 |
| German East Africa 100 Rupien, German Emperor Wilhelm II |
 |
| 100 rupien of Deutsch-Ostafrikanische Bank |
German East Africa 100 Rupien banknote 1905, papiergeld Deutsch-Ostafrikanische Bank
German East African banknotes, German East African paper money, German East African bank notes, German East Africa banknotes, German East Africa paper money, German East Africa bank notes German banknotes, German mark banknotes, Deutsche Mark, German paper money, German bank notes, Germany banknotes, Germany paper money, Germany bank notes, German currency, German East African banknotes, German Rentenmark..Obverse: Portrait of German Emperor Wilhelm II wearing the Garde du Corps helmet with parade eagle.
Reverse: Deutsch-Ostafrikanische Bank - 100 - Ein Hundert Rupien.
The regiment of the Garde du Corps was raised in 1740, to provide personal escort to the King of Prussia. After the "unification" of the german armies in 1871, it become the personal escort of the Kaiser, with characteristics of a Cuirassier regiment, but with a elite selection process.
German East African rupie
The Rupie was the currency of German East Africa between 1890 and 1916, continuing to circulate in the Tanganyika Territory until 1920.
The Indian rupee was the dominant currency used along the East African coast during the second half of the 19th century where it had marginalized the American gold dollar and the Maria Theresa thaler. The German East Africa Company acquired rights to mint coinage in 1890 and issued rupies which were equivalent to the Indian and Zanzibar rupee. The Company retained its coinage rights even after the takeover of German East Africa by the government later in 1890. In 1904 the German government took over currency matters and established the Ostafrikanische Bank.
The Rupie was initially equivalent to the Indian rupee. Until 1904, it was subdivided into 64 Pesa (equivalent to the Indian pice or paisa). The currency was decimalized on 28 February 1904, with 1 Rupie = 100 Heller. At the same time, a fixed exchange rate of 15 Rupien = 20 German Mark was established.
In 1915 and 1916, a large series of emergency issues of paper money were issued. 1916 also saw a final issue of coins including gold 15 Rupien coins which contained an equivalent amount of gold to 15 German Mark. Later in 1916, German East Africa was occupied by British and Belgian forces. In Tanganyika, the Rupie circulated alongside the East African rupee (to which it was equal) until 1920, when both were replaced by the East African florin at par. In Burundi and Rwanda, the Belgian Congolese franc replaced the Rupie in 1916.
During the First World War, gold from the Sekenke Gold Mine was used to mint coins to pay German troops fighting against the allied forces in the Belgian Congo.
German East Africa Coins
In 1890, copper 1 Pesa and silver 1 Rupie coins were introduced, followed the next year by silver ¼ and ½ Rupie and in 1893 by silver 2 Rupien coins. The silver coins were minted to the same standard as the Indian rupee.
As a consequence of decimalization, bronze ½ and 1 Heller were introduced in 1904, followed by bronze 5 Heller and holed, cupro-nickel 10 Heller in 1908. In 1913, holed, cupro-nickel 5 Heller were introduced. In 1916, crude, brass 5 and 20 Heller coins were issued, together with the gold 15 Rupien mentioned above.
German East Africa banknotes
In 1905, the Deutsch-Ostafrikanische Bank introduced notes for 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 Rupien. Between 1915 and 1917, emergency notes were issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 200 Rupien.