East Africa 1949 5 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 22224 in Stack's Bowers ANA Auction (Denver, CO, August 2017), where it sold for $141. The catalog description[1] noted, "EAST AFRICA. 5 Cents, 1949. NGC PROOF-64 RB. The red on this coin adds character to the silky mirror like fields beautifully. Sharp eye appeal." This design was introduced in 1937 for king George VI and struck until 1941, when the weight was reduced midyear from 6.32 g to 5.67 g. That subtype was struck 1941-43 and then suspended. When production resumed in 1949, the weight was reduced to 5.55 g and the obverse legend modified to drop the "IND IMP". The weight was raised to 5.77 in 1955, then reduced to 5.69 g for the final issue of 1964. This date is common but the proofs are rare.
Recorded mintage: 4,000,000 plus proofs.
Specification: 5.55 g, bronze, plain edge.
Catalog reference: KM-33.
- 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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