued in 1947. The remaining denominations were issued until 1964.

Shilling denominations were written on banknotes in English, Arabic, and Gujarati, while values in pounds were written in English only.

  • 1925 East African 1 Shilling coin obverse
    1925 East African 1 Shilling coin obverse
  • 1925 East African 1 Shilling coin reverse
    1925 East African 1 Shilling coin reverse
  • 1935 East African 5 cent coin obverse
    1935 East African 5 cent coin obverse
  • 1935 East African 5 cent coin reverse
    1935 East African 5 cent coin reverse
  • 1930 East African 1 cent coin obverse
    1930 East African 1 cent coin obverse
  • 1930 East African 1 cent coin reverse
    1930 East African 1 cent coin reverse
  • British East Africa 1 cent and 10 cent coins
    British East Africa 1 cent and 10 cent coins
  • 1956 East African half shilling coin reverse
    1956 East African half shilling coin reverse

See also

References

  1. ^ ""Section 19 — Currency, Banking, Weights & Measures"". Kenya Colony and Protectorate Blue Book 1936. 31 December 1936. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Global Financial Data currency histories table". Retrieved 27 April 2007.
  3. ^ a b Schuler, Kurt. "Tables of Modern Monetary History: Kenya". Retrieved 27 April 2007.
  4. ^ a b c Schuler, Kurt. "Tables of Modern Monetary History: Tanzania". Retrieved 28 May 2007.
  5. ^ a b Schuler, Kurt. "Tables of Modern Monetary History: Uganda". Retrieved 27 April 2007.
  6. ^ Schuler, Kurt. "Tables of Modern Monetary History: Asia". Retrieved 27 April 2007.
  7. ^ Schuler, Kurt. "Tables of Modern Monetary History: Somalia". Retrieved 29 April 2007.
  8. ^ Schuler, Kurt. "Tables of Modern Monetary History: Ethiopia". Retrieved 29 April 2007.
  9. ^ Schuler, Kurt. "Tables of Modern Monetary History: Eritrea". Retrieved 29 April 2007.
  10. ^ Owino, Vincent (22 November 2023). ""EAC to revise economic targets to attain monetary union dream"". The East African. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
The last issued 10,000/- note was dated 1 August 1951 but the high denomination note was used for clearing internally for many years after 1951.
Preceded by:
Indian rupee, Maria Theresa Thaler and other foreign currencies
Ratio: Various 		Currency of Colony of Aden
1951 – 1963 		Currency of Federation of South Arabia
1963 – 1965 		Succeeded by:
South Yemeni dinar
Ratio: 1 dinar = 20 shillings
Currency of Aden Protectorate
1951 – 1959 		Currency of Federation of Arab Emirates of the South
1959 – 1963
Currency of remainder of Aden Protectorate
1959 – 1963
Note: throughout this time period, various states within the protectorate joined the federation 		Currency of Protectorate of South Arabia
1963 – 1965
Preceded by:
Zanzibari rupee
Ratio: 11⁄2 shillings = 1 Zanzibari rupee = 1 Indian rupee 		Currency of Zanzibar
January 1, 1936 – 1964 		Currency of Tanzania
(formerly Tanganyika and Zanzibar)
1964 – 1969 		Succeeded by:
Tanzanian shilling
Reason: currency independence
Ratio: at par
Note: independent shilling introduced in 1966, but EA shilling not demonetized until 1969
Preceded by:
East African florin
Ratio: 2 shillings = 1 florin 		Currency of East Africa
(Kenya, Tanganyika, Uganda)
1921 – various dates of independence
Currency of Kenya
1963 – 1969 		Succeeded by:
Kenyan shilling
Reason: currency independence
Ratio: at par
Note: independent shilling introduced in 1966, but EA shilling not demonetized until 1969
Currency of Uganda
1962 – 1969 		Succeeded by:
First Ugandan shilling
Reason: currency independence
Ratio: at par
Note: independent shilling introduced in 1966, but EA shilling not demonetized until 1969
Preceded by:
Italian East African lira
Reason: United Kingdom recaptured British Somaliland from Italy, and also occupied Italian East Africa
Ratio: 1 shilling = 24 lire 		Currency of British Somaliland
1941 – 1962 		Succeeded by:
Somali shilling
Reason: independence as part of Somalia
Ratio: at par
Currency of Italian Somaliland
1941 – 1950 		Succeeded by:
Italian Somaliland somalo
Reason: return to Italy (in 1949)
Ratio: at par
Currency of Ethiopia
1941 – 1945 		Succeeded by:
Ethiopian dollar
Reason: (Ethiopia) independence
(Eritrea) federation with Ethiopia
Ratio: 1 dollar = 2 shillings
Currency of Eritrea
1941 – 1952


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