Threepence 1947, Coin from British West Africa - detailed information

Threepence 1947, Coin from British West Africa (demonetised 1968)
CoinThreepence 1947

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, and then to copper-nickel - such as this coin.

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 1947 would have circulated for up to 21 years depending on location.

MintMint markTotal Mintage
King's Norton Metal Co. Letters KN 11,248,000 (11.2 million)
Birmingham Mint Letter H 10,000,000 (10.0 million)
Obverse
British West Africa / Threepence 1947 - obverse photo

Crowned head of King George VI facing left; around, the monarch's legend: GEORGIVS VI D · G · BRITT · OMN · REX F · D · IND · IMP:. Translated from Latin: George VI, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.

Below the neck truncation in small letters are the artist's initials PM (for Percy Metcalfe).

Obverse Inscription GEORGIVS VI D · G · BRITT · OMN · REX F · D · IND · IMP:
Reverse
British West Africa / Threepence 1947 - reverse photo

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 1947.

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.

Reverse Inscription 3 PENCE BRITISH WEST AFRICA 1947
EdgeSecurity GrooveEdge InscriptionNone
Threepence 1947: 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 1947: Details
CountryBritish West Africa
CurrencyBritish West African Pound
Coin TypeThreepence, CuproNickel
Issued1947
MonarchKing George VI
EffigyKing George VI - Crowned Head, by Percy Metcalfe
Face Value3 (x Penny)
Total Mintage21,248,000 (21.2 million)
CurrentNo; demonetised 1968
MaterialCuproNickel
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size21.4500 mm
Mass5.1000 g
OCC IDYMXK-DEKQ-CMXM-EWQJ
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Threepence 1947: Photos
ImageDetails
Threepence 1947: Photo Coin, British West Africa, 3 Pence 1947 / thumbnail Coin, British West Africa, 3 Pence 1947
Copyright: NumisCorner.com
Notes: Heaton Mint (H mint mark).
Source
Threepence 1947: Photo Coin, British West Africa, 3 Pence 1947 / thumbnail Coin, British West Africa, 3 Pence 1947
Copyright: NumisCorner.com
Source
Threepence 1947: Catalogue Reference IDs
SourceReference ID
Krause, Standard Catalog of World CoinsBritish West Africa KM# 21
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