The Coinage of Colonial Africa: An Historical Overview

The Coinage of Colonial Africa is the first comprehensive survey of the coinage and monetary systems introduced by European powers across Africa from the Portuguese arrival in 1415 to the end of colonial rule in the twentieth century.Covering more than forty African territories and five centuries of monetary history, the book explores how trade, slavery, imperial expansion, and economic control shaped the currencies that circulated throughout the continent. From Portuguese macutas and Spanish trade dollars to the coinage of the British, French, German, Belgian, and Italian colonial empires, each monetary system is placed within its broader historical and political context.Combining historical narrative with detailed numismatic analysis, this richly illustrated reference work contains over 300 illustrations of coins, maps, documents, and historical records. Special attention is given to major trade currencies such as the Maria Theresa thaler, as well as to indigenous and pre-monetary forms of exchange that coexisted with European coinage.Features include:• All European colonial powers active in Africa (1415–1975)• More than forty African territories covered• Over 300 illustrations• Extensive bibliographies and indexes• A dedicated chapter on the Maria Theresa thaler and its countermarks• An introduction to primitive and pre-monetary currenciesWritten for collectors, historians, museum professionals, curators, and all readers interested in Africa's material and economic past, The Coinage of Colonial Africa provides both a scholarly reference and a comprehensive guide to the monetary history of colonial Africa. Read more