Coins of Liberia 1833 - 1960

  • Commemorative Coins Issued by the American Colonization Society

    These coins were minted by John Gibbs Company, Belleville, New Jersey, who also produced many of the American Hard Times tokens of that period. Charles Colver and Dan Harley identified six different die varieties, but more exist.

    obverse reverse
    ship “1” in date rays   palm leaves   top of bush “A D”
    CH-1 small    to left of tree trunk   15 13 at waterline wide space, single period between
    CH-5 small to left of tree trunk 15 13 at waterline very narrow space
      unlisted   small under tree trunk 22 16 at waterline wide space between
    CH-2 large under tree trunk 14 12 above waterline    narrow spaced, double periods between  
    CH-6 large under tree trunk 14 12 above waterline wide space, single period between
    CH-3 large under tree trunk 14 10 at waterline narrow spaced, double periods between
    CH-4 large to left of tree trunk 11 12 above waterline wide space, single period between

    • 1833

      • KM# Tn2 (CH-1)
      • KM# Tn2 (CH-5)
      • KM# Tn1 (CH-2)
      • KM# Tn1 (CH-3)
      • KM# Tn1 (CH-4)

  • Standard Coinage Issued by the Treasury Department

    National currency of Liberia is the Liberian Dollar ($ or L$, 1 Dollar = 100 Cents). Introduced in 1847, it was pegged to the US Dollar, which continued to coexist as main currency. One and two cents copper pieces were the first and only Liberian coins available until 1896, when a full set of 1, 2, 10, 25 and 50 cents was released. After a gap of 41 years, in 1937, new coins were issued in denominations of ½, 1 and 2 cents. These were augmented in 1960 with another full set of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents. The first 1 dollar coin was issued one year later.
    Despite having a national currency, Liberian economy has always been highly dependent on foreign currency. In 1907, Liberia adopted the West African Pound, and in November 1942, the Pound was replaced by the US Dollar as legal tender.

    • 1847

      • KM# 1
      • KM# 2

    • 1862

      • KM# 3
      • KM# 4

    • 1896

      • KM# 5
      • KM# 6
      • KM# 7
      • KM# 8
      • KM# 9

    • 1906

      • KM# 5
      • KM# 6
      • KM# 7
      • KM# 8
      • KM# 9

    • 1937

      • KM# 10
      • KM# 11
      • KM# 12

    • 1941

      • KM# 10a
      • KM# 11a
      • KM# 12a

    • 1960

      • KM# 13
      • KM# 14
      • KM# 15
      • KM# 16
      • KM# 17