Ghana 20-CEDIS (KM30)¶
-
Obverse COWRY SHELL
-
Reverse Coat of Arms, Denomination
- Composition
- Nickel-clad Steel
- Country
- Ghana
- Approx. Size
- 24.5mm
- Area
- Africa
- Animal Class
- Mollusks
- Species
- Cowry
- KM#
- 30
Cowry (or Cowrie) are a number of different species of marine snail found in tropical waters. Their shells were used as money in Africa. Images of them are found in cave paintings, and millions have been found in the tombs of the Egyptian pharaohs. The Ghanan denomination "cedi" is native Fanti for "shell" in recognition of the original form of currency.
Ghana¶
- Area
- Africa
Ghana was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence from colonial powers in 1957. It is made up of the former colonies of the Gold Coast and British Togoland. The name comes from the Ghana Empire (c. 750-1240) which was actually north and west of present day Ghana. However, the descendents of that empire had mirgrated to the area of present-day Ghana. After independence, Ghana saw one coup after another until Jerry Rawlings rose to power in 1981. He immediately suspended the constitution and banned political parties. However, a new constitution was restored in 1982 and Rawlings was elected twice in free elections. Ghana is endowed with many natural resources, yet many of the people still struggle, with approximately 60% engaged in subsistence agriculture. Ghana is known for its colourful Kente cloth, which skilled weavers create. It also has a well-developed system of schools, allowing most of the population reasonable access to education.
