World coins chat: Namibia

Namibia is located in south west Africa between Angola and South Africa. Before independence in 1990 it was known as South West Africa governed by South Africa and from 1884 until 1915 it was known as German South West Africa.

The Portuguese were the first Europeans to explore the Namibian coast but were never interested. In the 1870's German businessman Lüderitz founded the first European settlement bearing his own name. German interest slowly expanded and the British annexed Walvisbaai, the only natural harbour at the Namibian coastline, in 1878. In 1884 German South West Africa became a crown colony and the only one that was actively settled and not just used for trading and extracting basic resources. The local Herero and Nama tribes resisted the growing limitations to their existence and this culminated in a colonial war that massacred 80% of the Herero and 50% of the Nama population. It is regarded as a genocide and Germany formally apologised for it around 2000.

In 1915 during WW1 South Africa conquered the German colony, which was using the German Mark and briefly German South West African Mark banknotes. The South African Pound replaced the Mark.

After decolonisation gained steam in Africa from 1960 South Africa held on to South West Africa as the 5th province despite international and local pressure from SWAPO to grant independence. It took until 1990 to formalise and in 1994 Walvisbaai was ceded to Namibia.

In 1993 the Namibian Dollar replaced the Rand at par and has since been pegged with it. The 5c to 5$ coins are pretty common and often sold in cheap sets. There is also a commemorative 10$ which seems to circulate but also 10 NAD banknotes are used.

To cover all three eras in Namibia's history before independence: a coin from Imperial Germany, a coin from British South Africa, and a coin from the Republic of South Africa.


Now the anticlimax - I only have two coins from Namibia


Why are Namibian coins so difficult to find in junk bins? I think there are two factors:

1. Short modern history: Namibia has only issued coins for 25 years.

2. Small population: Most of Namibia is desert, so the population is barely over 2,000,000. This makes Namibia the world's second-least densely populated country

How did you calculate population density?

By total population / area, it's only #6, behind Greenland, Falkland Islands, Western Sahara, Mongolia, and French Guiana

Quote: HouseofhamHow did you calculate population density?

By total population / area, it's only #6, behind Greenland, Falkland Islands, Western Sahara, Mongolia, and French Guiana

Greenland, Falklands and French Guiana are overseas territories of Denmark, UK & France, respectively.
Western Sahara is a contested territory between Morocco (main occupying country: 85%) and Polisario (independent country rulers or separatists, it's not our role to judge ; 15%). Should we count it as an independant country? Not sure.

So considering WS as non-independant, Mongolia remains only, becoming #1, and Namibia becoming #2.

PS: I have no coins from there, too bad

I only have 4 coins from there.

Quote: chomp-masterGreenland, Falklands and French Guiana are overseas territories of Denmark, UK & France, respectively.
Western Sahara is a contested territory between Morocco (main occupying country: 85%) and Polisario (independent country rulers or separatists, it's not our role to judge ; 15%). Should we count it as an independant country? Not sure.

So considering WS as non-independant, Mongolia remains only, becoming #1, and Namibia becoming #2.

PS: I have no coins from there, too bad

Yes, I realize that some of these places are territories, rather than independent countries, but they are listed as separate entities in the Numista catalog and their population and area are not included in their parent country's population density. It would be absurd to do so. For example, see http://denmark.dk/en/quick-facts/facts/

Quote: HouseofhamYes, I realize that some of these places are territories, rather than independent countries

Quote: nalaberongThis makes Namibia the world's second-least densely populated country

And there you have it.

Quote: nalaberong

Quote: HouseofhamYes, I realize that some of these places are territories, rather than independent countries

Quote: nalaberongThis makes Namibia the world's second-least densely populated country

And there you have it.

Good job, you've successfully quoted me out of context. You could probably get a job as a politician.  

German Southwest Africa never had its own coins. Instead homeland issues were used. The Swakopmund Museum has an antique cash register still full of German imperials. The silvers made me greedy  
In WWI, German militaries were interned in a camp in Aus, where a few tokens were minted. There used to be one of these on Numista, but I can't find it any more. Here's a link to the remaining GSWA tokens on Numista.

After WWI, South-African currency was used, and as a matter of fact, the modern Namibian Dollar and South-African Rand are pegged to eachother on a 1:1 basis, and all over Namibia, South-African coins and notes are freely accepted.

Absolutely great country to spend a holiday, by the way.

I have the coins to the $1 but no $5 or $10 coins

 

10 cent coin, made on really bad stainless steel that is flimsy and they wear quickly.

 

$1 coin on aluminum brass. $1 Namibia is only worth 8 cents, around the same as a Rand.

The Namibian Dollar is not the only currency pegged to the Rand - so is the Lilangeni & the Loti.

 

Namibia has been a British Commonwealth republic since it became independent in 1990.

 

Aidan.