British West African pound

The pound was the currency of British West Africa, a group of British colonies, protectorates and mandate territories. It was equal to the pound sterling and was similarly subdivided into 20 shillings, each of 12 pence. The currency is obsolete.

History

The West African pound was introduced in 1907 for circulation in Nigeria, the Gold Coast (now Ghana), Sierra Leone and the Gambia. From 1912, it was issued by the West African Currency Board. Liberia also adopted the currency in 1907, replacing the Liberian dollar, despite the fact it was not served by the West African Currency Board. Liberia changed to the U.S. dollar in 1943. The British sections of Togo and Cameroon adopted the West African currency in 1914 and 1916 respectively after being taken from Germany.

During the period 1958 to 1968, the West African pound was replaced by local currencies in the newly independent nations. The replacements were:

Coins

In 1907, aluminium frac|1|10 penny and cupro-nickel 1 penny coins were introduced. Both coins were holed. In 1908, cupro-nickel replaced aluminium in the frac|1|10 penny and, in 1911, holed, cupro-nickel ½ penny coins were introduced. In 1913, silver 3 and 6 pence, 1 and 2 shillings were introduced. In 1920, brass replaced silver in these denominations.

In 1938, larger, cupro-nickel 3 pence coins were introduced, with nickel-brass replacing brass in the higher denominations. In 1952, bronze replaced cupro-nickel in the frac|1|10, ½ and 1 penny coins. The last coins of British West Africa (pennies) were struck in 1958.

Banknotes

In 1916, the West African Currency Board introduced notes for 2, 10 and 20 shillings, followed by 1 shilling notes in 1918. Only the 10 and 20 shillings notes were issued after 1918, until 100 shillings (5 pounds) notes were introduced in 1953. The last notes (20 shillings) were produced in 1962.

ee also

* West African Monetary Zone
* Economic Community of West African States

References

*numis cite SCWC | date=1991
*numis cite SCWPM | date=1994

External links

Standard numismatics external links
world_coin_gallery_1_url = Wafrica
world_coin_gallery_1_name = British West Africa
banknote_world_1_url = british_west_africa
banknote_world_1_name = British West Africa
dollarization_1_url = cm
dollarization_1_name = Cameroon
dollarization_2_url = gm
dollarization_2_name = Gambia
dollarization_3_url = gh
dollarization_3_name = Ghana
dollarization_4_url = ng
dollarization_4_name = Nigeria
dollarization_5_url = sl
dollarization_5_name = Sierra Leone
gfd_1_url = Cameroon
gfd_1_name = Cameroon
gfd_2_url = The_Gambia
gfd_2_name = The Gambia
gfd_3_url = Ghana
gfd_3_name = Ghana
gfd_4_url = Nigeria
gfd_4_name = Nigeria
gfd_5_url = Sierra_Leone
gfd_5_name = Sierra Leone
gfd_data_1_url =
gfd_data_1_name =
show_gfd_excel = Y