10 Shillings Asian Elephant

Biafra has not existed as a functioning state since its defeat in the Nigerian Civil War in January 1970, yet a cottage industry of "Biafran" coins has persisted for decades, produced by private mints and sold almost exclusively to collectors. This piece is one of them — issued under no governmental authority, backed by no treasury, and circulated nowhere.

The choice of an Asian elephant for a breakaway West African separatist theme is difficult to explain on historical grounds.