James S. Coleman African Studies Center

This paper argues that between 1881 and 1948, the British Colonial Government consciously and systematically debauched the pre-existing currencies of Southern Nigeria, replacing them with British currency without fair provision for compensating the African population for their losses. The impact of these measures was to impoverish many a "British protected Person" in Southern Nigeria. The manner in which this currency revolution was accomplished, and with what results, is the subject of this paper.