Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 5 Cents 1937-1943, KM# 25, East Africa, George VI
  • 5 Cents 1937-1943, KM# 25, East Africa, George VI
Description

East Africa Protectorate (also known as British East Africa) was an area in the African Great Lakes occupying roughly the same terrain as present-day Kenya from the Indian Ocean inland to Uganda and the Great Rift Valley. It was an administrative grouping of five separate British territories: Kenya, Uganda, the Sultanate of Zanzibar and British Somaliland.

George VI (1895–1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death. He was the last Emperor of India and the first Head of the Commonwealth.

As the second son of King George V, he was not expected to inherit the throne and spent his early life in the shadow of his elder brother, Edward. George's elder brother ascended the throne as Edward VIII upon the death of their father in 1936. However, later that year Edward revealed his desire to marry divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson. British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin advised Edward that for political and religious reasons he could not marry a divorced woman and remain king. Edward abdicated in order to marry, and George ascended the throne as the third monarch of the House of Windsor.

Obverse

The Tudor Crown and lettering "Georgius VI Rex et Indiae Imperator" (George VI, King and Emperor of India).

The Tudor Crown, also known as the King's Crown or Imperial Crown, is a widely used symbol in heraldry of the United Kingdom. While various crown symbols had been used for this purpose for many years previously, the specific Tudor Crown design was standardised at the request of Edward VII. It was never intended to represent any actual physical crown, although in shape it bears a close resemblance to the small diamond crown of Queen Victoria.

If there is a mintmark it is below the N of CENTS.

GEORGIUS VI REX ET IND:IMP:
FIVE CENTS
I

Reverse

Tusks flank center hole, denomination above, circle surrounds.

If there is a mintmark SA it is under the central hole.

EAST AFRICA
5
1941

Edge
Characteristics
Material Bronze
Weight 6.32 g
Diameter 25 mm
Thickness 1.65 mm
Shape round with a center hole
Alignment Medal
Alt # KM# 25.1, KM# 25.2, KM# 25.3
Mints
Bombay Mint (I)
Heaton Mint, Birmingham (H)
Kings Norton Metal Company, Birmingham (KN)
Pretoria Mint, South Africa (SA)

Related coins

Bronze, 5.77 g, ⌀ 25.5 mm