Comments on "Coinage of the Gambia"

[<k>]

Parent topic:  Coinage of the Gambia
The parent topic (above) gives an overview of the coinage of the Gambia.

Please post any comments, questions or corrections in this topic here.

Your comments are welcome.

[Figleaf]

The Gambia used the British West African pound until it issued its own banknotes on October 5, 1964.

This is in fact a half truth, which explains why you cannot correctly place the 2, 4 and 8 shillings. The currency of the Gambia in its colonial history was the cut Spanish peso. Many of these were fraudulently cut, so that they were demonetised in 1880. Only 695 Spanish dollars were turned in. This apparently led to the realisation that the colonial government didn't have a clue on what was circulating. That turned out to be French 5 franc pieces, which formed 85% of the remaining coins in circulation, British coin accounting for 15% only. This is easily explained because domestic trade was barter and international trade was 80% to France and neighbouring French colonies.

When the colonial government wanted to outlaw French money also, it provoked the threat of a de facto trade boycott. The British authorities relented, but fixed the rate of the French 5 franc piece to the BWA pound at 4 shillings, which was its traditional rate on Gambian markets, except for payments to the UK authorities. The fixed rate was possible because at the time, the 5 franc traded as full value coin in the countries of the Latin Monetary Union, giving it a de facto fixed rate to the UK sovereign. In this way, the powers that be in Bathurst could claim that the BWA pound was circulating in the Gambia, while in fact, the French franc was used.

In 1891, BWA small copper became gradually accepted as a replacement for barter in the cities. From 1914, the LMU started falling apart. While this opened the gates for the BWA pound to become circulating coin in the Gambia, local merchants continued to calculate in units of 4 shillings (5 francs). Hence the 2, 4 (and eight) shilling pieces issued after independence.

Peter

[<k>]

RELATED TOPICS

British West Africa

Gambia: alternative predecimal designs

Gambia's predecimal to decimal design transition

[Big_M]

Bonus, rare FROSTED PROOF version of 8 shillings.

[Big_M]

An 8 shillings coin was produced as a collector coin only in 1970. It was minted in copper-nickel and also in silver.

The obverse design showed the Queen's portrait, as seen on the circulation coins.

The reverse design featured a hippopotamus. This design was NOT the work of Michael Rizzello but that of an artist commissioned by Spink of London.

It is the only coin in the world with a denomination of 8 shillings. It had a diameter of 41 mm.[/center]

From <k>'s research at the National Archives:

'Royal Mint Advisory Committee: Meetings 1968    20/3926.
Considered 3 designs (illustrated) by Rizzello for 8s Gambia coin, portraying a hippo.'

It appears that none of these was retained and the design by Henry Rowland Hill was ultimately used.

[<k>]

Nice image, Big_M.

Sadly, no information can be found about a credible Henry Rowland Hill; a man who was alive in 1970 and who drew or painted wildlife such as hippopotami. Therefore it seems that somebody has entered erroneous information into the record. It is a mystery.

[africancoins]

More about Gambia on my page here....

Africa - Coins of Gambia

A similar set of information... but also including a mention of Scotland and 1581.

Thanks Mr Paul Baker

[<k>]

Numista gives the following details for the 50 bututs coins of 1971 and 1998:

50 Bututs
1971
Copper-nickel • 11.31 g • ⌀ 28.5 mm
KM# 12, Schön# 12

50 Bututs
1998
Copper-nickel • 9.9 g • ⌀ 28.5 mm
KM# 58, Schön# 67

Why was the 50 bututs of 1998 significantly lighter?

It retained a diameter of 28.5 mm.

[africancoins]

50 Bututs 1971 vs 50 Bututs 1998

There would have been some need to save money - because there always is. Lighter usually means cheaper. You may notice this is not a particularly significant reduction, mainly due to the diameter having remained unchanged.

There were very unlikely to be vast numbers of coin operated machines in Gambia relying on the continued use of the same mass as the 1971 dated coins. So need machine to update before the issue of new lighter coins.

By this time there were likely few of the 1971 coins of this denomination in use and so no serious cost for the re-call of those coin. I can only assume that the 1971 coins got re-called around 1998 if they hadn't been already.

By 1998, there would have been no great abundance of unused G.B. 10 Pence planchets in the "old" 11.31g size at British Royal Mint.

Thanks Mr Paul Baker

[<k>]

Yes, the "why" makes sense. I am wondering "how".

Was there a significant difference in the thickness of the two coins?

[africancoins]

There may be a bit of choice with the alloy mix for Copper-Nickel, but that is unlikely to make a real difference to the density. Therefore the new coins just needed to be a bit thinner in order to be a bit lighter. Only a bit thinner though (approx. 10 percent) and so the mint was likely able to sort this out relatively easily.

Thanks Mr Paul Baker

[<k>]

I see. Numista gives the thickness of the 1971 50 bututs coins as 2.4 mm.

It doesn't give one for the 1998 coin.

[coinote]

I wonder how many types of coins are still in circulation in Gambia? I know 1 Dalasi is still in circulation

[<k>]

Probably our forum member Pabitra could tell us that.

[Pabitra]

I wonder how many types of coins are still in circulation in Gambia? I know 1 Dalasi is still in circulation

Once a nation issues large number of coins ( as compared to the population) and they remain legal tender, the keep getting used in remote area, economically weaker sections and live their physical life ( usually around 40 years) .