Summary

Specimen 1 Shilling, Issued by, East African Currency Board, British Colony of Kenya, 1925
Minted by Royal Mint, London
This coin was also used in Uganda and Tanganyka from 1922

Obverse Description

Crowned and draped bust of the King facing left, the King is wearing the Imperial Crown and the ermine Robe of State, the Collar of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, and the Badge of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath; around, GEORGIVS V REX ET IND: IMP:; artist's initial's, BM, on bust truncation

Reverse Description

Within a partial line circle which ends in leaves either side of the denomination, a lion advancing to right with a tall pointed mountain in the background; in exergue in three lines, 1 / SHILLING / 1925; around above, EAST AFRICA

Edge Description

Milled

Significance

The rupee of British India had come to be the coinage standard of the Protectorate of East Africa and Uganda (largely because it was used to pay Indian workers on the Kenya-Uganda Railway). In 1920 the East African Protectorate became the Colony of Kenya and the East Africa Currency Board was set up. It introduced a new decimal system based on 100 cents to one East African Florin in 1920, abandoning the old rupee system. This was very short lived, on 1 May 1921 it was replaced by a system based on 100 cents to 1 East African Shilling. This system was expanded on 1 January 1922 to be the official Currency of Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyka.

The Melbourne Mint received specimens from the Royal Mint each year but only retained new designs. This 1925 coin was the same as the 1921 issue and so was not retained by the Mint. It was sold to a local collector and was re-aquired in 1989 as an example of this Mint practice.

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