British East Africa, British East African Company for Kenya, Pice 1888

Great Britain began to get interested in East Africa in the late 19th century. In 1895 it established the Protectorate of British East Africa, a territory roughly corresponding to the modern state of Kenya. The colonial rulers issued coins for British East Africa. This is a pice, a small coin adapted to the prevailing circumstances. In the 19th century, the most common currency in East Africa was the Indian rupee. 1 rupee held 16 annas or 64 pice. The coin was struck in Calcutta, the capital of the British colonial empire in India, as indictated by the mark C/M on the obverse. The reverse shows a beam balance with "Justice" in the centre.