NEWS - new info, new types new dates etc...

(A) News about or relating to new African coin issues due soon - or possibly so.
(B) New African coins issues (dates/types) I have seen or heard of recently (mainly circulation issues).
(C) New coins types/dates and varieties apparently issued several years or so ago - but still not in SCWC. Some are at least scarce.
(D) Some African Coins that are listed in the world coin books but never seem to turn up - have you seen any of them ?
(E) A few other African coins worth looking out for.....
 


(A) News about or relating to new African coin issues due soon - or possibly so.

Botswana - A new 2 Pula in a reduced size and a composition seemingly of Brass-plated-Steel has been announced - I expect it will be issued later on in 2005.

Kenya - it would seem that some new circulation coins including the portrait of First President and founder of Kenya - Mzee Jomo Kenyatta will be issued sometime this year - I have not been able to get definite news on this yet. Information from a collector who recently visited Kenya in July 2005 is that this still seems to just be a rumour/possibility.

Somalia - The online BBC news mentioned, in June 2005, that the government of Somalia is about to move out of Kenya and back to Somalia - they had been there for three years and exiles of Somalia since 1991. This is one step towards any new circulation coins that might appear in the next year or two. But don’t count on it !

South Africa - I have not seen any but the legislation already set out means that languages will be changed for the 2005 circulation coins - so the whole set can be expected to comprise of new types.

Uganda - Authorities have given serious consideration to doing away with the 1000 Shilling note - if that were to happen then the 1000 Shilling note would most likely be replaced by a coin of that denomination. Maybe this could be a bi-metallic - Uganda has not yet had a bi-metallic circulation coin.

Zimbabwe - I have not seen or heard of any coins dated after 2002. Mention is occasionally made in news reports of plans for new coins and notes in Zimbabwe - but all as part of a plan that includes inflation getting a bit more like normal - maybe that could take a long time.


(B) New African coins issues (dates/types) I have seen or heard of recently (mainly circulation issues).

Algeria - Algeria’s latest circulating commemorative coin is a 50 Dinar marking the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the revolt of 1st November 1954. The design features a male and a female moudjahid (fighter).

Kenya - Around mid-June 2005 for sale on Ebay was a set/package as issued, comprising Kenya 2003 dated Silver Proof 1000 Shillings and the 200 Shilling banknote together. The issue of the silver proof 1000 Shillings coin as a single piece is already detailed on this site.

Malawi - 1 Tambala dated 2003 exists - rather a low denomination. A 2003 dated 1 Kwacha also exists and is already detailed on this site and now in SCWC2006. Maybe other 2003 dates will turn up for Malawi.

Mauritania - 1 Ouguiya KM-6 dated 2003 and 20 Ouguiya KM-5 dated 2003 (assumably each with Arabic date 1424) - these dates exist but are not listed in SCWC2006.

Rwanda has new circulation coins. They are 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 Francs. They are dated 2003. I first heard of them in Jan 2005. They include Rwanda’s new coat of arms. I later found further details on the site of Rwanda’s national bank - see  http://www.bnr.rw/Billets%20et%20pi%E8ces/pieces.htm
This series of five coins is listed as KM-22 to KM-26 in SCWC2006.

Seychelles I have a piece of each denomination 5, 10 and 25 Cents with date 2003 and the “PM” mintmark. Contrary to some of the SCWC2006 listings, the 2000 dated pieces 5, 10, 25 Cents and 5 Rupees are all with the mintmark of the South African Mint Company. The 25 Cents 2003 seems to be of Nickel-plated-Steel as per the earlier pieces (1993 and 1997) made by the Pobjoy Mint. The 2000 dated 25 Cents pieces are apparently of Stainless Steel. This is something else SCWC2006 omits.

Somalia. I recently acquited 2002 dated examples of Somali 5 Shillings KM-45 and 10 Shillings KM-46. Each of these two types is now known with each date 1999, 2000 and 2002.

Uganda - 2003 dated 50, 200, 500 Shillings (type numbers KM-66, KM-68 and KM-69 respectively) - I saw on Ebay in April 2004 and one or two of them in other places since then. These dates are not in SCWC2006.

Uganda - five new 2004 dated “monkey coins” each of denomination 100 Shillings and each with a different monkey design. Seen on Ebay early in May 2005, with a Chinese seller. Quite similar to a 12 piece 100/- set Chinese Zodiac. None of these are in SCWC2006.


(C) New coins types/dates and varieties apparently issued several years or so ago - but still not in SCWC.
Some are at least scarce.

Angola - For auction on Ebay in June 2005 there was a set of 50 Kwei, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 Kwanzas - with detail of minter being Belgrade and claim (likely correct) that they are proofs. Neither Schon nor SCWC list the undated 20 Kwanzas. Neither Schon nor SCWC list proofs. SCWC lists a mint set KM-MS1 (with colour packaging) but I have never seen one of those offered anywhere. The proof set on Ebay realised 125.95 USD

Central African States 25 Francs 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992 are known to exist but none of these are listed in SCWC2005. As for the listings in SCWC2006, it has, accidentally omitted 25 Francs KM-10 completely !

Central African States 50 Francs KM-11 dated 1990A exists but is not in SCWC2006, nor earlier editions.

Djibouti - Proof sets of 1997 dated coins exists and comprise denominations 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 Francs (types KM-20 to KM-27). Examples of the set occasionaly appear on Ebay and fetch a good price. Neither the 1997 dates nor the proof set are listed in SCWC2006.

Zimbabwe 10 Cents dated 2002 exists though is not listed in SCWC2006. This date is listed for 20 Cents, 50 Cents, 1 Dollar and 5 Dollars. However SCWC2006 omits the material change for 2001 and 2002 dates for denominations 10 Cents through 2 Dollars- the new compositions are Nickel-plated-Steel (for 10, 20, 50 Cents and 1 Dollar) and Brass-plated-Steel (for 2 Dollars, only 2001 date confirmed as yet).


(D) Some African Coins that are listed in the world coin books but never seem to turn up - have you seen any of them ?

Botswana 10 Thebe KM-5 dated 1981 (circulation strike) and 20 Thebe KM-6 dated 1982. These two pieces are listed in SCWC2006. But I cannot conform their existence and I noticed that neither is in WMK2005.

Central African States 50 Francs KM-11 dated 1981D and 50 Francs KM-11 dated 1984B are listed in SCWC2006 (and previous editions) but I cannot confirm that such pieces exist.

Equatorial African States 10 Francs KM-2a dated 1973 is listed in SCWC2006 (and previous editions) but I cannot confirm that such pieces exist.

Tanzania 5 Senti coins dated 1980 and 1983 are listed in SCWC2006 and in WMK2005, a further date 1985 is also listed by WMK2005. I cannot confirm that any of these exist.

Tanzania 10 Senti coins dated 1980 is listed in SCWC2006 and WMK2005, further dates 1982 and 1986 are also listed by WMK2005. I cannot confirm that any of these exist.

Tanzania 20 Senti coins dated 1980 and 1983 are listed in SCWC2006 and in WMK2005, a further date 1985 is also listed by WMK2005. I cannot confirm that any of these exist.

Tanzania 50 Senti coins dated 1982 is listed in SCWC2006 and in WMK2005, a further date 1986 is also listed by WMK2005. I cannot confirm that any of these exist.

Tanzania 1 Shilling coins dated 1985 and 1986 are listed in WMK2005 (though not in SCWC2006). I cannot confirm that any of these exist.

Tunisia 1 Millieme KM-280, 2 Milliemes KM-281 and 10 Milliemes KM-306 are each listed in SCWC2006 as existing with various dates including 1983. They are also listed in WMK2005. However I cannot confirm that 1983 dated pieces exist for any of these three types.

Uganda 5 Cents 1976 and 20 Cents 1974 are each listed in SCWC2006 and in WMK2005. But I cannot confirm that they exist.

Uganda 1 Shilling 1978 was listed in SCWC2005 (but not in SCWC2006) and in WMK2005. I cannot confirm that it exists.


(E) A few other African coins worth looking out for.....

Central African States 500 Francs KM-12 dated 1979B. This piece was not in SCWC until SCWC2006. I know someone who has one, though I have never seen one myself. It would seem that these are scarcer date.

Central African States 100 Francs 1992 (type KM-13 as per the 1996 and 1998 dated pieces). This piece was not in SCWC until SCWC2006. I know someone who has one, though I have never seen one myself. It would seem that these are scarcer date.

Chad 100 Francs KM-3 dated 1991 - I saw one of these offered on Ebay around October 2004. It was offered without an image of definite proof of the existence of the piece but with several other Chad 100 Franc dates. SCWC2006 lists the date 1991 but without mintage or values. Has anyone seen one of these ?

Madagascar 10 Francs KM-11 date of 1979. This piece was not in SCWC until SCWC2006. A few months ago someone pointed me to where an example can be seen. To see one have a look at - http://oho.ru/pic.php?id=401957

Mozambique 50 Centavos, 1M, 2-1/2 M and 5 Meticais (as types KM-98, KM-99, KM-100, KM-101) each with date 1981 are listed in WMK2005 without valuations. I have never seen any of these offered nor has another advanced collector of African coins by date that I know. They are not in SCWC2006 nor earlier editions. Has anyone seen them ?

West African States 25 Francs KM-9 dated 1991 and 1992. These two pieces were not in SCWC until SCWC2006. I know someone who has them, but I do not. It would seem that these are scarcer dates.
 


References.....

SCWC is “Standard Catalog of World Coins”
SCWC2005 is “Standard Catalog of World Coins” (Krause Publications, 32nd edition, 2005)
SCWC2006 is “Standard Catalog of World Coins” (KP Books, 33rd edition, 2006)
WMK2005 is Weltmünzkatalog (G. Schön, 33nd edition, 2005)
 
 

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This page added new at August 2005.