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 2/6 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: 2/6 (=£0.125sterling) for Biafran £1 notes when sold in British notaphily shops), and 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.
{{cite web}}
: 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