East Africa 1954 50 cents
This specimen was lot 52052 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Pittsburgh, PA, August 2023), where it sold for $900. The catalog description[1] noted, "BRITISH EAST AFRICA. 50 Cents, 1954. London Mint. Elizabeth II. PCGS PROOF-66 Cameo. An elusive proof issue, the present specimen delivers rich details with strong appeal arising from the Cameo contrast. An elusive type that is certain to capture the attention of any specialist in British Colonial coinage." 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 denomination was originally billon (.250 fine silver) until 1945 and copper nickel for 1948-52. The coinage has been obsolete since the member colonies obtained independence in the early 1960's. This type was struck 1954-63 at London, Heaton and King's Norton and all dates are common, tho the proofs are rare.
Recorded mintage: 3,720,000 plus proofs.
Specification: 4 g, copper-nickel, 21 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-36.
- 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, August 2023 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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