TT PK 5b 1968-69 BIAFRA 1 POUND PMG 65 EPQ GEM WITHOUT SERIAL NUMBERS! Moreover, he was commissioned to take part in a plan to assassinate Ojukwu and topple the Biafran regime a plan that was later uncovered and which cost Banjo his life. In January 1967 the Eastern Region began impounding the rolling stock of the Nigerian Railways and seizing goods at Port Harcourt that were the property of federal authorities. See Details. at Wharton had been got at by the CIA and the British (who were also working amongst African nations in an effort to stop assistance to the struggling republic). Bank of Biafra. The notes have a palm tree and a big rising sun on their obverse design. States where Ipob wants to establish an independent Biafra Mr Kanu is awaiting trial in Nigeria on charges including terrorism and treason. To all Nigerians, Please ignore the news that the Biafran Pound has been approved in Italy. However, yet another estimate stated that 30 million were circulating in Biafra at the point of secession, with further reserves of 40 million being held in the bank vaults of the Central Bank in Enugu and Port Harcourt. Unissued copies of ten year bonds for the value of one thousand pounds, dated 15 June 1969 and offered through the London agents of the Republic of Biafra, are extant and show that this method of financing was attempted although it is not known how many bonds were actually issued. No fatality recorded from Bo Stadium incident, No, Atiku did not get 25% in all 24 states, President Muhammadu Buhari did not approve President Obasanjos request for election cancellation, Peter Obi won four area councils NOT six in Abuja, False! (From other reports in the press at the time, this appeared to be the general rate available for the notes. Not only was Nigeria taking steps to halt the flow of currency from Biafra, steps were also being taken to introduce a new series of bank notes which would be unavailable to the Biafrans. Or browse our previous auctions using our text-based directory. It turned out, however, to be false information. Prior to the war, Ojukwu had expressed the desire for a loose association of states which would include the Nigerian regions (as separate states) and its neighbours such as Togo and Dahomey (Benin). Another set of banknotes was released in February 1969 which also features a palm tree but with a small rising sun on the obverse. Another version states that one plane was forced to jettison much of its cargo, including over half the bank notes it was carrying, into the Atlantic while flying along the coast. A/O & A/P20 million, 1A/A to A/D40 million. See the details of the banknotes available for swap. 1 FIVE POUNDS - 5 Cargoes of arms and ammunition bought by Biafra are dumped into the sea during airflight. PEACE - UNITY - FREEDOM The Bank of Nigeria . Perhaps, this was what made the video to . What has been spreading on social media is fake information disseminated by IPOB in order to mislead people and massage the egos of Biafra supporters. When Nigeria announced the introduction of their new note issue was to be on 3 January 1968, the Biafrans were still collecting Nigerian notes. 2x Biafra Banknote 1 Pound 1968 ND P 5a *UNC* Consecutive Serial #s ! There have been differing reports as to the amount of Nigerian currency in circulation at the time of secession, but when Nigerias Finance Commissioner announced on 30 December 1967 that the new Nigerian notes would replace the current notes in circulation between 3 January and 22 January 1968, he also stated that some 37 million had been seized by the rebels in the east. In his Diary of Events for 1 September 1968, Gen. Ojukwu again records Acute shortage of currency due to Hank Whartons Plot. In the Biafran towns and cities the shortage of money was one of the many problems people faced. When the Nigerians announced that they would no longer redeem bank notes exported from Nigeria after August 1967, the Biafrans worked quickly to gather bank notes remaining in circulation so that they could be converted into precious foreign exchange. It ranges from 0 to 100, 0 meaning a very common coin or banknote and 100 meaning a rare coin or banknote among Numista members. We had to do something quickly to save the near-disastrous situation. Please browse the results of our past auctions using the navigation tools above. False: the world bank has not approved the Biafran currency and has confirmed this claim to be false alongside shreds of facts gathered by Dubawa. We hope you enjoy shopping at BNWorld, Inc. Mon-Fri 8:30am-12:30am (Order cut-off for deliveries using USPS is 12:00pm and FedEx before 3:00pm (PST)), Graded Special Condition and Serial numbers, Venezuela Bolvar Digital (Digitales) 2021, Iraqi Dinar for ZImbabwe Dollars or Venezuelan Bolivar, Indonesia Rupiah for ZImbabwe Dollars or Venezuelan Bolivar, Vietnam Dong for ZImbabwe Dollars or Venezuelan Bolivar, Mixed Banknotes for ZImbabwe Dollars or Venezuelan Bolivar. When many Ibos decided to forsake their homes and businesses, and flee the violence in various parts of Nigeria to return to their homelands, it was Lieut.-Col. Ojukwu who advised them to return to their homes and businesses, assuring them that peace would be returned under the new government. Rumours as to what value the Central Bank of Nigeria would place on the Biafran notes became widespread, with many believing one rumour that twenty Biafran pounds would be given the value of one Nigerian pound. Copyright 1995-2023 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. Information about the claim has not appeared in any of the mainstream media. A series of coins was issued in 1969; 3d, 6d, 1/-, and 2/6 coins were minted, all struck in aluminium.In February 1969, a second family of notes was issued in denominations of 5/- and 10/-, 1, 5 and . In this case, the claimant blatantly declared that the World Bank has approved the Biafran Currency, without making reference to a source or quotation. Volume 36, No.4, 1997. Now, the United States is the latest to signal "urgency" in researching a potential digital version of its dollar via a Central Bank Digital Currency, or CBDC. This index is based on the data of Numista members collections. However, at the end of the conflict it was estimated that between 115 and 140 million in Biafran currency was in circulation, indicating that a large proportion of the currency was delivered into circulation. Biafra digital currency is coming to save the situation ASAP but for now, follow the instructions. The first notes denominated in 5 shillings, 1 were introduced on January 29, 1968. One of the more interesting assets of the Central Bank that was specifically seized was its currency. 5 shillings . BANK OF BIAFRA Because 13 tons of the notes arrived in an aircraft registered in Rhodesia, a country with which Switzerland had no diplomatic relations, the Swiss authorities refused to let the cargo be unloaded and the aircraft was forced to continue to Lisbon. Of the various symbols used in the design of the Biafran bank notes (both issues), several were very important. The movement for the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) is not entirely new to most Nigerians and especially those in the eastern part of the country. With the short time at our disposal, we could only produce notes in denominations of 1 and 5/-; we could not produce coins. Washington, DC: The Executive Boards of the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have determined that Sudan has taken the necessary steps to begin receiving debt relief under the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. We cannot investigate every claim sent to us. Catalog Detail. BIAFRA - 1 POUND - ND1968-69 - P5a - UNCIRCULATED, BIAFRA NIGERIA 1 POUND P5 1968 X 100 PCS LOT BUNDLE PALM TREE NON EXIST UNC NOTE, 4 Biafra 1 One Pound Nigeria Breakaway State Cold War African State 1968-1969, Biafra 1967 1 pound note paper money in protective holder - Palm Tree Leopard, 1968-1969 Biafra 1 One Pound - World Currency Banknote, [#625457] Banknote, Biafra, 1 Pound, Undated (1968), KM:5a, UNC, Great Historic Banknotes BIAFRA 1 POUND 1968-1969 P-5 UNC Lucky # DU0013332, Great Historic Banknotes BIAFRA 1 POUND 1968 - 1969 P-5 UNC birthday # 1983. It turned out, however, to be false information. Under this decree the functions of the bank were established: The Bank shall carry out all the central banking functions in the Republic including the administration of foreign exchange and the management of the public debt of the Republic.. It has also been suggested that the money ultimately fell into the hands of Nigerian soldiers who failed to declare their discovery. Manillas are a type of primitive money that were in use in Nigeria for hundreds of years. The notes have a palm tree and a big rising sun on their obverse design. During the later half of 1968 the Central Bank of Nigeria announced they would exchange up to 30 per person and 500 for commercial enterprises in old Nigerian and Biafran currencies. 2015 - 2023 BNWorld, Inc.. All rights reserved. Latest World news news, comment and analysis from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice MIGA fulfills this mandate by offering political risk insurance (guarantees) to investors and lenders. The Biafran conflict is well documented, with many works addressing the struggle from both sides. 5 The flag of the former Republic of Biafra is a horizontal tricolour of red, black, and green, with a golden rising sun over a golden bar in the middle. It was generally reported that the notes were being sold at discounts! Unfortunately he was later to suffer a problem far removed from the over-issue he suspected Nigeria of planning he was to face empty bank vaults and the lack of a circulating medium. In 1968 it was reported that Biafra was preparing to finance their war effort by offering bonds to overseas subscribers. See More, Opera News is a free to use platform and the views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not represent, reflect or express the views of Opera News. Portugal was an early supporter of Biafra, and by October 1967 Biafra had established The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) was created in 1988 to promote foreign direct investment into developing countries to support economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve people's lives. Wharton was subsequently fired and a new supply route established. While peace and order were steadily re-established by the Military Government, the stability was being undermined by the desire of the Northern Region to secede from the Federation. Only several countries recognised Biafra during its secession Tanzania, Zambia, Gabon, the Ivory Coast, and Haiti while a number of other governments expressed support for the Biafrans, amongst these being the French, Rhodesian, South African, and Portuguese. Great Historic Banknotes BIAFRA 1 POUND 1968 - 1969 P-5 UNC birthday # 1972. To all Nigerians, Please ignore the news that the Biafran Pound has been approved in Italy. This action and the preceding blockade were the necessary catalysts that those in the east were looking for to show their hand. However Enugu was one of the first casualties of the war, and the administrative centre of Biafra was moved to several locations (including Aba, Umuahia and Orlu) during the course of the war. Get the latest news, updates, and video from around the globe. The men can be heard speaking in Igbo language and chanting "All hail Biafra" in the video, which has received over 1000 shares on Facebook. Also with the latest banking policy that everyone must deposit their money before 30.1.2022 it is important to note the above instructions & put them into action Nearly all bank notes are printed on paper which does not fluoresce under ultra-violet light, and the use of fluorescing paper for these notes points very much to it being an emergency issue. The first stamps of Biafra were issued on 5 February 1968. And, it is not just a souvenir: it is legal tender in those places. Decorative pattern with Biafran arms to the right. BIAFRA 1 POUND P-2 1967 10 Pcs Lot RISING SUN Bundle CURRENCY NIGERIA BANK NOTE. The known prefixes and the number of notes issued is summarized as follows: 5s. The 1968 Biafran bank note issue was not only an emergency issue, it also faced the trials and tribulations of the country it was serving many of the notes not making it to Biafra. With such an interesting attempt at micro printing it would be pleasing to know where the notes were printed, but the printer of each issue is a mystery. Several years later, in 1963, Nigeria became a republic, but it was being plagued by power struggles; and, like so many modern African nations, these power struggles centred around ethnic groups. The blockades imposed on Biafra by Nigeria and her allies started to take their toll, and it would seem that the loss of the of bank notes through Hank Whartons treachery was one of the more telling blows. Pick Publishing Corporation (1971) Picks Currency Year Book 1970, New York. Because the notes are very common there is a tendency amongst collectors to ignore them. To make matters worse, one Biafran pound is worth 280 Naira! Realising that the currency was unlikely to be accepted outside Biafra, Dr. Okigbo also stated that the lack of international acceptance and an according exchange rate was immaterial since the currency was intended only for circulation in Biafra. Palm tree in centre with sunset behind, all with decorate circles containing words. You can also ask Ihieagwa people in imo state its Ojomma. Currency itself seems to have been a subject close to Ojukwu (or one of his advisers), as we find the following clause in instructions sent to the delegates of the Eastern Region who were negotiating with Nigeria prior to secession. The small print appears as continuous lines, however the print is made less easy to detect by being overlaid with a pattern of lines the pattern being different on each denomination. Many of these notes were not delivered to Biafra, but it is not known how many were successfully conveyed to their destination and how many remained in storage at their point of production. According to documents illustrated in the Daily Times (Lagos) on 9 August 1967, the mineral rights for columbite ore, uranium, coal, tin concentrates, natural oil, and gold ore were ceded to the Rot(h)schild Bros Bank for a period of ten years. There were of course many stories of enterprising Nigerians who were buying the Biafran holdings in Europe at a discounted rate, and shipping them back to Nigeria where their full value could be obtained. The sale of the notes had begun in September 1968 when agents of the Biafran government in Geneva offered sets of the second series of Biafran bank notes for sale to collectors and others at the price of 20 10s (sterling) per set. End of February Sale Get 15% Off with Promo Code: FEB15. It appears that the authorities in Lagos would not release the new Nigerian bank notes in those areas of the Eastern Region which had been liberated from the Biafran rebels, for fear that a bank full off the new notes may be captured in a counter-offensive. This page was last updated: 01-Mar 21:20. The Guardian Nigeria Newspaper brings you the latest headlines, opinions, political news, business reports and international news. Nigeria was for many years a British colony, but in 1960 it became an independent Federation of three regions Northern, Western, and Eastern. 1 pound (B102a, P2) Worth: $2.50 - $10.00. Beresiner, Yasha & Narbeth, Colin (1973) The Story of Paper Money, David & Charles, Newton Abbot. Most of us are familiar with the Biafra map of between May 30, 1967 and January 15, 1970 (the old Biafra.) However, matters became critical in January 1966 when a number of junior army officers attempted a coup. The World Igbo Congress (WIC) is calling on the Nigerian authorities to ensure the safety of the self-acclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, saying the . Focus on private sector and workers spearheaded by IFC to mitigate financial and economic impact of crisis. Once the new notes were introduced, the federal government could stop redeeming notes of their current issue, and by that process make the Biafran holdings worthless consequently, the Biafran holdings were forced to be sold at a discount. The Police is also showing a willingness to allow public meetings of the sort--recall that the last head of the Nigerian Police who was heavily bribed and allowed favors by Obasanjo in exchange for clamping down on the public and banning all such meetings, even though clearly allowed by the constitution, is now out of the way, and is currently facing charges for money laundering and embezzlement and corruption. The Secession that Failed Time Magazine, January 26 1970, pages 18-24. (Biafra transferred its capital several times to avoid capture by advancing Nigerian forces). However the Alo makes its reappearance on the back of the 5-pound note, this time having a white disc with the coat of arms laying over its shaft. 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