Rhodesia and Nyasaland: prototype designs of 1955

Started by <k>, October 27, 2021, 07:22:29 PM

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<k>

In August 1953, back in the days of Empire, Britain established the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. It was constituted from Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and Nyasaland (now Malawi). Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland were British Protectorates, whilst Southern Rhodesia was a self-governing colony. The British believed that this new federation would bring benefits of economic and administrative efficiency to the three territories.

Previously the Southern Rhodesian pound had been used throughout the three territories, but a new currency, the Rhodesia and Nyasaland pound, was created in 1955 to serve the new Federation. It was equivalent in value to the UK pound and the former Southern Rhodesian pound. At the Royal Mint in London, three artists had begun work on the designs for the new coinage in 1954. Bernard Sindall produced the charming giraffes and elephants for the reverse of the halfpenny and penny respectively. Paul Vincze, a Hungarian immigrant to Britain, created the designs of the flame lily, the leopard and the sable antelope that graced the reverse of the threepence, sixpence and shillings respectively. Meanwhile, Humphrey Paget designed the reverse of the two shillings coin, which featured an African fish eagle, and modelled the coat of arms for the reverse of the half crown.

Humphrey Paget had achieved fame in 1937 by creating the numismatic effigy of King George VI and also the Golden Hind ship design for the reverse of the halfpenny. Paul Vincze would later design the coinage of Guernsey and of independent Malawi. Bernard Sindall later designed various commemorative coins for Ceylon, Jersey and Mauritius, amongst other countries.
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See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

My special thanks to the staff of the Royal Mint Museum, who unearthed these beautiful prototype designs for me for.

The images in this topic are all copyright of the Royal Mint Museum.

Visit their web site at www.royalmintmuseum.org.uk.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>



Here you see the issued reverse of the half penny coin.

It depicts two giraffes.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>



Half penny. This variation is close to the adopted design.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>



Here you see the issued reverse of the half penny coin.

It depicts two elephants.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>









Penny. Unadopted design. The trunks hold the crown aloft.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>



Penny. This sketch is very close to the adopted design.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

Infinite care is taken before a design is deemed satisfactory. Bernard Sindall's unadopted halfpenny designs show the giraffes in unnatural positions, and in two designs they are shown apparently standing in mid-air. Notice also the traces of an erased 'S' instead of a 'Z' in the word 'ELIZABETH' on one of those designs. The issued design, however, shows the animals standing on a grassy mound.

While the giraffes are depicted in a natural standing position, the elephants on the penny design are shown standing on their hind legs, as one sometimes sees in circuses. Presumably this allows the elephants to fit into the limited space available. In contrast to its position on the halfpenny reverse, the crown has been moved upward and away from the central hole.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>



Three pence. The adopted design of a flame lily.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>



Three pence. Unadopted design of three flame lilies.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>



Three pence. Unadopted design of a flame lily with three leaves.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>



Three pence. Unadopted design of a flame lily with a single leaf.

This version is very close to the adopted design.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.