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Auction: 25121 - Spink Numismatic e-Circular 40: British and World Coins, Medals and Artefacts - e-Auction
Lot: 1914

(x) PCGS MS63 | British West Africa, George V (1936-1952), Sixpence, 1952, crowned bust left, rev. value in wreath, edge milled, 12h (KM 31), some light contact marks and toning spots, mint bloom, good extremely fine, scarce and seldom encountered in commerce, in PCGS holder, graded MS63 (Cert. #83536161)

https://www.pcgs.com/cert/83536161


The British West African Pound served as the common currency across British colonies in West Africa, including Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ghana (Gold Coast), and Gambia. Equal to the British Pound Sterling, it was divided into 20 Shillings of 12 Pence each, making the Sixpence worth half a Shilling or 1/40th of a Pound. The coins were initially minted in silver before transitioning to tin brass and finally nickel brass.

Following the independence of many African countries in the 1950s and 1960s, each territory introduced its own currency. Despite this British West African coins continued circulating alongside the new currencies until the end of the 1960s in some areas. The 1952 Sixpence represents a particularly rare example of this transitional period. While 2,544,000 were minted (down from over 4 million in previous years), almost the entire mintage was melted down, with only 167 coins reportedly retained. This makes the 1952 British West African Sixpence one of the rarest coins from this colonial currency system.


Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£380 to £400

Starting price
£380