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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. In other words, the sixpence (or six pence) was equal to one half of a shilling or 1/40th of a pound (i.e., 40 of these coins made one pound). Initially the coin was equivalent to its Imperial counterpart - the British Sixpence - but was then debased much earlier than it. There were three types issued: No 6 pence coins were issued for King Edward VIII or Queen Elizabeth II in British West Africa. After decolonisation, the coins were replaced by the various new countries as they introduced their own independent currencies: In some places, British West African coins circulated in parallel with the new coinage until 1968. | ||||
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Royal Mint |
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Royal Mint |
Country | British West Africa |
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Currency | British West African Pound |
Sub-type of | Sixpence |
From | 1938 |
To | 1952 |
Face Value | 6 (x Penny) |
Current | No (demonetised 1968) |
Material | Nickel Brass |
Designer | |
Technology | Milled (machine-made) |
Shape | Round |
Orientation | Medal Alignment (Axis 0) |
Size | 19.3400 mm |
Mass | 3.4900 g |
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Catalog of Modern World Coins 1850-1964 |
Image | Details |
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Proof Coin - 6 Pence, British West Africa, 1938
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Jennifer McNair Notes: Common reverse (1938 - 1952). Source |
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Proof Coin - 6 Pence, British West Africa, 1938
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Jennifer McNair Notes: King George VI, Emperor of India (1938 - 1947). Source |
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British West Africa 1952 6 pence
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA Author: Stack's Bowers Notes: King George VI (1952). Source |