German E. Africa 1 Rupie - Museum Gallery

November 2024

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Encapsulated by NGC as MS64 - an Eine Rupie of fine distinction from the German East Africa Company. The colony was established by treaties with local chiefs in 1884. It became a protectorate in 1891 and a full colony in 1897. The territory was established in what then was known as Tanganyika (Tanzania). The colony was lost after WW1.
Obverse: the German Emperor and on the reverse the coat of arms of the German East Africa Company, a striding lion in front of a palm tree. The fractions were one quarter, one half, one, and a double Rupee, thus matching the local currency.
All coins were made on behalf of the German East Africa Company that had the coins manufactured at its own expense in the Berlin Mint. This proved to be a profitable venture.
Local businessmen were used to the Rupees heavy fluctuation. The administrative officials, too, were unhappy with the situation. Their salaries were fixed in Mark whereas they received the payment in local currency. A fluctuation of up to 20% within a year made the situation intolerable.
Things were so bad that the German Reichstag had to deal with the situation. In 1902, the trading company left the regulation of the monetary situation in the colony to the German government for considerable compensation.
In cooperation with the British and the Sultan of Zanzibar the German Rupee was stabilized first; consequently, its value was fixed to 1 Rupee = 1.33 Mark. The new fraction was the Heller equaling 100 to a Rupee.
The BEST article on German E. Africa Coins is:
German East Africa Coins - Sandrock: [ link ]