Obverse. Photo © Heritage Auctions
  • 50 Cents 1937-1947, KM# 36, Canada, George VI
  • 50 Cents 1937-1947, KM# 36, Canada, George VI
Description

A very large number of varieties exist (HUNDREDS of them!), the vast majority of which relate to the size and location of the digits in the date. In the 61st Edition of the Charlton Standard Catalog of Canadian Coins, the varieties section covers 50 cent coins. They had to write 65 pages just to cover the years between 1941 and 1956. In 1943 alone there are 36 different varieties.

In 1948, India was granted independence from the British Empire. Because of this, the words "ET IND IMP" (And Emperor of India) had to be removed from all obverse coin dies. There was a demand for new 1948 coins, but delays in the manufacture of the updated dies forced the Mint into a second production run using the 1947 dies. To differentiate regular 1947 coins from the second production run a small maple leaf was engraved to the right of the date on the reverse dies.

Obverse

Bare head of George VI facing left, surrounded by the legend, an abbreviated translation of “George VI by the Grace of God, King and Emperor of India”.

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.

Engraver: Thomas Humphrey Paget

GEORGIVS VI D:G:REX ET IND:IMP:
HP

Reverse

Depicts a simplified version of the Royal Coat of Arms of Canada, proclaimed by King George V on November 21, 1921, surrounded by the date, the facial value and the inscription CANADA.

The design of the coat of arms includes:
• symbols of the four founding nations of Canada featured on the shield: the three royal lions of England, the royal lion of Scotland, the royal fleur-de-lis of France, and the royal Irish harp of Tara;
• the lion of England holding the Royal Union Flag and the unicorn of Scotland carrying the flag of Royal France;
• a sprig of red maple leaves at the bottom, is a distinctly Canadian symbol that became gradually identified with the country throughout the 19th century;
• the Royal Crown at the top, indicating that these are the Arms of Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada.

Engraver: George Edward Kruger Gray

50· CENTS
K G
CANADA·1942

Edge

50 Cents

With IND IMP
KM# 36 Schön# 36
Characteristics
Material Silver
Fineness 0.800
Weight 11.6638 g
Diameter 29.72 mm
Thickness 2.02 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Canadian Mint (RCM)

Related coins

Silver, 11.62 g, ⌀ 29.72 mm
Without DEI GRATIA

Silver, 11.6638 g, ⌀ 29.72 mm

Silver, 11.62 g, ⌀ 29.72 mm