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Rhodesia and Nyasaland: prototype designs of 1955

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

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<k>

#15


Compare Paul Vincze's somewhat similar designs of Guernsey lilies.


The three unadopted designs for the threepence coin, by Paul Vincze, depict the flame lily. Two designs feature a single flower, one with three leaves and one with a single leaf, while the third design shows three lilies arranged symmetrically. The elegant layout of the latter design anticipates Paul Vincze's similar design of three lilies for the large Guernsey 8 doubles coin of 1956. Here all the threepence designs seem equally attractive. Ultimately, however, Vincze's design of a lily with a single leaf was used for Rhodesia and Nyasaland's threepence, presumably because it filled less space on that tiny coin.
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<k>



The issued six pence design, which featured a leopard.
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<k>



Model of the adopted six pence design.  The leopard's spots are clearly seen.
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See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

The Royal Mint Museum does not hold any alternative sketches of the leopard design that appears on the sixpence. Numismatists had long assumed the animal was a lioness, yet here on Paul Vincze's original design, the leopard's spots are clearly visible. On the issued sixpence they are not so apparent, however. The leopard looks alert and ready to pounce.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>



The issued shilling design of a sable antelope.
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See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>



Unadopted shilling design. Here's looking at YOU!
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>



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

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

For the shilling, Paul Vincze's original design shows the sable antelope staring awkwardly outwards at the potential viewer of the design. This distinguishes it from George Kruger-Gray's earlier antelope design on Southern Rhodesia's two shillings coin, first issued in 1932.

Happily, the antelope's final stance in Paul Vincze's issued design mirrors Kruger-Gray's version. With the exception of the stylised elephant tusks on the penny and halfpenny, the antelope provides the only example of thematic design continuity between the two coinages.






George Kruger-Gray's similar antelope design.

It appeared on the Southern Rhodesian two shillings coin (1932 to 1954).
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>



The issued 2 shillings design of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

It depicts an African fish eagle.
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See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>



Unadopted 2 shillings design with 'E II R' and a different placement of the year.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>



This version is very close to the adopted design.

In this design both wings are seen, however.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

Humphrey Paget provided two separate designs for the reverse of the two shillings coin. Each depicted the same fierce African fish eagle clutching a fish.

The designs differ only in the placement of the lengthy textual legend and particularly with regard to the Queen's title, shown as 'ER' and alternatively 'E II R'. Since the Queen's portrait and title already appear on the obverse of the two shillings coin, this additional allusion to her title is unnecessary. Clearly, the 'ER' that appeared on the issued coin served only to fill some blank space, yet the design would have looked none the worse without it.
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>



Humphrey Paget was responsible for modelling the coat of arms for the reverse of the half crown.

The Latin motto translates as "Let us deserve greatness".

The animals depicted on the coat of arms are: an African fish eagle; a sable antelope; and a leopard.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>








Here you see the artwork for the obverse of the penny.

The halfpenny design (not shown) was very similar.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.