Italian East African lira
Encyclopedia
The lira was the currency of Italian East Africa
(Africa Orientale Italiana, or AOI) between 1938 and 1941. It was equivalent to the Italian lira
and Italian currency circulated, together with banknotes first issued in 1938. In Italian Somaliland
, the lira
was already circulating. In Ethiopia
, the lira replaced the Ethiopian thaler (issued by the Bank of Ethiopia) whilst in Eritrea
it replaced the Eritrean tallero
, a silver coin minted in Italy. It also briefly replaced the East African shilling
in British Somaliland
between 1940 and 1941.
The lira was replaced by the East African shilling
in 1941, when the United Kingdom
gained control of Italy's colonies, at the rate of 1 shilling = 24 lire. A relic of the lira was the use even in the 1960s of the expression "Lix Lira" (=six lira) for 25 cents.
Italian East Africa
Italian East Africa was an Italian colonial administrative subdivision established in 1936, resulting from the merger of the Ethiopian Empire with the old colonies of Italian Somaliland and Italian Eritrea. In August 1940, British Somaliland was conquered and annexed to Italian East Africa...
(Africa Orientale Italiana, or AOI) between 1938 and 1941. It was equivalent to the Italian lira
Italian lira
The lira was the currency of Italy between 1861 and 2002. Between 1999 and 2002, the Italian lira was officially a “national subunit” of the euro...
and Italian currency circulated, together with banknotes first issued in 1938. In Italian Somaliland
Italian Somaliland
Italian Somaliland , also known as Italian Somalia, was a colony of the Kingdom of Italy from the 1880s until 1936 in the region of modern-day Somalia. Ruled in the 19th century by the Somali Sultanate of Hobyo and the Majeerteen Sultanate, the territory was later acquired by Italy through various...
, the lira
Italian Somaliland lira
The lira was the currency of Italian Somaliland between 1925 and ca. 1938. It replaced the Italian Somaliland rupia at a rate of 8 lire = 1 rupia. Only coins were issued which circulated alongside Italian coins and banknotes. From 1938, banknotes of the Italian East African lira also...
was already circulating. In Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, the lira replaced the Ethiopian thaler (issued by the Bank of Ethiopia) whilst in Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
it replaced the Eritrean tallero
Eritrean tallero
The tallero was the currency of Eritrea between 1890 and 1921. It was subdivided into 5 lire, each of 100 centesimi. The lira was equivalent to the Italian lira....
, a silver coin minted in Italy. It also briefly replaced the East African shilling
East African shilling
The shilling was the currency issued for use in British controlled areas in East Africa from 1921 until 1969. It was produced by the East African Currency Board...
in British Somaliland
British Somaliland
British Somaliland was a British protectorate in the northern part of present-day Somalia. For much of its existence, British Somaliland was bordered by French Somaliland, Ethiopia, and Italian Somaliland. From 1940 to 1941, it was occupied by the Italians and was part of Italian East Africa...
between 1940 and 1941.
The lira was replaced by the East African shilling
East African shilling
The shilling was the currency issued for use in British controlled areas in East Africa from 1921 until 1969. It was produced by the East African Currency Board...
in 1941, when the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
gained control of Italy's colonies, at the rate of 1 shilling = 24 lire. A relic of the lira was the use even in the 1960s of the expression "Lix Lira" (=six lira) for 25 cents.