East Africa 1942-I 10 cents
East Africa was an administrative grouping of the British colonies of Kenya, Uganda and British Somaliland. Tanganyika was added in 1919 after it was seized from the Germans. The original currency system was 100 cents = one florin (2 shillings). In 1922, this was changed to 100 cents = one shilling. The coinage has been obsolete since the member colonies obtained independence in the early 1960's. This specimen was lot 22223 in Stack's Bowers ANA Auction (Denver, CO, August 2017), where it sold for $129.25. The catalog description[1] noted, "EAST AFRICA. 10 Cents, 1942-I. NGC PROOF-62 RB. Thin flan, reduced weight. The surfaces are primarily red with some minor spotting as well." This design was introduced in 1937 for king George VI and struck until 1941, when the weight was reduced from 11.34 g. This subtype was struck 1942-45 and then suspended. When production resumed in 1949, the weight was reduced to 9.50 g, then reduced to 9.36 g in 1956, then raised to 9.40 g for the final issue of 1964. This date, struck at the Bombay mint, is common but the proofs are rare.
Recorded mintage: 4,317,000.
Specification: bronze, plain edge.
Catalog reference: KM-26.2.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, Kyle Ponterio and Chris Chatigny, The August 2017 Denver ANA Auction: Ancients, Selections from The Richard Stuart Collection & World Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2017.
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