Description

German East Africa 1909J 10 Heller Very Fine (VF-20)

German East Africa was a German colony in a region that includes present day Burundi, Rwanda, mainland Tanzania, and the Kionga Triangle. Established in the late 19th century, it was Germany’s largest overseas territory. The German colonial administration heavily invested in infrastructure, building railways, ports, and schools, though often using forced labor, which led to significant local resistance. One of the most notable uprisings was the Maji Maji Rebellion (1905–1907), where local populations revolted against forced cotton cultivation imposed by the German authorities. The colony was also a focal point during World War I, where it witnessed prolonged military campaigns between German colonial forces led by General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck and the Allied forces. Following Germany s defeat in World War I, the Treaty of Versailles placed the territory under British and Belgian administration, marking the end of German colonial rule in the region. The legacy of German East Africa is still evident today in certain cultural, linguistic, and architectural influences in Tanzania and neighboring countries.

Obverse: A centre hole divides that date, and a crown with a ribbon above.
Reverse: Two sprigs flanking the centre hole which divides the date.

Specifications:
Monarch: Wilhelm II (1888-1918)
Engraver: Karl Kuhl
Composition: Copper-nickel
Weight: 6.25 g
Diameter: 26 mm
Edge: Plain
Die Axis: ↑ ↑
Mint: Hamburgische Munze, Germany
Mintage: 1,990,000