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The coinage of modern Sierra Leone

Started by <k>, April 28, 2018, 06:01:06 PM

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<k>

Map of Sierra Leone.jpg

Map of Sierra Leone.


Sierra Leone-West Africa.jpg

Sierra Leone's location in West Africa.


Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the northeast, Liberia to the southeast and the Atlantic Ocean to the southwest. Sierra Leone has a tropical climate, with a diverse environment ranging from savanna to rainforests. The country has a total area of 71,740 km2 (27,699 sq mi) and a population of around 7 million. It is a constitutional republic with a directly elected president and unicameral legislature known as Parliament.

Sierra Leone became independent from the United Kingdom on 27 April 1961, led by Sir Milton Margai, who became the country's first Prime Minister. From 1991 to 2002, the Sierra Leone Civil War was fought and devastated the country. The proxy war left more than 50,000 people dead, much of the country's infrastructure destroyed and over two million Sierra Leoneans displaced as refugees in neighbouring countries. In January 2002, President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah fulfilled his campaign promise by ending the civil war, with the help of the British government, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations. Kabbah won reelection in the 2002 general election for his final term as president, with 70% of the vote.

More recently, the 2014 Ebola outbreak overburdened the weak healthcare infrastructure, leading to more deaths from medical neglect than Ebola itself. It created a humanitarian crisis situation and heavily impacted economic growth. The country has an extremely low life expectancy relative to other countries, at 57.8 years.

About sixteen ethnic groups inhabit Sierra Leone, each with its own language and customs. The two largest and most influential are the Temne and the Mende people. The Temne are predominantly found in the north of the country, while the Mende are predominant in the southeast. Comprising a small minority are the Krio people, who are descendants of freed African American and West Indian slaves.

Although the English language is the official language spoken at schools and government administration, the Krio language, an English-based creole, is the most widely spoken language across Sierra Leone and is spoken by 97% of the country's population. Sierra Leone is a Muslim majority country, with the overall Muslim population at 78% of the population, though there is an influential Christian minority of various denominations at about 21% of the population. Almost all of Sierra Leone's Heads of State have been Christians.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#1
Sierra Leone flag.gif


The colours of the flag carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. The green alludes to the country's natural resources – specifically agriculture and its mountains – while the white epitomizes "unity and justice". The blue evokes the "natural harbour" of Freetown, the capital city of Sierra Leone, as well as the hope of "contributing to world peace" through its usage
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#2
Sierra Leone coat of arms.gif


The shield on the arms depicts a lion beneath a zigzag border, representing the Lion Mountains, after which the country was named. It also shows three torches which are meant to symbolize peace and dignity. At the base are wavy bars depicting the sea.

The supporters of the shield are lions, similar to those on the colonial badge. The three main colours from the shield – green, white and blue – were used to form the flag.

The green represents agricultural and natural resources, the blue represents the Harbour of Freetown and the white represents unity and justice. At the bottom of the shield, the national motto can be seen.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#3
Milton Margai.jpg

Sir Milton Margai.


Sir Milton Augustus Strieby Margai (1895 - 1964) was a Sierra Leonean politician.

He was the first prime minister of Sierra Leone.

He was the main architect of the post-colonial constitution of Sierra Leone.

He guided his nation to independence, which was achieved on 27 April 1961 in 1961.

Margai died in office in Freetown in 1964.

He was succeeded as prime minister by his brother Albert Margai.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#4


The common obverse of the first coins featured Sir Milton Margai.


The leone was introduced on 4 August 1964.

It replaced the British West African pound at a rate of 1 pound = 2 leones (i.e., 1 leone = 10 shillings).

Decimal coins were introduced in denominations of ½, 1, 5, 10 and 20 cents.

The coins' size and compositions were based on those of the former colonial state British West Africa.

All bore the portrait of the first prime minister of Sierra Leone, Sir Milton Margai.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#5
Sierra Leone ½ cent 1964.jpg

Half cent.


The reverse of the half cent coin featured two bonga fish (Ethmalosa fimbriata).

The reverse designs and the portrait of Sir Milton Margai were the work of Michael Rizzello.

He was an English artist and sculptor who designed many coins for the Royal Mint (UK).
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#6

1 cent coin.


The reverse of the 1 cent coin featured two oil palm branches.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#7
Sierra Leone 5  cents 1964-.jpg

5 cents coin.


The reverse of the 5 cents coin featured the Kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra).
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#8

10 cents coin.


The reverse of the 10 cents coin.

It featured a ring of Oryza sativa grains, commonly known as Asian rice.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#9
Sierra Leone 20c 1964.jpg

20 cents coin.


The reverse of the 20 cents coin.

It featured a rampant heraldic lion and two oil palms.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#10

1 leone.


The 1 leone coin was included in proof sets only and never circulated.

It featured the coat of arms on the obverse.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#11
Siaka Stevens.jpg

Siaka Stevens.

Siaka Probyn Stevens (1905 – 1988) was the 3rd prime minister of Sierra Leone from 1967–1971 and the 1st president of Sierra Leone from 1971–1985. Stevens is generally criticised for dictatorial methods of government in which many of his political opponents were executed, as well as for mismanaging the economy. On a positive note, he reduced the ethnic polarisation in the government of Sierra Leone by incorporating members of various ethnic groups into the government.

In April 1971, Stevens made Sierra Leone a republic and he became the first President of Sierra Leone a day after the constitution had been ratified by the Parliament of Sierra Leone. Stevens retired from office at the end of his term on 28 November 1985. After pressuring all other potential successors to step aside, he chose Major-General Joseph Saidu Momoh, the commander of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces as his successor. Stevens died on 29 May 1988 in Freetown.

See Wikipedia: Siaka Stevens
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#12


Siaka Stevens, obverse portrait.


From 1972, beginning with the 50 cents coin, a new design series was gradually issued.

The common obverse featured a portrait of Siaka Probyn Stevens (1905 – 1988).

He was Prime Minister from 1967 to 1971 and President from 1971 to 1985.

This portrait was also the work of Michael Rizzello.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

Sierra Leone ½c 1980.jpg


The new design series featured the coat of arms on the obverse of every coin.

The country name was now shown as "Republic of Sierra Leone".


The new half cent coin was not issued until 1980.

It was made of bronze.

It was issued in 1980 only.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>



The bronze 1 cent coin.

It was issued in 1980 only.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.