The pound (symbol £) was the
currency
A currency, "in circulation", from la, currens, -entis, literally meaning "running" or "traversing" is a standardization of money in any form, in use or circulation as a medium of exchange, for example banknotes and coins.
A more general ...
of the breakaway
Republic of Biafra
Biafra, officially the Republic of Biafra, was a partially recognised secessionist state in West Africa that declared independence from Nigeria and existed from 1967 until 1970. Its territory consisted of the predominantly Igbo-populated form ...
between 1968 and 1970.
The first notes, in denominations of 5
/– and £1, were introduced on January 29, 1968.
A series of coins was issued in 1969; 3
d, 6d, 1
/–, and 2/6 coins were minted, all struck in
aluminium
Aluminium (aluminum in American and Canadian English) is a chemical element with the symbol Al and atomic number 13. Aluminium has a density lower than those of other common metals, at approximately one third that of steel. I ...
. 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 (=£0.125
stg) for Biafran £1 notes when sold in British
notaphily
Notaphily is the study and collection of paper currency, and banknotes. A notaphilist is a collector of banknotes or paper money, particularly as a hobby.
History
It is believed that people have been collecting paper money for as long as it has ...
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.
See also
*
Nigerian pound
The pound was the currency of Nigeria between 1907 and 1973. Until 1958, Nigeria used the British West African pound, after which it issued its own currency. The pound was subdivided into 20 shillings, each of 12 pence. The Nigerian pound (whic ...
*
Nigerian naira
The naira (currency sign, sign: ₦; ISO 4217, code: NGN) is the currency of Nigeria. One naira is divided into 100 ''kobo''.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is the sole issuer of legal tender money throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria ...
*
Postage stamps and postal history of Biafra
This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of Biafra.
The ''Republic of Biafra'' was a secessionist state in south-eastern Nigeria which existed from 30 May 1967 to 15 January 1970. The secession was led by the Igbo people followi ...
References
External links
* Banknotes of Biafra.
Coins with Nigerian naira
pjsymes.com.au
Biafra: Coins Issued and Used
Online Coin Club
Pound (currency)
Modern obsolete currencies
Currencies of the Commonwealth of Nations
Currencies of Nigeria
Biafra
1967 establishments in Nigeria
1970 disestablishments
Economy of Nigeria
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