Threepence 1934, Coin from British West Africa - detailed information

Threepence 1934, Coin from British West Africa (demonetised 1968)
CoinThreepence 1934

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 threepence (or three pence) was equal to a quarter of a shilling or 1/80th of a pound (i.e., 80 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 copper-nickel.

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, 3 pence coins issued in 1934 would have circulated for up to 34 years depending on location.

MintRoyal Mint Mint MarkNo mint mark Total Mintage 6,400,000 (6.4 million)
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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: 3 PENCE; around, the legend BRITISH WEST AFRICA.

Below the wreath, the date 1934.

Reverse Inscription 3 PENCE BRITISH WEST AFRICA 1934
EdgePlainEdge InscriptionNone
Threepence 1934: Known varieties
Variety Proof
Mintage Issued: unknown
Threepence 1934: References to Information Used
All (27) coins of type: Threepence
Coin NameMintageEffigyLegend
Threepence 1913 736,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Threepence 1914 1,560,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Threepence 1915 270,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Threepence 1916 820,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Threepence 1917 3,600,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Threepence 1918 1,722,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Threepence 1919 19,826,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Threepence 1920 (Silver) 3,616,029 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Threepence 1920 (Brass) 19,000,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Threepence 1925 8,800,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Threepence 1926 1,600,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Threepence 1927 800,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Threepence 1928 1,760,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Threepence 1933 2,800,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Threepence 1934 6,400,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Threepence 1935 11,560,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Threepence 1936 20,198,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Threepence 1938 16,056,000 King George VI - Crowned Head GEORGIVS VI D · G · BRITT · OMN · REX F · D · IND · IMP:
Threepence 1939 33,000,000 King George VI - Crowned Head GEORGIVS VI D · G · BRITT · OMN · REX F · D · IND · IMP:
Threepence 1940 11,496,000 King George VI - Crowned Head GEORGIVS VI D · G · BRITT · OMN · REX F · D · IND · IMP:
Threepence 1941 5,032,000 King George VI - Crowned Head GEORGIVS VI D · G · BRITT · OMN · REX F · D · IND · IMP:
Threepence 1943 14,608,000 King George VI - Crowned Head GEORGIVS VI D · G · BRITT · OMN · REX F · D · IND · IMP:
Threepence 1944 2,536,000 King George VI - Crowned Head GEORGIVS VI D · G · BRITT · OMN · REX F · D · IND · IMP:
Threepence 1945 3,998,000 King George VI - Crowned Head GEORGIVS VI D · G · BRITT · OMN · REX F · D · IND · IMP:
Threepence 1946 7,488,000 King George VI - Crowned Head GEORGIVS VI D · G · BRITT · OMN · REX F · D · IND · IMP:
Threepence 1947 21,248,000 King George VI - Crowned Head GEORGIVS VI D · G · BRITT · OMN · REX F · D · IND · IMP:
Threepence 1957 800,080 Portrait by Cecil Thomas QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND
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Threepence 1934: Details
CountryBritish West Africa
CurrencyBritish West African Pound
Coin TypeThreepence, Tin Brass
Issued1934
MonarchKing George V
EffigyKing George V - Crowned Bust, by Bertram Mackennal
Face Value3 (x Penny)
Total Mintage6,400,000 (6.4 million)
CurrentNo; demonetised 1968
MaterialTin Brass
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size16.0000 mm
Mass1.4100 g
OCC IDKLBR-PERR-CAYK-EMNY
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Threepence 1934: Photos
ImageDetails
Threepence 1934: Photo 3 Pence / thumbnail 3 Pence
Copyright: British Museum / CC BY-NC-SA
Source
Threepence 1934: Catalogue Reference IDs
SourceReference ID
Krause, Standard Catalog of World CoinsBritish West Africa KM# 10b
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