10 senti | |
---|---|
1984 coin | |
General information | |
Country | |
Value |
0.05 shillings |
Years |
1977–1984 |
Measurements and composition | |
Mass |
5.03 g |
Diameter |
25 mm |
Thickness |
1.5 mm |
Composition |
nickel-brass |
Appearance | |
Shape |
scalloped (10 notches) |
Alignment |
medallic |
Edge |
plain |
Obverse |
Julius Nyerere, state title, year |
Reverse |
Plains zebra (Equus quagga), value |
v · d · e |
The 10 senti coin is a circulation piece of the United Republic of Tanzania. It was produced from 1977 to 1984 at the Royal Mint in Llantrisant, Wales, and distributed by the Bank of Tanzania. Although the coin remains legal tender in its country of origin, it no longer circulates frequently due to its low face value of 0.10 shillings.
The coin is composed of a nickel-brass alloy and measures 5.03 grams in mass, 25 millimeters in diameter, and 1.5 millimeters in thickness. It has medallic alignment; raised, undecorated rims; and a plain edge. Unlike most coins, the piece is scalloped in shape, having ten rounded notches.
The design of the coin's obverse, created by English artist Christopher Ironside (1913–1992), follows the obverse design of most Tanzanian coins made from 1966 to 1986. A left-facing bust of Julius Nyerere (1922–1999), the President of Tanzania from 1964 to 1985, appears in the center, flanked to the left and right by flowers engraved along the rim. The Swahili caption "RAIS WA KWANZA", translating to English as "first President", is written in a counterclockwise direction along the coin's bottom periphery, between the two flowers. Printed in the opposite direction at the upper rim is the state title "TANZANIA" and the Gregorian date of minting.
The reverse, which was also designed by Ironside, features a plains zebra (Equus quagga) prancing right in the center. "SENTI KUMI", the Swahili equivalent of "ten cents" or "ten senti", is inscribed above the depiction of the zebra, curved in a clockwise direction along the coin's upper rim. Another indication of the face value, a numeral "10", is also included on the piece, appearing in large print below the zebra.
From 1977 to 1981, a total of 47,505,000 examples of the coin were produced. A large number of pieces were also struck in 1984, but the mintage for that year is currently unknown. Only business strikes are reported for all five years of minting: 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, and 1984.
Mintages | |
---|---|
Year | Mintage |
1977 | 19,505,000 |
1979 | 8,000,000 |
1980 | 10,000,000 |
1981 | 10,000,000 |
1984 |
References
- Numismatic Guaranty Corporation – Tanzania - 10 Senti, KM# 11 (1977–1984)
- Numista – 10 Senti (1977–1984) (English) (French)
- Bank of Tanzania – Currency Museum: Coins
- Tanzanian shilling on the English Wikipedia
Template:Tanzanian shilling