The lira was the currency of Italian East Africa (Africa Orientale Italiana, or AOI) between 1938 [1] and 1941. It was equivalent to the Italian lira and Italian currency circulated, together with banknotes first issued in 1938. In Italian Somaliland, the lira was already circulating. In Ethiopia, the lira replaced the Ethiopian thaler (issued by the Bank of Ethiopia) whilst in Eritrea it replaced the Eritrean tallero, a silver coin minted in Italy. It also briefly replaced the East African shilling in British Somaliland between 1940 and 1941.
The lira was replaced by the East African shilling in 1941, when the United Kingdom gained control of Italy's colonies, at the rate of 1 shilling = 24 lire. A relic of the lira was the use even in the 1960s of the expression "Lix Lira" (=six lira) for 25 cents.
In 1938, banknotes were issued for use in Italian East Africa in denominations of 50, 100, 500 and 1000 lire.[2] The designs were the same as those used on Italian notes but the colours of the notes were different and they bore an overprint with the words "Serie Speciale Africa Orientale Italiana".
| Preceded by: Italian Somaliland lira and Italian lira Location: Italian Somaliland Ratio: at par |
Currency of Italian East Africa (Italian Somaliland, Eritrea, Ethiopia) ca. 1938 – 1941 |
Succeeded by: East African shilling Reason: captured by United Kingdom Ratio: 1 shilling = 24 lira |
| Preceded by: Italian lira Location: Eritrea, Ethiopia |
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| Preceded by: East African shilling Reason: captured by Italy |
Currency of British Somaliland August 18, 1940 – early 1941 |
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