British West Africa 1920-H 3 pence
This specimen was lot 22181 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Anaheim, CA, August 2016), where it sold for $446.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "BRITISH WEST AFRICA. 3 Pence, 1920-H. NGC MS-63. One and only year the denomination was struck in 0.500 fine silver. Champagne tone over fully original surfaces, quite appealing." In 1920, the Heaton mint was contracted to produce one-tenth, one half and one pennies in copper-nickel and threepences, sixpences and florins in 0.500 fine silver. The silver denominations were converted to brass that year, likely accounting for the scarcity of the date. Earlier issues of 1913-19 were sterling and are generally more common.
Recorded mintage: 3,616,000.
Specification: 1.41 g, 0.500 fine silver, .042 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: KM-10a.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, The August 2016 Anaheim ANA Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2016.
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