Coins of the Rhodesian pound
The coins of the Rhodesian pound were part of the currency of Southern Rhodesia, which changed its name to Rhodesia, following the break-up of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, when the Rhodesian pound replaced the Rhodesia and Nyasaland pound, which had replaced the Southern Rhodesian pound.
Pre-UDI colonial coinage
In 1964, a series of
They consisted of the following;
- sixpence (6d) bearing a flame lily design on the reverse
- shilling (1/-) bearing the Rhodesian shield on the reverse
- florin (2/-) bearing the Zimbabwe Bird on the reverse
- half crown (2/6) bearing a Sable Antelopeon the reverse
These coins are interesting in two respects. First, Rhodesia was the first of two countries to utilise
All these coins had the title of
, as had been the case on the coins of Rhodesia and Nyasaland and Southern Rhodesia.Tommy Sasseen was the designer of the reverses of these coins - and the designer of both sides of the coins of the Rhodesian dollar as well.
UDI-period coinage
On November 11, 1965, Rhodesia was declared by
In 1966, the 'rebel' Rhodesian Government decided to issue a set of gold coins to commemorate the first anniversary of the UDI. These consisted of three denominations:
- ten shillings (bearing a sable antelope on the reverse) (click for obverse image) (click for reverse image);
- one pound - 5000 minted (bearing the "lion and tusk" armorial crest of Rhodesia on the reverse)
(click for obverse image) (click for reverse image); and
- five pounds - 3000 minted (bearing the
(click for obverse image) (click for reverse image);
all of which were identical in weight, size and gold content to the British
In 1968, the Rhodesian threepence (or tickey) was struck. This was not dual-denominated. This coin was replaced by the 2-1/2 Cents in 1970.