German East African rupie
Encyclopedia
The Rupie was the currency of German East Africa
between 1890 and 1916, continuing to circulate in the Tanganyika Territory
until 1920.
. The German East Africa Company
acquired the right to mint coinage in 1890 and issued rupies which were equivalent to the Indian and Zanzibar rupee. The Company retained its coinage rights even after the takeover of German East Africa by the government later in 1890. In 1904 the German government took over currency matters and established the Ostafrikanische Bank.
The Rupie was initially equivalent to the Indian rupee
. Until 1904, it was subdivided into 64 Pesa (equivalent to the Indian pice or paisa). The currency was decimalized on 28 February 1904, with 1 Rupie = 100 Heller
. At the same time, a fixed exchange rate of 15 Rupien = 20 German Mark
was established.
In 1915 and 1916, a large series of emergency issues of paper money were issued. 1916 also saw a final issue of coins including gold 15 Rupien coins which contained an equivalent amount of gold to 15 German Mark. Later in 1916, German East Africa was occupied by British and Belgian forces. In Tanganyika
, the Rupie circulated alongside the East African rupee
(to which it was equal) until 1920, when both were replaced by the East African florin
at par. In Burundi
and Rwanda
, the Belgian Congolese franc replaced the Rupie in 1916.
During the First World War, gold from the Sekenke Gold Mine
was used to mint coins to pay German troups fighting against the allied forces
in the Belgian Congo
.
As a consequence of decimalization, bronze ½ and 1 Heller were introduced in 1904, followed by bronze 5 Heller and holed, cupro-nickel 10 Heller in 1908. In 1913, holed, cupro-nickel 5 Heller were introduced. In 1916, crude, brass 5 and 20 Heller coins were issued, together with the gold 15 Rupien mentioned above.
German East Africa
German East Africa was a German colony in East Africa, which included what are now :Burundi, :Rwanda and Tanganyika . Its area was , nearly three times the size of Germany today....
between 1890 and 1916, continuing to circulate in the Tanganyika Territory
Tanganyika Territory
Tanganyika Territory was a British colony between 1919 and 1961. Prior to the end of the First World War was part of the German colony of German East Africa. After the war had broke out, the British invaded the German East Africa, but were unable to defeat the German Army...
until 1920.
History
The Indian rupee was the dominant currency used along the East African coast in the second half of the 19th century where it had marginalized the American gold dollar as well as the Maria Theresa thalerMaria Theresa thaler
The Maria Theresa thaler is a silver bullion-coin that has been used in world trade continuously. Maria Theresa Thalers were first minted in 1741, using the then Reichsthaler standard of 9 thalers to the Vienna mark. In 1750 the thaler was debased to 10 thalers to the Vienna Mark...
. The German East Africa Company
German East Africa Company
The German East Africa Company was an organization established at the start of the German colonization of East Africa. This company, in short, was responsible for the activities in the new colony such as setting up leadership, future explorations, and the development of the region.In 1888, the...
acquired the right to mint coinage in 1890 and issued rupies which were equivalent to the Indian and Zanzibar rupee. The Company retained its coinage rights even after the takeover of German East Africa by the government later in 1890. In 1904 the German government took over currency matters and established the Ostafrikanische Bank.
The Rupie was initially equivalent to the Indian rupee
Indian rupee
The Indian rupee is the official currency of the Republic of India. The issuance of the currency is controlled by the Reserve Bank of India....
. Until 1904, it was subdivided into 64 Pesa (equivalent to the Indian pice or paisa). The currency was decimalized on 28 February 1904, with 1 Rupie = 100 Heller
Heller (money)
The Heller or Häller was originally a German coin valued at half a pfennig and named after the city of Hall am Kocher...
. At the same time, a fixed exchange rate of 15 Rupien = 20 German Mark
German gold mark
The Goldmark was the currency used in the German Empire from 1873 to 1914.-History:Before unification, the different German states issued a variety of different currencies, though most were linked to the Vereinsthaler, a silver coin containing 16⅔ grams of pure silver...
was established.
In 1915 and 1916, a large series of emergency issues of paper money were issued. 1916 also saw a final issue of coins including gold 15 Rupien coins which contained an equivalent amount of gold to 15 German Mark. Later in 1916, German East Africa was occupied by British and Belgian forces. In Tanganyika
Tanganyika
Tanganyika , later formally the Republic of Tanganyika, was a sovereign state in East Africa from 1961 to 1964. It was situated between the Indian Ocean and the African Great Lakes of Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika...
, the Rupie circulated alongside the East African rupee
East African rupee
The rupee was the currency of Britain's East African colonies and protectorates between 1906 and 1920. It was divided into 100 cents.The rupee replaced the Indian rupee, which had previously circulated. In 1920, the rupee was revalued against sterling to a peg of 1 rupee = 2 shillings...
(to which it was equal) until 1920, when both were replaced by the East African florin
East African florin
The florin was the currency of the British colonies and protectorates of East Africa between 1920 and 1921. It was divided into 100 cents. It replaced the rupee at par and was replaced by the shilling at a rate of 2 shillings = 1 florin...
at par. In Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
and Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, the Belgian Congolese franc replaced the Rupie in 1916.
During the First World War, gold from the Sekenke Gold Mine
Sekenke Gold Mine
The Sekenke Gold Mine was an underground gold mine in the Shinyanga Region of Tanzania.In the era before the Second World War, Sekenke was the largest single producer of gold in present-day Tanzania, then the colony of Tanganyika...
was used to mint coins to pay German troups fighting against the allied forces
East African Campaign (World War I)
The East African Campaign was a series of battles and guerrilla actions which started in German East Africa and ultimately affected portions of Mozambique, Northern Rhodesia, British East Africa, Uganda, and the Belgian Congo. The campaign was effectively ended in November 1917...
in the Belgian Congo
Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
.
Coins
In 1890, copper 1 Pesa and silver 1 Rupie coins were introduced, followed the next year by silver ¼ and ½ Rupie and in 1893 by silver 2 Rupien coins. The silver coins were minted to the same standard as the Indian rupee.As a consequence of decimalization, bronze ½ and 1 Heller were introduced in 1904, followed by bronze 5 Heller and holed, cupro-nickel 10 Heller in 1908. In 1913, holed, cupro-nickel 5 Heller were introduced. In 1916, crude, brass 5 and 20 Heller coins were issued, together with the gold 15 Rupien mentioned above.
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