Coins, Tokens and Banknotes of Southern Africa

Nyasaland, Chief’s Badge, a glazed oval badge by W. Adams Ltd, coloured printed portrait of George V, rev. coloured Union flag, nyasaland above, 81 x 49mm, hallmarked Birmingham 1914. Set in a silver frame with suspension loop and plated chain, the obverse image badly watermarked, reverse less so, the loop sometime broken off and crudely repaired, only fine but extremely rare £150-200

[Sir] George Smith had been appointed Governor of Nyasaland in 1913, a post he held for 10 years. In 1914, with the outbreak of World War I, the Nyasaland-Rhodesia Field Force was formed, Nyasaland sharing a short border with German East Africa. In 1915 the Nyasaland administration subdued a rebellion by John Chilembwe, which ended with his execution in February 1915. However, many tribes were united against the British administration. The British and South African troops that invaded German East Africa in 1916 included some 200,000 native troops from Nyasaland. The cataloguer believe this badge to have official status, perhaps the gift of the Governor who needed the loyalty of the natives

Withdrawn