Kenya, a republic in East Africa, has a rich history that has significantly influenced its coinage. From its early trade links with Arab traders to its time as a British colony, Kenya's coins tell a story of economic and political evolution.
Early History and Colonial Influence
During the first century AD, Arab traders established trade links with local villages on the Kenyan coast. By the 8th century, Arab and Persian merchants had established settlements along the coast, such as Malindi and Mombasa, and continued to trade with native villages in the interior. In 1890, Britain negotiated with Germany for control over the coastal territories in exchange for British holdings in Tanganyika. Five years later, the East Africa Protectorate was established, encompassing the land which is now Kenya. From 1895, Britain began constructing railways to increase access to the interior and to Britain’s neighboring colonial possessions. This gave the protectorate a means to develop its economy and to modernize.
Indians from British India began to settle in the coastal cities and established themselves as merchants and artisans, and white settlers also arrived in huge numbers to establish farms in the fertile lands within the interior. During the First World War, Kenya served as a military base for British forces campaigning against German forces in neighboring German East Africa. Following the First War, people in Kenya (or more specifically, the white settlers in Kenya) demanded more of a say in local affairs. As a result of this lobbying, the East African Protectorate was disestablished and the Colony of Kenya (named after Mount Kenya) created in 1920. Europeans were then allowed to elect representatives to the legislative council.
During World War II, Kenya once again became a frontier against Britain’s enemies and served as a base for launching a campaign into Italian Somaliland and Italian-occupied Ethiopia. Many Kenyans joined the British army during this period, often serving in the King’s African Rifles. The pay they earned in the British Army was more than they had typically been able to earn in civilian life before the war, and discharged veterans often found themselves thrown back into the relative poverty that they had endured before the war.
Resentment between the native population and the colonial authorities reached a head in 1952, and a rebellion led by Dedan Kimathi broke out. The period of the rebellion, known as the Kenyan Emergence saw brutal actions and reprisals on both sides. The rebellion began to disintegrate as Dedan Kimathi began to turn on his own followers, and many Mau-Mau defected to the British and Loyalist cause, he was eventually arrested in 1956. He was put on trial, found guilty and hanged for his crimes the following year. The rebellion thereafter slowly petered out and effectively ended in 1960.
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Three years later, Kenya was granted independence. In 1964, Kenya became a republic, governed by Jomo Kenyatta, first Prime Minister, and then President of Kenya. Kenyatta died in office in 1978, and was succeeded by his vice president, Daniel Arap Moi. Moi eventually consolidated his power and turned Kenya into what was in effect a dictatorship governed with an iron fist for the benefit of himself and his allies. He was eventually compelled by opposition and a constitutional amendment to step down in 2002. 2007 elections were marred by political violence.
Early Currency and the Introduction of the Shilling
The Kenyan Shilling's Changing Faces Since Independence
During the time of the Kilwa Sultanate, copper fals circulated in what is now Kenya. The use of these rupees inland was noted by the different communities, introducing words into their languages for currency. Under Jomo Kenyatta, the first President of Kenya, the Kenyan shilling was established that year, replacing the previous shilling at par.
During British Colonial Rule, British East Africa initially used Indian Rupees, but in 1921 the British East Africa shilling was introduced. Unlike its English equivalent (to which it was equal to) the East Africa shilling was considered to be the primary unit of account and was divided into 100 cents. The newly established Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) commissioned the Royal Mint at Tower Hill, London, to produce the first series of Kenyan coins, consisting of denominations of 5, 10, 25, and 50 cents, and 1 and 2 shillings. Such pieces were minted annually until 1968.
After the World War I, the East African Protectorate was not left out in trying to cope with the challenges of the post war, economic environment. The newly established EACB introduced an intermediate currency based on the English Florin with the thought that it would ease the transformation from Rupee to Shilling. The Florin would be the same size and shape as the Rupee and also be of silver substrate. This then became the advent of the shilling in Kenya.
As the East African territories became independent in sequence from 1962 the EACB ceased to issue notes with the image of the monarch and removed her name from the coinage. There was a desire by the three East African countries to establish a common East African Central Bank. For the banknotes, the interim currency was commonly known as the “Lake Issue” currency because of the background of Lake Victoria on the notes. The notes all showed a dhow on Lake Victoria which was common territory to the three countries. The Lake Victoria designed notes were in the denominations of 5, 10, 20 and 100 shillings. For the first time, use of Hindi on the notes was dropped and Swahili first featured on these common currencies.
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With the establishment of individual Central Banks for the three East African countries, Kenya began printing and minting its own currency under the mandate given to the Central Bank of Kenya in the Central Bank of Kenya Act cap 491. Banknotes for the Central Bank of Kenya, although not yet issued, were legalised under Legal Notice number 252 of 1966 dated 1st July, 1966. Coins were issued in April 1967. The initial issue of Kenya shilling notes were in the denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 shillings, all bearing the portrait of the first President of Kenya, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, in the front, and diverse scenes of economic activities in Kenya at the back.
On April 10, 1967, new Kenya shilling coins were issued in the denominations of 5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents and 1 shilling. The coins were minted by the Royal Mint of U.K. and made from cupro-nickel. Like the notes, the obverse featured the portrait of Kenya’s founding father, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.
The Kenyan Shilling: Denominations and Design
The shilling (Swahili: shilingi; abbreviation: KSh; ISO code: KES) is the currency of Kenya. It is divided into 100 cents. Prices in the Kenyan shilling are written in the form of x/y, where x is the amount in shillings, while y is the amount in cents. An equals sign or hyphen represents zero amount. For example, 50 cents is written as "-/50" and 100 shillings as "100/=" or "100/‑". Sometimes the abbreviation KSh is prefixed for distinction.
The first coins were issued in 1966 in denominations of -/5, -/10, -/25 and -/50, and 1/= and 2/=; -/25 coins were not minted after 1969 (except in the 1973 set); 2/= coins were last minted in 1971 (except in the 1973 set). Between 1967 and 1978, the portrait of Jomo Kenyatta, the first president of Kenya, originally appeared on the obverse of all of independent Kenya's coins. In 1980, a portrait of Daniel arap Moi replaced Kenyatta until 2005, when the central bank introduced a new coin series that restored the portrait of Kenyatta. The coins are -/50 and 1/= in stainless steel and bi-metallic coins of 5/=, 10/= and 20/=.
A new series of coins was issued on 11 December 2018, in denominations of 1/=, 5/=, 10/= and 20/=. Sellers and consumers alike, especially within the rural areas, have increasingly rejected the 50 cents and 1 shilling coins, despite assurances from the Central Bank of Kenya regarding their continued validity. On 14 September 1966, the Kenyan shilling replaced the East African shilling at par, although the latter was not demonetised until 1969.
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The Central Bank of Kenya issued notes in denominations of 5/=, 10/=, 20/=, 50/= and 100/=. 5/= notes were replaced by coins in 1985, with the same happening to 10/= and 20/= in 1994 and 1998. As with the coins, Kenyatta appeared on the banknotes issued until 1978, with Daniel arap Moi's portrait replacing him in 1980. In 2003, after Mwai Kibaki replaced Moi as president, 5/=, 10/=, and 20/= notes from the 1978 series with Kenyatta's picture that had been in storage were issued, and circulated for a time. A new series of notes was then introduced on which Kenyatta reappeared in denominations of 50/=, 100/=, 200/=, 500/= and 1,000/=.
On 31 May 2019, the Central Bank of Kenya issued a new family of banknotes without the portraits of known Kenyan individuals, as mandated by the Constitution of Kenya of 2010. At the same time, the Central Bank of Kenya has withdrawn all previous versions of the 1,000/= banknote. These remained legal tender until 1 October 2019. All of the banknotes for this series share a common design of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre on the front side of the notes, and the back side of the notes feature images showcasing the richness of the people and nature of Kenya: "Green Energy" (50/=), "Agriculture" (100/=), "Social Services" (200/=), "Tourism" (500/=) and "Governance" (1,000/=).
The Central Bank of Kenya introduced an updated series of banknotes beginning with the KES 1,000 denomination in 2024. This newly released banknote retains a similar design to the previous series but features several key updates.
The 1 Shilling Coin: A Detailed Look
The 1 shilling coin is a current circulation piece of the Republic of Kenya that was produced in five main types from 1966 to 2010. During the existence of the British Colony and Protectorate of Kenya, a local version of the shilling was introduced as the primary medium of exchange in the territory, as well as in much of East Africa. Even after gaining independence in 1963, Kenya continued to use the colonial currency until 1966.
The newly established Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) commissioned the Royal Mint at Tower Hill, London, to produce the first series of Kenyan coins, consisting of denominations of 5, 10, 25, and 50 cents, and 1 and 2 shillings. Such pieces were minted annually until 1968. The following year, in 1969, the CBK requested for the creation of a modified series of circulation coins of the same denominations.
Jomo Kenyatta Era (1966-1978)
The first type was issued briefly from 1966 to 1968, during the early administration of President Jomo Kenyatta (c. 1889-1978). It was followed by a similar piece that made its appearance in 1969 and continued to be minted until Kenyatta's death in 1978. British sculptor Norman Sillman (1921-2013), who designed the initial series, was tasked with engraving the second.
Both versions of the 1 shilling coin are composed of a cupronickel alloy and have a mass of approximately 8 grams, a diameter of 27.8 millimeters, and a thickness of 1.65 millimeters. They bear reeded edges and have medallic alignment, and like most coins, are round in shape. The obverse of both coins features a left-facing bust of Jomo Kenyatta in the center, which shows the president with his signature mustache and pointed beard, wearing a suit and tie on his upper torso. On the earlier of the two types, this illustration of Kenyatta is the only item present on the obverse.
However, "THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF KENYA" is inscribed above the depiction on the second type, traveling in a clockwise direction from the left to right rims of the piece. Often considered the Father of the Nation in Kenya, Kenyatta's name was often prefixed with mzee, a local Swahili word meaning "elder". This is reflected on the 1 shilling coin, on which "MZEE JOMO KENYATTA" is printed counterclockwise from the left to right peripheries of the obverse. This text and the aforementioned legend are separated by two small, circular points. Due to the presence of this text, Kenyatta's portrait is smaller on later pieces.
Aside from the dates of issue, the reverses of both types are identical. Featured in the middle of the reverse is a large rendition of the coat of arms of Kenya - which consists of a traditional East African shield divided into three fields, the one in the center bearing a rooster holding an ax. This shield is supported in the arms by two lions holding spears and standing on the silhouette of Mount Kenya, which is covered with coffee, maize, pyrethrum, sisal, pineapples, and tea, and partially concealed by a scroll bearing the Kenyan national motto "HARAMBEE", Swahili for "all put together". Printed below the arms is the numeral "1", identifying the face value of 1 shilling. The value appears again as "ONE SHILLING" along the bottom periphery of the coin, extending counterclockwise from the bottom left to right rims. The Gregorian date of minting is written horizontally in Western Arabic numerals at the middle of the coin, the first two digits separated from the last two by the arms.
A total of approximately 32,000,027 examples of the first type were produced, including 32,000,000 business strikes and about 27 proofs dated 1966. A mintage of about 104,856,515 specimens of the second coin was made, which includes 104,856,000 business strikes and 515 proofs.
Daniel Arap Moi Era (1978-2002)
That year Daniel arap Moi (1924-) assumed leadership of Kenya, and a new 1 shilling bearing his likeness was introduced. This third type was made in two subtypes, the initial one manufactured intermittently from 1978 to 1989, and the second struck solely in 1994. Moi introduced another 1 shilling piece near the end of his presidency, in 1995, and this continued to be minted until 1998.
Norman Sillman was again tasked with the design of the Kenyan coins. The 1 shilling coin remained unchanged for the next three years of minting - 1980, 1981, and 1989 - but in 1994 the composition was altered to a cheaper alternative. The earlier of the two subtypes is composed of cupronickel, while its later counterpart is made of nickel-plated steel.
Both coins weigh approximately 8 grams and measure 27.8 millimeters in diameter and 1.65 millimeters in thickness. Both have medallic alignment and a reeded edge, and are round in shape. Displayed in the center of the obverse is an illustration of President Daniel arap Moi wearing a suit and tie and facing ½ right. The official title of Moi's position, "PRESIDENT OF REPUBLIC OF KENYA" is engraved above Moi's likeness, traveling in a clockwise direction from the upper left to upper right boundaries of the obverse. Written counterclockwise below the depiction of the president in a slightly larger font is the caption "DANIEL TOROITICH ARAP MOI". Such text commences at the lower right rim and concludes at the lower right. Moi's name and title are divided by empty spaces at the left and right sides of the obverse.
Aside from the dates, the reverse is identical to that on the coins of Jomo Kenyatta. The coat of arms of Kenya appears in the middle, the state title "REPUBLIC OF KENYA" inscribed in a clockwise direction above and the value "ONE SHILLING" engraved in the opposite direction below.
The total mintage of the first 1 shilling coin of Daniel arap Moi is currently unknown. Business strikes were produced during 1978, 1980, 1989, and 1994, and a handful of proofs were included in sets from 1978 and 1981.
In 1995, during the later presidency of Daniel arap Moi, the Central Bank of Kenya authorized the production of a new series of coins, again commissioning the Royal Mint to design and produce the pieces. Such a series, consisting of denominations of 10 and 50 cents, and 1, 5, and 10 shillings, was reportedly designed by Norman Sillman.
The second 1 shilling coin of Moi is composed of brass-plated steel. It is considerably smaller than previous Kenyan shillings, having a mass of 4.35 grams, a diameter of 22 millimeters, and a thickness of 1.6 millimeters. The edge of the piece alternates between reeded and plain, having four segments of each. The coin has medallic alignment and is round in shape.
The bust of Moi that appears on the previous series of Kenyan coins is displayed in the center of the new coin's obverse. It is accompanied by the caption "PRESIDENT DANIEL TOROITICH ARAP MOI", which is written in a clockwise direction from the bottom left to right peripheries of the coin. Such text is considerably larger and more prominent than that on the earlier pieces of Moi's presidency. Although a large space below the central effigy divides the beginning and end of the aforementioned legend, a small circular point is engraved at the bottom of the piece, in the middle of the empty field.
The shilling produced from 1995 to 1998 is the first of the denomination to feature a redesigned reverse. The numeral "1", identifying a face value of 1 shilling, is engraved in a large font in the center of the reverse. It is followed below by the coat of arms of Kenya, which is considerably smaller than on the earlier Kenyan shillings. The Gregorian date of minting is printed horizontally in Western Arabic numerals along the middle of the piece, and like on the coins of Kenyatta and the first pieces of Moi, the initial two digits are separated from the final two by the arms. In contrast, however, there is more space between the numbers and the arms.
Mwai Kibaki Era (2002-2013)
During the final years of Moi's administration and first few years of Kibaki's leadership, no Kenyan coins were produced. However, in 2005 the Central Bank of Kenya called for the introduction of a new series of circulation pieces. With initial plans to issue coins in denominations of 5, 10, and 50 cents, and 1, 5, 10, and 20 shillings, only the higher five denominations were released. All of the pieces bear previous designs made by Norman Sillman.
The shilling made under Kibaki is composed of nickel-plated steel. Weighing 5.5 grams and measuring 23.9 millimeters in diameter and 1.9 millimeters in thickness, it is slightly larger than the second type of Moi, but still smaller than the initial Moian pieces and both coins of Kenyatta. The edge of the newer piece alternates between reeded and plain, with four segments of each. The coin has medallic alignment and is round in shape.
In spite of being struck during Kibaki's administration, Sillman's portrait of Jomo Kenyatta from the shillings issued from 1966 to 1978 appears on the obverse. Like on the second type introduced under Kenyatta, "THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF KENYA" is written clockwise along the upper periphery of the coin, and "MZEE JOMO KENYATTA" is inscribed in the opposite direction along the bottom rim, both starting and ending near the same point. Both legends are separated from each other by two small circular points.
Excluding the date, the reverse is identical to that prepared for the second shilling type of Daniel arap Moi. The numeral "1", representing the coin's value of 1 shilling, appears in the center, a small Kenyan coat of arms displayed below. The Gregorian date of minting is written horizontally in Western Arabic numerals in the middle of the piece, the first two digits separated from the last two by the arms.
Examples of all five types continue to be circulated in Kenya, carrying valid legal tender face values equivalent to 1.00 shillings.
Coin Values and Collectibility
Investing in Kenya coins can be a great opportunity for coin collectors and investors alike. One reason why Kenya coins are attractive to investors is their rarity. Many Kenya coins were produced in limited quantities, making them difficult to find and increasing their value. Finally, the price of Kenya old coins is also influenced by their age and condition.
New coins with the image of Kenyatta were issued in 2005. In 2010, Section 231(4) of the 2010 Constitution of Kenya stated "Notes and coins issued by the Central Bank of Kenya may bear images that depict or symbolise Kenya or an aspect of Kenya but may not bear the portrait of any individual." New banknotes and coins were scheduled to be released by 2018 to meet up with this new law.
The most valuable Kenya coins and sought after by collectors according to Foronum statistics are the following:
The valuation of these coins list has been achieved through a meticulous algorithm that considers the current market, taking into account aspects such as material, weight, diameter, edge, year of mintage, mint of manufacture and the number of coins produced. Coins with limited mintages and in good condition are usually among the most valuable.
Disclaimer: The prices listed in the various NGC Price and Value Guides are compiled from a number of independent, third party sources in the numismatic community which NGC believes to be reliable. Prices provided are averages, not specific prices for individual coins. Further, because these prices are only updated from time to time, they do not reflect short term pricing trends, which are quite common and are often quite dramatic, given the volatile nature of the collectible coin marketplace. This is especially true for rare coins, where there are fewer sales and greater variations in sale prices.
For all of these reasons, the prices in these guides are designed to serve merely as one of many measures and factors that coin buyers and sellers can use in determining coin values. These prices are not intended, and should not be relied upon, to replace the due diligence and - when appropriate - expert consultation that coin buyers and sellers should undertake when entering into a coin transaction. As such, NGC disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information contained in the NGC Guides.
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