East Africa 1942-H shilling
This specimen was lot 33161 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, May 2024), where it sold for $3,360. The catalog description[1] noted, "EAST AFRICA. Shilling, 1942-H. Birmingham (Heaton) Mint. George VI. PCGS SPECIMEN-66. An EXTREMELY RARE Specimen striking of this denomination, the only example certified as such by either PCGS or NGC. Boldly struck and gently frosted devices rise above fields that are awash with watery luster." East Africa was an administrative grouping of the British colonies of Kenya, Uganda and British Somaliland. Tanganyika was added in 1919 after it was seized from the Germans. The original currency system was 100 cents = one florin (2 shillings). In 1922, this was changed to 100 cents = one shilling. This type is known from the Heaton mint for 1937, 1942 and 1944 and from Bombay for 1941. The subsequent issue (KM 31) was copper-nickel. This specimen realized eleven times the catalog value. The coinage has been obsolete since the member colonies obtained independence in the early 1960's.
Recorded mintage: 4,430,000 plus proofs.
Specification: 7.6 g, 0.250 fine silver, 27.7 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-28.1.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, May 2024 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
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