Summary
4 Pence, Issued by British Guiana (now Guyana), 1921
Minted by Royal Mint, London
Obverse Description
Crowned and draped bust of the King facing left; around, GEORGE V KING AND EMPEROR OF INDIA; the artist's initials, BM, on bust truncation
Reverse Description
Within an open oak wreath in two lines, FOUR / PENCE; above, Imperial crown; around, BRITISH GUIANA; below, 1921
Edge Description
Milled
Significance
In 1840 the value of the British Guiana guilder was fixed at 1 shilling and 4 pence (16 pence) and as a result the 4 pence piece was equated to the important 1/4 guilder denomination, known in British Guiana as a 'bit'. The 4 pence or groat therefore became the principle coin circulating in the colony although 3 pence, 2 pence and 1 1/2 pence silver coins were also provided. The West Indies obtained their coins through the Colonial Bank in British Guiana which led in time to the striking of the silver 4 pence for British Guiana and the West Indies from 1891 until 1916.
By Royal Proclamation of 10 May 1917 the coins were only for British Guiana (Annual Report of the Deputy Master and Comptroller of the Royal Mint, 1917 p. 12).
More Information
-
Collecting Areas
-
Acquisition Information
Transfer from Melbourne Branch of Royal Mint, Royal Mint, London, 1978
-
Date Issued
1921 AD
-
Issued By
-
Mint
-
Artist
-
Denomination
-
Material
Silver
-
Axis
12
-
Classification
-
Category
-
Discipline
-
Type of item
-
Dimensions
17 mm (Outside Diameter), 1.874 g (Weight)
-
Shape
Round
-
References
KM#29 Pridmore 45
[Book] Pridmore, Fred. 1965. The Coins of the British Commonwealth of Nations, Part 3, West Indies.
[Book] Bruce, Colin R. 2006. Standard Catalogue of World Coins 1801 - 1900.
-
Keywords