Sixpence, Silver, Coin Type from British West Africa (showing photos)

Sixpence, Silver, Coin Type from British West Africa (issued 1913 - 1920)

Coin Type	Sixpence, Silver

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:
- silver coins - 1913 - 1920 (first sterling, then debased in 1920), for King George V
- tin brass coins - 1920 - 1936, for King George V
- nickel brass coins - 1938 - 1952, for King George VI

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:
- 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

Crowned and draped bust of King George V facing left (crowned effigy by Sir Edgar Bertram Mackennal); the King is wearing the Imperial Crown and the ermine Robe of State, the Collar of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, and the Badge of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.

The artist's initials BM are in relief on the bust truncation.

Around, the monarch's legend GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:. Translated from Latin: George the Fifth, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.

Obverse Inscription	GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:

Reverse

Within an oak wreath tied with ribbon, the value and denomination in two lines: 6 PENCE.

Around, the legend BRITISH WEST AFRICA; below the wreath, the date: [year].

Reverse Inscription	6 PENCE BRITISH WEST AFRICA [year]

Edge	Plain	Edge Inscription	None

Notes

In 1912 a West African Currency Board was established to arrange for the production and supply of coins (small denomination coins had already been issued starting 1907).

The first issue of silver, in the denominations 3 pence, 6 pence, shilling and 2 shillings, was struck at the Royal Mint, London in 1913, and made legal tender in Nigeria, Gold Coast, Sierra Leone and Gambia by a local Currency Act dated 26 June 1913.

1913 was also a year when a large crop of cocoa valued at almost 2 1/2 million pounds saw a great demand for silver coins. In addition to 889,000 pounds of West African silver (all the Royal Mint could strike) an additional 539,700 pounds of Imperial silver coin was needed. Such fluctuation in demand made the provision of a silver coinage very difficult.

During World War I 530,000 pound of silver coin was returned to Britain for sale as bullion to raise internationally accepted forms of money.

Interest in the production of a silver coinage led to the request for the provision of proof and specimen sets for official commemorative gifts. Sets containing two coins of each denomination were struck in proof quality while single coin sets were made out of selected uncirculated specimens.

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: Sixpence, Silver - (7) Coins

Coin Name	Reverse	Obverse	Details
Sixpence 1913			Material: 0.925 Silver Mints: - Royal Mint: 560,000 - Birmingham Mint: 400,000 Total Mintage: 960,000
Sixpence 1914			Material: 0.925 Silver Mint: Birmingham Mint Mintage: 952,000
Sixpence 1916			Material: 0.925 Silver Mint: Birmingham Mint Mintage: 400,000
Sixpence 1917			Material: 0.925 Silver Mint: Birmingham Mint Mintage: 2,400,000
Sixpence 1918			Material: 0.925 Silver Mint: Birmingham Mint Mintage: 1,160,000
Sixpence 1919			Material: 0.925 Silver Mint: Birmingham Mint Mintage: 8,676,000
Sixpence 1920 (Silver)			Material: 0.500 Silver Mint: Birmingham Mint Mintage: 2,948,000

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Sixpence, Silver: Details

Country	British West Africa
Currency	British West African Pound
Sub-type of	Sixpence
From	1913
To	1920
Face Value	6 (x Penny)
Current	No (demonetised 1968)
Material	0.925 Silver
Designer
Technology	Milled (machine-made)
Shape	Round
Orientation	Medal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size	19.0000 mm
Mass	2.8300 g

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Sixpence, Silver: Photos

Image	Details
	Coin - 6 Pence, British West Africa, 1913 Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Jennifer McNair Source
	Coin - 6 Pence, British West Africa, 1913 Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Jennifer McNair Source

Sixpence, Silver, Coin Type from British West Africa - detailed information