Catalog
50 Rupees
| Issuer | Government of the East Africa Protectorate |
|---|---|
| Year | 1912 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 50 Rupees |
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| Obverse description | Dark brown intaglio-printed note on plain paper, with the issuer's title 'THE GOVERNMENT OF THE EAST AFRICA PROTECTORATE' set within an elaborate guilloche border at top centre. The central panel carries the denomination 'FIFTY RUPEES' in large letterpress type, flanked by numeral '50' panels on each side, with the denomination also rendered in Arabic, Gujarati, and Hindi scripts below. The place and date of issue 'Mombasa, 1st July 1912' appear at lower centre, above a rectangular panel reading 'FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE EAST AFRICA PROTECTORATE', with a manuscript signature to the right above the legend 'FOR THE CURRENCY COMMISSIONERS'. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | THE GOVERNMENT OF THE EAST AFRICA PROTECTORATE PROMISES TO PAY THE BEARER ON DEMAND THE SUM OF FIFTY RUPEES FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE EAST AFRICA PROTECTORATE |
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| Comments |
The East Africa Protectorate currency was administered not by a bank but directly by the colonial government — an unusual arrangement that persisted until the East African Currency Board was established in 1919. This note predates that transition by seven years and was issued under the authority of the Commissioner, later Governor, of the Protectorate.
The 50 Rupee denomination placed it firmly in the hands of merchants and administrators rather than ordinary circulation. The rupee standard was abandoned in 1920-21 when the florin — and shortly after, the shilling — replaced it across British East Africa, rendering these notes obsolete within a decade of issue. Survivors are rare.