1942 - 1945 - Ceylon
George VI - Five Cents

A definitive decimal Ceylon currency Five cent Nickel Brass coin. On 1941 November 4th, a Nickel-bronze Five cent coin of 3.888 grams was declared legal tender. It was amended on 1942 January 3rd to Nickel-brass, and on 1944 February 14th the weight was reduced to 3.24 grams leading to a thiner planchet.

SPECIFICATIONS
Denomination5 cents
AlloyCu-Ni
Diameter18.5 mm
Thickness mm
Weight3.23 gms
ShapeSquare with
Rounded corners
EdgePlain
DieAxis
George~VI_05c_obverse George~VI_05c_reverse
KM #113

Obverse : Crowned Head of George VI to left in relief in the center. Legend GEORGE VI KING & EMPEROR broken by the crown along periphery with raised rim.
Reverse : CEYLON above central numeral 5. සත පහ in Sinhala on left, ௫•சதம் in Thamil on right. Below CENTS , and year within a raised rim.

Pridmore Year Alloy Issue Coined Mint Proof
190 1942 NiBrass 12,448,000 1942 Calcutta 190A
191 1943 NiBrass 12,752,000 1943 Calcutta & Bombay
192 1944 NiBrass 18,064,000 1944 Calcutta & Bombay
193 1945 NiBrass 10,072,000 1945 Calcutta & Bombay
193 1945 NiBrass 2,170,000 1959Calcutta & Bombay

Royal Mint Report for 1959 states that new Master tools for coinages for Ceylon 5c were made to accord with sample pieces supplied.
For the obverse reduction-punces of the effigy were prepared from an existing intermediate model and the inscriptions were engraved by hand on the succeeding matrix.
For the Reverse the matrix was prepared from a working-punch from stock.

Pridmore Year Alloy IssueCoined Mint
193 1945 NiBrass 2,750,000 1959Royal Mint
193 1945 NiBrass 11,000,000 1960Royal Mint
193 1945 NiBrass 4,000,000 1961Royal Mint
193 1945 NiBrass 1,200,000 1962Royal Mint

The 1945 Mint figure above from Royal Mint Reports match Sallay's records, Pridmore(1961) and Remick(1968) figure of 31,192,000. Robert Harris(1970) figure of 33,942,000 (excess 2.75M) for year 1945 is an error.

The Detailed breakdown above from Royal Mint Report and Sallay indicates that all of the 5 cents coins minted with frozen year 1945 continued to be restruck till 1962, long after Ceylon independence in 1948, and 10 years into the reign of Queen Elizabeth II !!!

1951 5 cents coin was only a proof and Not issued as currency for circulation, The first Lankan NCLT. It is not so scarce since it has been restruck in India for collectors.

The coin was scaned at 300dpi and the images are displayed at 300dpi.