One-tenth Penny 1906 (Trial), Coin from British West Africa - detailed information

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).

This type was the earliest aluminium coinage in the world to go into circulation. The Royal Mint in London made these trial coins in 1906 (sales catalogues list them as matt proof), and in 1907 released the first aluminium circulation coins. However, the aluminium coins suffered from corrosion and were soon replaced with copper-nickel coins of the same design.

Only four examples of the 1906 trial coins are known to exist. None were released into circulation.