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.

Obverse

First crowned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the stylized heraldic Tudor Crown.

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.

Upon the accession of Elizabeth II, she requested the design to be replaced with a representation of the St Edward's Crown (with depressed arches) which she wore at her coronation. Many, though not all, of the derived designs around the world were updated to match.

This portrait appeared on the obverse of the coins of Britain's colonies and dependencies (including Jersey), while only Britain and the Dominions (Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa) were allowed to use the uncrowned effigy.

Engraver: Cecil Thomas

QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND

Reverse

Lion and mountains within 3/4 circle with fleur ends, date and denomination below.

Usually mintmark under lion in the center of grass line. The KHN mint marks exist because the master dies were produced with both the KN and H mint marks for use at either mint. Each mint was required to remove the other's mint mark before striking, but this was not always meticulously done. When one or the other mint mark was not fully removed a trace would remain creating the appearance of an H flanked by clear K and N, in the field below the lion.

-EAST AFRICA-
50
FIFTY CENTS 1960 HALF SHILLING

Edge

50 Cents

KM# 36 Schön# 40
Characteristics
Material Cupronickel
Weight 4 g
Diameter 21 mm
Thickness 1.56 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mints
Heaton Mint, Birmingham (H)
Kings Norton Metal Company, Birmingham (KN)
Royal Mint

Related coins

Silver, 3.8 g, ⌀ 21 mm