The obverse of the Union of South Africa's first coins featured a portrait of King George V, because the country was a Dominion of the British Empire. This meant that it was semi-independent and largely self-governing. By this stage in the British Empire, a policy had developed whereby all British coins carried an uncrowned portrait of the monarch, whilst the coins of the colonies, dependencies and Dominions were obliged to use a crowned portrait. Originally this feature was entirely utilitarian, in that it allowed any British coins in circulation in the Empire to be easily recognised, should they need to be withdrawn. However, it eventually came to be seen as symbolic of a numismatic hierarchy with the British Empire. The Dominions felt that they too should be allowed to use an uncrowned effigy, since they were on a par with Britain, and this would distinguish their coinage from that of the colonies. However, King George V, for whatever reason, did not favour such a policy, therefore South Africa was obliged to use the crowned effigy.