1916 T German East Africa 15 Rupien And Its Origin

German East Africa in WWI and the origin of this coin:

German East Africa included present-day Burundi, Rwanda, the Tanzania mainland, and the Kionga Triangle. In 1914 at the outbreak of WWI, German East Africa was invaded by the Allies in an attempt to subjugate the colony, which started the tale of perhaps the most legendary feet of guerrilla warfare in WWI. Between August 1914 till November 1918, the 14,000 man strong Schutztruppe, consisting mostly of native Askari troops and German officers under the leadership of General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, conducted a guerrilla war that was so successful that 300,000 Allied troops were stationed in East Africa to contain the threat.

In addition, almost uniquely among his contemporaries, he was admired and respected by the native Askari troops due to his fair treatment of his men and his fluency in the Swahili language.

The 15 Rupien, also known as the Tabora Pound, was minted in 1916 under Vorbeck's order to pay for his Askari troops as they did not trust paper money. This was made possible by a small gold mining operation near Tabora and a palm oil press powered by a train's steam engine. The coins, while minted under extremely strenuous condition, was of exceptional quality and is among the most beautiful siege coins minted.

These coins, deemed rare from the beginning, were highly desirable by the Allied troops when they captured Tabora in 1916. As a result, many were either melted, or were taken as war trophies. Today they command high prices and are among the most desirable coins of German East Africa.