One-tenth Penny, Coin Type from British West Africa - detailed information

One-tenth Penny, Coin Type from British West Africa (issued 1907 - 1957)
Coin TypeOne-tenth Penny

The British West African Pound was the currency of British West Africa, a group of British colonies, protectorates and mandate territories - Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ghana (originally Gold Coast) and Gambia. From 1907 till 1911 the reverse of the coins showed the legend NIGERIA BRITISH WEST AFRICA, then from 1912 the word NIGERIA was discontinued.

The British West African Pound was equal to the (pre-decimal) Pound Sterling and was similarly subdivided into 20 shillings, each of 12 pence. Unlike its Imperial counterpart though, the British West African Pound - uniquely among British colonies - also had a denomination worth one tenth of a penny - due to the low standard of living in the African colonies, where people had considerably less money than people elsewhere. The denomination was worth 1/2,400th of a pound (i.e., 2,400 of these coins made one pound).

There were several types issued:
- aluminium coins for King Edward VII - 1907 - 1908
- copper-nickel coins for King Edward VII - 1908 - 1910
- copper-nickel coins for King George V - 1911 - 1936
- copper-nickel coins for King Edward VIII - 1936 only
- copper-nickel coins for King George VI - 1938 - 1950
- bronze coins for King George VI - 1952 only
- bronze coins for Queen Elizabeth II - 1954 - 1957

After decolonisation, the coins were replaced by the various new countries as they introduced their own independent currencies:
- Nigeria introduced the Nigerian Pound in 1958
- Ghana introduced in Ghanaian Pound in 1958
- British Cameroon (on unification with Cameroon) adopted the Central African CFA Franc in 1961
- Sierra Leone introduced the Leone in 1964
- Gambia introduced the Gambian Pound in 1965

In some places, British West African coins circulated in parallel with the new coinage until 1968.

Obverse
British West Africa / One-tenth Penny - obverse photo

An imperial crown above a central circular hole with a scroll ornament to right and left; below the crown and around the hole, the value and denomination ONE TENTH OF A PENNY.

Around, outside the scroll ornaments, the legend of the ruling British monarch.

Below the hole, the denomination in Arabic: عُشِر الپَنّي.

Obverse Inscription Legend of the ruling British monarch ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
Reverse
British West Africa / One-tenth Penny - reverse photo

Around a circular central hole, Solomon's seal (a six-pointed "Star of David"), consisting of two equilateral triangles interlaced.

Around, interrupted y the star, the legend NIGERIA BRITISH WEST AFRICA (1907 - 1911) or BRITISH WEST AFRICA (1912 - 1957); around below, the star divides the date: · [year] ·.

Reverse Inscription (NIGERIA) BRITISH WEST AFRICA · [year] ·
EdgePlainEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

Vice (p.84) reports a Government official in 1912 stating that "the ordinary native lives on 1 1/4 d. a day". This is the reason for the production of such a low denomination coin as the tenth of a penny.

References to additional information:

[Book] Remick, Jerome. 1971. The Guide Book and Catalogue of British Commonwealth Coins, pp 87-95.
[Book] Vice, David. 1983. The Coinage of British West Africa & St. Helena 1684 - 1958.

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Coin Type: One-tenth Penny - (45) Coins
Coin NameMintageLegend
One-tenth Penny 1906 (Trial) unknown EDWARD VII KING & EMPEROR ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1907 1,254,401 EDWARD VII KING & EMPEROR ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1908 (Aluminium) 8,362,668 EDWARD VII KING & EMPEROR ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1908 (CuproNickel) 9,600,000 EDWARD VII KING & EMPEROR ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1909 4,800,000 EDWARD VII KING & EMPEROR ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1910 7,200,000 EDWARD VII KING & EMPEROR ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1911 7,200,000 GEORGIVS V REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1912 10,800,000 GEORGIVS V REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1913 5,712,000 GEORGIVS V REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1914 21,288,000 GEORGIVS V REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1915 10,032,000 GEORGIVS V REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1916 480,000 GEORGIVS V REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1917 9,384,000 GEORGIVS V REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1919 1,392,000 GEORGIVS V REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1920 14,556,000 GEORGIVS V REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1922 7,264,778 GEORGIVS V REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1923 12,000,000 GEORGIVS V REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1925 26,400,000 GEORGIVS V REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1926 12,000,000 GEORGIVS V REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1927 3,984,000 GEORGIVS V REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1928 17,875,000 GEORGIVS V REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1930 9,600,000 GEORGIVS V REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1931 9,840,000 GEORGIVS V REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1932 3,600,000 GEORGIVS V REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1933 7,200,000 GEORGIVS V REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1934 4,800,000 GEORGIVS V REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1935 13,200,000 GEORGIVS V REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1936 George V 9,720,000 GEORGIVS V REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1936 Edward VIII 10,284,000 EDWARD VIII REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1938 13,596,000 GEORGIVS VI REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1939 9,840,000 GEORGIVS VI REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1940 13,920,000 GEORGIVS VI REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1941 16,560,000 GEORGIVS VI REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1942 12,360,000 GEORGIVS VI REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1943 22,560,000 GEORGIVS VI REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1944 10,440,000 GEORGIVS VI REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1945 25,706,400 GEORGIVS VI REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1946 9,959,200 GEORGIVS VI REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1947 8,102,400 GEORGIVS VI REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1949 6,736,320 GEORGIVS SEXTVS REX ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1950 13,200,000 GEORGIVS SEXTVS REX ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1952 15,060,000 GEORGIVS SEXTVS REX ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1954 4,800,000 QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1956 2,400,000 QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
One-tenth Penny 1957 7,200,000 QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
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One-tenth Penny: Details
CountryBritish West Africa
CurrencyBritish West African Pound
Sub-types One-tenth Penny (Aluminium, Edward VII)
One-tenth Penny (CuproNickel, Edward VII)
One-tenth Penny (CuproNickel, George V)
One-tenth Penny (CuproNickel, Edward VIII)
One-tenth Penny (CuproNickel, George VI)
One-tenth Penny (Bronze, George VI)
One-tenth Penny (Bronze, Elizabeth II)
From1907
To1957
Face Value1/10 (x Penny)
CurrentNo (demonetised 1968)
Material
Designer
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound with hole
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size
Mass
One-tenth Penny: Photos
ImageDetails
One-tenth Penny: Photo Coin - 1/10 Penny, British West Africa, 1908 Coin - 1/10 Penny, British West Africa, 1908
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: King Edward VII, aluminium (1907 - 1908).
Source
One-tenth Penny: Photo British West Africa 1/10 Penny 1933 British West Africa 1/10 Penny 1933
Copyright: smarty_marty24
Notes: King George V (1911 - 1936).
Source
One-tenth Penny: Photo Coin - 1/10 Penny, British West Africa, 1936 Coin - 1/10 Penny, British West Africa, 1936
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: King Edward VIII (1936).
Source
One-tenth Penny: Photo Proof Coin - 1/10 Penny, British West Africa, 1938 Proof Coin - 1/10 Penny, British West Africa, 1938
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: King George VI, Emperor of India (1938 - 1947).
Source
One-tenth Penny: Photo Proof Coin - 1/10 Penny, British West Africa, 1952 Proof Coin - 1/10 Penny, British West Africa, 1952
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: King George VI (1949 - 1952).
Source
One-tenth Penny: Photo Proof Coin - 1/10 Penny, British West Africa, 1954 Proof Coin - 1/10 Penny, British West Africa, 1954
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Queen Elizabeth II (1954 - 1957).
Source
One-tenth Penny: Photo Coin - 1/10 Penny, British West Africa, 1908 Coin - 1/10 Penny, British West Africa, 1908
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Aluminium (1907 - 1908).
Source
One-tenth Penny: Photo Proof Coin - 1/10 Penny, British West Africa, 1938 Proof Coin - 1/10 Penny, British West Africa, 1938
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: CuproNickel (1908 - 1950).
Source
One-tenth Penny: Photo Proof Coin - 1/10 Penny, British West Africa, 1954 Proof Coin - 1/10 Penny, British West Africa, 1954
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Bronze (1952 - 1957).
Source