Sixpence 1936, Coin from British West Africa - detailed information

Sixpence 1936, Coin from British West Africa (demonetised 1968)
CoinSixpence 1936

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 coins were issued in silver; this was later changed to tin brass - such as this coin, and then to nickel brass.

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. Thus, 6 pence coins issued in 1936 would have circulated for up to 32 years depending on location.

MintMint markTotal Mintage
Royal Mint No mint mark 10,400,000 (10.4 million)
King's Norton Metal Co. Letters KN 2,696,000 (2.7 million)
Birmingham Mint Letter H 480,000
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: 1936.

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

Reverse Inscription 6 PENCE BRITISH WEST AFRICA 1936
EdgePlainEdge InscriptionNone
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Sixpence 1936: Known varieties
Variety Proof (Royal Mint)
Mintage Issued: unknown
Variety Proof (Heaton Mint)
Mintage Issued: unknown
Variety Proof (King's Norton Metal Co.)
Mintage Issued: unknown
Sixpence 1936: References to Information Used
All (24) coins of type: Sixpence
Coin NameMintageEffigyLegend
Sixpence 1913 960,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Sixpence 1914 952,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Sixpence 1916 400,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Sixpence 1917 2,400,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Sixpence 1918 1,160,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Sixpence 1919 8,676,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Sixpence 1920 (Silver) 2,948,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Sixpence 1920 (Brass) 12,000,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Sixpence 1923 2,000,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Sixpence 1924 3,000,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Sixpence 1925 2,800,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Sixpence 1928 400,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Sixpence 1933 1,000,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Sixpence 1935 4,000,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Sixpence 1936 13,576,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Sixpence 1938 12,114,473 King George VI - Crowned Head GEORGIVS VI D · G · BRITT · OMN · REX F · D · IND · IMP:
Sixpence 1940 17,829,069 King George VI - Crowned Head GEORGIVS VI D · G · BRITT · OMN · REX F · D · IND · IMP:
Sixpence 1942 1,600,000 King George VI - Crowned Head GEORGIVS VI D · G · BRITT · OMN · REX F · D · IND · IMP:
Sixpence 1943 10,586,000 King George VI - Crowned Head GEORGIVS VI D · G · BRITT · OMN · REX F · D · IND · IMP:
Sixpence 1944 1,814,000 King George VI - Crowned Head GEORGIVS VI D · G · BRITT · OMN · REX F · D · IND · IMP:
Sixpence 1945 4,000,000 King George VI - Crowned Head GEORGIVS VI D · G · BRITT · OMN · REX F · D · IND · IMP:
Sixpence 1946 4,000,000 King George VI - Crowned Head GEORGIVS VI D · G · BRITT · OMN · REX F · D · IND · IMP:
Sixpence 1947 6,120,000 King George VI - Crowned Head GEORGIVS VI D · G · BRITT · OMN · REX F · D · IND · IMP:
Sixpence 1952 2,544,000 King George VI - Crowned Head + GEORGIVS VI DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF:
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Sixpence 1936: Details
CountryBritish West Africa
CurrencyBritish West African Pound
Coin TypeSixpence, Tin Brass
Issued1936
MonarchKing George V
EffigyKing George V - Crowned Bust, by Bertram Mackennal
Face Value6 (x Penny)
Total Mintage13,576,000 (13.6 million)
CurrentNo; demonetised 1968
MaterialTin Brass
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size19.0000 mm
Mass2.8200 g
OCC IDYMXK-DOKQ-CMGW-OWQJ
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Sixpence 1936: Photos
ImageDetails
Sixpence 1936: Photo 6 Pence / thumbnail 6 Pence
Copyright: British Museum / CC BY-NC-SA
Notes: Royal Mint (no mint mark).
Source
Sixpence 1936: Photo 6 Pence / thumbnail 6 Pence
Copyright: British Museum / CC BY-NC-SA
Notes: Heaton Mint (H mint mark).
Source
Sixpence 1936: Photo 6 Pence / thumbnail 6 Pence
Copyright: British Museum / CC BY-NC-SA
Notes: King's Norton Metal Co. (KN mint mark).
Source
Sixpence 1936: Catalogue Reference IDs
SourceReference ID
Krause, Standard Catalog of World CoinsBritish West Africa KM# 11b
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