Nigeria: decimal and pre-decimal variations

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I totally agree with your opinion that asymmetric always looks better and more natural as a design. Curiously, the photo of the asymmetric says "revised design" but is dated 1958, whilst the presumably earlier design is dated 1959. Of course, the dates used do not necessarily bear any relation to when the plasters were sculpted.

[<k>]

½ kobo.

The Royal Mint engraver Geoffrey Colley created the reverse designs for Nigeria's decimal series of 1973.

It seems that originally the ½ kobo was going to have a central hole, like so many earlier African coins.

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The plaster for the issued coin.




Here is the issued coin.

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1 kobo.

Originally, the 1 kobo was also going to have a central hole.

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Clearly, there were second thoughts.




The issued coin.

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5 kobo or kobos?

And notice the difference in the numerals.

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The issued coin.

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10 kobos.

The same question for the next denomination: kobo or kobos?

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The issued coin.

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25 kobos.

The design saw a few variations before the finished version

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We're almost there!

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The plaster for the issued coin.




The issued coin.

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2½ kobo.

Were you expecting a 50 kobo? Well, there wasn't one.

There wasn't a 2½ kobo either, but they were obviously thinking about it.

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"Federation of Nigeria"




"Federal Republic of Nigeria".

The unadopted designs of the 1960s referred to the "Federation of Nigeria".

The actual coins refer to the "Federal Republic of Nigeria".


Also, the initial sketches of the unadopted designs were denominated in cents.

That presumes a dollar, but the actual currency has 100 kobo to the naira.

[<k>]

RELATED TOPICS

Geoffrey Colley, Coin Designer

Nigeria: predecimal to decimal design continuity