Biafran pound
The pound (symbol £) was the currency of the breakaway Republic of Biafra between 1968 and 1970.
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Unit | |||||
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Symbol | £ | ||||
Denominations | |||||
Subunit | |||||
1⁄20 | shilling | ||||
1⁄240 | penny | ||||
Plural | |||||
penny | pence | ||||
Symbol | |||||
shilling | s or /– | ||||
penny | d | ||||
Banknotes | 5/–, 10/–, £1, £5, £10 | ||||
Coins | 3d, 6d, 1/–, 2/6 | ||||
Demographics | |||||
User(s) | Biafra | ||||
Issuance | |||||
Central bank | Bank of Biafra | ||||
This infobox shows the latest status before this currency was rendered obsolete. |
The first notes, in denominations of 5/– and £1, were introduced on January 29, 1968.[1] A series of coins was issued in 1969; 3d, 6d, 1/–, and 2s 6d coins were minted, all struck in aluminium. In February 1969, a second family of notes was issued in denominations of 5/– and 10/–, £1, £5 and £10. Despite not being recognised currency by the rest of the world when issued, the banknotes were afterwards sold as curios (typically at an eighth of their face value, or 2/6 sterling for Biafran £1) in British notaphily shops. The notes are now traded among banknote collectors at well above their original nominal value.
The most commonly found notes are the 1968 and 1969 £1 notes, with the £10 note and all coins being rare.
Banknotes of the Biafran pound (1968 "First" issue) | ||||
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Image | Value | Obverse | Reverse | |
5/– | Palm tree over a rising sun | Four Biafran girls | ||
£1 | Palm tree over a rising sun | Coat of arms of Biafra | ||
References
- Linzmayer, Owen (2011). "Biafra". The Banknote Book. San Francisco, CA: www.BanknoteNews.com. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
External links
- Banknotes of Biafra."Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2006-01-13.
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - Coins with Nigerian naira
- Information from Biafraland.
- A detailed article on the banknotes of the Biafran pound pjsymes.com.au
- Biafra: Coins Issued and Used Online Coin Club