The East African Currency Board was established in 1919 specifically to consolidate the fragmented currency arrangements left over from wartime administration across British East Africa, German East Africa (now Tanganyika, administered under mandate), Uganda, and Zanzibar. This note, issued in the board's inaugural year, carries the dual florins/pounds denomination because the florin had been the unit of the Indian rupee-linked system previously in use — the board was still bridging the transition to a sterling-based structure.
The crossover denomination was short-lived. The florin reference was dropped from subsequent issues as the rupee-to-sterling conversion settled and the florin peg became redundant. P#12A is among the earliest and most transitional pieces the board ever produced.
The East African Currency Board was established in 1919 specifically to consolidate the fragmented currency arrangements left over from wartime administration across British East Africa, German East Africa (now Tanganyika, administered under mandate), Uganda, and Zanzibar. This note, issued in the board's inaugural year, carries the dual florins/pounds denomination because the florin had been the unit of the Indian rupee-linked system previously in use — the board was still bridging the transition to a sterling-based structure.
The crossover denomination was short-lived. The florin reference was dropped from subsequent issues as the rupee-to-sterling conversion settled and the florin peg became redundant. P#12A is among the earliest and most transitional pieces the board ever produced.