Italian Somaliland

Italian Somaliland

Colony of Italy (1889-1936) British Military Administration (1941-1950)

Location: Horn of Africa

Capital City: Mogadishu

Government type: Italian Colony

Main languages: Italian, Somali

Main religions: Sunni Islam

Chronology

1889: Italy gains the Benadir coast as the first territory of Italian Somaliland (technically leased from Zanzibar until 1905)

1908: Geledi sultanate annexed

1925-1927: Campaign of the Sultanates annexes the protectorates of Majeerteen and Hobyo

1936: Province of Italian East Africa

1941: Italian East Africa abolished, Somaliland under British military control

1950: Italian Somaliland becomes the UN Trust Territory of Somalia

Currency

Rupia (1893-1925)

1 Rupia = 64 Bese

Lira (1925-1938)

1 Lira = 100 Centesimi

Coins from Italian Somaliland in the collection

•4 Bese, 1910 (King Vittorio Emanuelle III (1900-1941), bronze, Rome mint, KM#3)