Proof coin, 50 cents, British East Africa, 1954
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1954 AD
Proof 50 Cents, Issued by, East African Currency Board, British Colony of Kenya (British East Africa), 1954 Minted by Royal Mint, London This coin was also used in Uganda and Tanganyka Obverse: Crowned bust of the Queen facing right, around, QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND; artist's initials, CT, incuse on bust truncation.
Reverse: Within a partial line circle which ends in leaves either side of the denomination, a lion advancing to right with a tall pointed mountain in the background; in exergue in two lines, 50 / 1954; around above, EAST AFRICA; around divided by date, FIFTY CENTS HALF SHILLING. Edge: Milled.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 2
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
The rupee of British India had come to be the coinage standard of the Protectorate of East Africa and Uganda (largely because it was used to pay Indian workers on the Kenya-Uganda Railway). In 1920 the East African Protectorate became the Colony of Kenya and the East Africa Currency Board was set up.
It introduced a new decimal system based on 100 cents to one East African Florin in 1920, abandoning the old rupee system. This was very short lived, on 1 May 1921 it was replaced by a system based on 100 cents to 1 East African Shilling. This system was expanded on 1 January 1922 to be the official Currency of Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyka.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Copper-Nickel
- Dimensions
- Overall Dimensions: 21 mm (Outside Diameter), 3.889 g (Weight)
Technical characteristics
- Maker recorded
- Royal Mint, London; Mr Cecil Thomas
- Place recorded
- British East Africa (Kenya)
- Series recorded
- Proof of Record
- Denomination recorded
- 50 Cents
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Museums Victoria, Melbourne collection record for this single object (sentences kept verbatim apart from removed sale or rarity wording); how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Candidate id
- mv-61389
- Museum object name
- Proof Coin - 50 Cents, British East Africa, 1954
- Holding institution
- Museums Victoria, Melbourne
- Museum object number
- NU 12483
- Published references
- KM#36 Remick, Jerome Guidebook & Catalogue of British Commonwealth Coins, p. 159-165 http://www.centralbank.go.ke/Currency/CurrencyHistory.aspx (Central Bank of Kenya - History of Kenyan Currency)
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Research required
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Recorded
- Weight
- Research required
- Mint or printer
- Research required
- Mint or printer mark
- Research required
- Catalogue reference
- Research required
- Attached photograph (check rights)
- Recorded
Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and dating against a specialist reference; this entry documents one recorded example.