5 Heller German East Africa (1885-1919) Bronze

1908, German East Africa (DOA). Large Colonial Bronze 5 Heller Coin. XF!

Mint Year: 1908 Reference: KM-11. Region: East Africa Denomination: 5 Heller Mint Place: Hamburg (J) Condition: Minor deposits, otherwise xf1 Weight: 19.98gm Diameter: 37mm Material: Bronze

Obverse: Large crown of the German Empire above date (1908). Legend: DEUTSCH OSTAFRIKA ("German East Africa")

Reverse: Value (5) above denomination (HELLER) and mint initial (J). All within wreath.

German East Africa (German: Deutsch-Ostafrika) was a German colony in East Africa, including what are now Burundi, Rwanda and Tanganyika (the mainland part of present Tanzania). It measured 994,996 km² (384,170 square miles) in size, nearly three times the size of re-united Germany today. The colony came into existence during the 1880s and ended with the conclusion of World War I, when the territory was taken over by the British and Belgians and later converted to mandates of the League of Nations.