GERMANY. Kaiserreich. Deutsch-Ostafrika (German East Africa). Wilhelm II, 1888-1918. 20 Heller 1916 T (Brass, 29 mm, 11.69 g, 6 h), variety with coin alignment, small crown and pointed tips on L's with Mozambique countermarks. Tabora. 20 / HELLER within wreath, two full and one partial 'M' countermarks. Rev. 1916 / DOA / T Crown above. Jaeger 727b var. (medal alignment). Exceedingly rare. Second known example in coin alignment and first known example with more than one Mozambique countermark. Tiny flan faults and the usual areas of weakness, otherwise, extremely fine.



The 20 Heller emergency issues of German East Africa were struck locally in Tabora during World War I after shipments of coinage from Germany ceased. Produced from recycled metals on often improvised machinery, they are generally of noticeably cruder manufacture than the earlier colonial issues. The coins were struck in copper, brass, and bronze, all in medal alignment.

After the war, most were melted down, though some remained in circulation beyond the former colony, including in neighboring Mozambique. Owing to a shortage of small-denomination currency, certain pieces were officially validated for local use by the application of countermarks ('M' or 'PM'), allowing them to continue circulating under the new administration. A specimen bearing multiple countermarks and struck in coin alignment is of exceptional rarity.