One-tenth Penny (CuproNickel, Edward VIII), Coin Type from British West Africa - detailed information

One-tenth Penny (CuproNickel, Edward VIII), Coin Type from British West Africa (issued 1936 - 1936)
Coin TypeOne-tenth Penny (CuproNickel, Edward VIII)

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.

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).

This one year type is one of the few coins issued worldwide in the name of King Edward VIII, who abdicated before the end of the year.

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

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 monarch's legend EDWARD VIII REX ET IND: IMP:. Translated from Latin: Edward the Eighth, King and Emperor of India.

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

The mint mark, H for the Birmingham Mint (ex Heaton and Sons) or KN for King's Norton Metal Co., is between the centre hole and the Arabic inscription. Coins struck by the Royal Mint have no mint mark.

Obverse Inscription EDWARD VIII REX ET IND: IMP: ONE TENTH OF A PENNY عُشِر الپَنّي
Reverse

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

Around, interrupted by the star, the legend BRITISH WEST AFRICA; around below, the star divides the date: · 1936 ·.

Reverse Inscription BRITISH WEST AFRICA · 1936 ·
EdgePlainEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

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 (CuproNickel, Edward VIII) - (1) Coins
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One-tenth Penny (CuproNickel, Edward VIII): Details
CountryBritish West Africa
CurrencyBritish West African Pound
Sub-type ofOne-tenth Penny
From1936
To1936
Face Value1/10 (x Penny)
CurrentNo (demonetised 1968)
MaterialCuproNickel
Designer
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound with hole
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size20.0000 mm
Mass1.9000 g
One-tenth Penny (CuproNickel, Edward VIII): Photos
ImageDetails
One-tenth Penny (CuproNickel, Edward VIII): 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's Norton Metal Co.
Source
One-tenth Penny (CuproNickel, Edward VIII): Photo Coin - 1/10 Penny, British West Africa, 1936 Coin - 1/10 Penny, British West Africa, 1936
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Source