The British Are Coming!!!Post British Empire Empire Coins.

I think it is a thing to pound cooked root vegetables so they get smooth. I thought it was poi, but I think it is cassava or something like that. I think they ate a lot of yams. They may have pounded yams in that thing!

 

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Haha thats pretty cool! yeah i am just kidding i knew it had to be some kind of grind stone thing or something of that nature!lol I just thought it could look like an invisible guy on a trampoline haha Thats pretty cool, i guess yams made them a lot of money haha

 

In recognition of the 73rd anniversary of D-Day (6 Jun 1944), this post and two others to follow, present coins from my collection which mark Britain’s involvement in WWII.

Jersey 1/12 of a shilling, bronze, 31 mm

The date on this coin records the date of the Liberation of Jersey from German occupation, not the date the coin was struck. This commemorative type of coin was struck for circulation in 1949, 1950, and 1952. A similar coin was struck with Elizabeth II’s image in 1954.

Jersey is a crown dependency.

From Wikipedia:
The Crown Dependencies are the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea, and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey in the English Channel. They are independently administered jurisdictions, and do not form part of either the United Kingdom or the British Overseas Territories. They are self-governing possessions of the Crown (defined uniquely in each jurisdiction). Internationally, the dependencies are considered "territories for which the United Kingdom is responsible", rather than sovereign states. As a result, they are not member states of the Commonwealth of Nations. However, they do have relationships with the Commonwealth, the European Union, and other international organizations.


Alderney 2 pounds, silver 0.9250 fine 0.8410 ASW, 38.5 mm, proof.

Alderney is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a British Crown dependency

From http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/topics/occupation_channel_islands

German Occupation of the Channel Islands

Hitler considered the Channel Islands - Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm - a valuable landing stage for the invasion of mainland France, as they sat just 20 miles off the French coast. Winston Churchill, however, thought they held no strategic importance for Britain and decided to de-militarise them and leave them undefended.

The Germans invade

As the German army stormed through France in June 1940, some 30,000 Channel Islanders (one third of the total population) were evacuated. Once the initial panic was over, the rest decided to stay and tough it out, mainly on Jersey and Guernsey.

On 28 June, the Luftwaffe bombed Jersey and Guernsey, unaware that the islands were undefended. They killed 44 people. Two days later, Luftwaffe personnel took control of Guernsey airfield. There they met the chief of police, who informed them that the islands were undefended.

The following day, a detachment of troops arrived on Guernsey and that afternoon the German flag was raised. More arrived later and their attention turned to the other islands.

Jersey surrendered on 1 July and soldiers were swiftly stationed. Islanders had to show their compliance by flying white flags over their houses.

Sybil Hathaway, the Dame of Sark, received German officers on 2 July. They assured her she had nothing to fear and the island's garrison of just ten men arrived on 4 July.

Alderney, meanwhile, was almost completely empty, but was garrisoned by a company of troops. Herm, the smallest of the islands, was visited by German soldiers on 25 July, although they did not set up a permanent station there.

Life under Nazi rule

A curfew was imposed between the hours of 11pm and 5am and ID cards had to be carried. The sale of spirits was banned. Later, wirelesses were banned and all British-born Islanders were deported to Germany.

A register of Jewish people was created and all Jewish business had to publicly identify themselves. Some were deported to concentration camps. Cars were requisitioned and the Germans controlled the food grown by farmers and caught by fishermen. Anyone caught trying to escape to Britain was imprisoned or shot - if they didn't drown.

Four concentration camps were built on Alderney - the only ones on British territory. Alderney became the most heavily fortified of the islands, built by slave labour.

Resistance and collaboration

Whilst there was no consolidated resistance movement as there was in France, V for Victory signs were painted around the islands, underground newsletters were written, and guns and ammunition were stolen from German stores. Some Islanders assisted their Jewish neighbours and fed slave labourers. On Jersey, letters sent to the Commandant by informants were intercepted by the Post Office and destroyed. Many who did collaborate were attacked after liberation.

The beginning of the end

The D-Day landings in June 1944 came as both a blessing and a curse. Whilst they marked the beginning of the end for the German occupiers who relied on supply lines from the continent, they also meant that food lines were cut. As supplies dwindled, everyone began to starve. However, after negotiation with the Home Office, the Germans allowed the Red Cross' SS Vega to deliver food, saving many of the Islanders' lives. The Vega continued to bring food parcels even after the British liberated the islands on 9 May 1945.

 

A second post relating to coins of the British Empire and WW2:
The only time that the US mint struck coins for a British territory was during WW2. Coins were struck for Fiji at the San Francisco Mint, and for Australia at the Denver and San Francisco Mints. Why was the US Mint called on to produce these coins? My third post may shed some light on this.

I’ve only included photos from the Fiji issues. I do not own an example from the Australia issues, which were struck at the US Mint in 1942 through 1944.

Fiji, florin, silver 0.900 fine 0.3273 ASW, 28.5 mm, minted at San Francisco Mint, S mint mark on reverse. The fine lines on the fields are die polishing scratches.

The San Francisco Mint struck florins, shillings, six pence, pennies, half pennies for Fiji in 1942 and 1943. Coins of these issues carry the S mint mark.

Some history of Fiji follows.

Fiji becomes a crown colony.

Fiji became a crown colony of Britain in 1874, when Britain accepted an offer of cessation from Ratu (meaning King) Cakobau, who was the ruling monarch in a constitutional monarchy that was in effect at the time.

http://fijiguide.com/page/history-1
- European settlement in Fiji resulted in the almost immediate involvement of foreign powers. French, British and US war ships called regularly, often on behalf of aggrieved nationals. As the European population grew, settlers who lived under the protection and at the whim of local chiefs lobbied their respective governments in an effort to annex Fiji and establish a business-as-usual climate. Both the British and American consuls living there were deeply immersed in Fijian affairs.

- {In 1852,} As self-proclaimed King of Fiji, {Tribal King} Cakobau offered to cede Fiji to Britain in return for the payment of his long-overdue US$43,000 debt to the United States {, and with the condition that he be recognized as the King of all Fiji. Britain refused his offer.}

- After the 1860s the European settlement evolved from a handful of scraggly beachcombers and vagabonds to a more orthodox settler society arriving mostly from Australia and New Zealand. Fiji became attractive because of the belief that the British were going to annex it, and economically as a cotton-growing center for European markets which were deprived of this commodity during the American Civil War.

- By 1870 the European population numbered more than 2000.

- The first attempt at a national government was a council of chiefs which met in 1865, but collapsed two years later because no one could agree on anything.

- {The first government} was followed by the creation of regional governments in Bau, naturally headed by Cakobau; in Lau, run by Ma'afu … and, in Bua. Although the latter two were moderately successful in establishing some kind of order, events were moving too rapidly for the chiefs' attempts at political reform, particularly with the influx of European settlers.

- {In 1871, a constitutional monarchy was established, governed primarily by settlers, with Cakobau as the monarch.} However, … `the ministers could not satisfy the irreconcilable demands of merchants, planters and Fijians'. The government became universally unpopular' and the situation deteriorated. Talk of race war was heard, and in order to prevent anarchy and bloodshed Cakobau was forced to cede Fiji to Britain. The British, realizing the responsibility they had towards the settlers and the Fijians, and not wishing the country to fall into America's hands, accepted. On 10 October 1874 the deed of cession was signed … Fiji had become a crown colony.

http://histclo.com/essay/war/ww2/cou/island/pac/w2pi-fiji.html
Fiji’s role in WWII: After the initial Japanese offensive following Pearl Harbor {December 7, 1941}, Fiji to the southeast of the Solomons found itself along with New Caledonia and the New Hebrides (Vanuatu) on the front line of the Pacific War. … The U.S. Navy chose Nandi Bay for its main advance naval base (JAMPUFF). The Army, Marines, and Navy rushed air, ground, and naval assets to the island. Fiji boasted of one of the few concrete air strips in the South Pacific and more were soon under construction. The Seabees {United States Naval Construction Battalions} arrived (June 1942). The New Zealanders participated in the buildup. Even before the American buildup, Fiji was one of several targets of the Japanese FS Operation designed to seize the French and British South Pacific islands east of Australia. This would have severing the sealanes to Australia and New Zealand, cutting them off from America, the first step in conquering both Dominions. Operation FS would have been the next Japanese Pacific offensive after they destroyed the American carriers at Midway. The ensuing Japanese Midway disaster (June 1942), however, significantly reduced the striking power of the Imperial Fleet. Fiji was an important support base for the Marines on Guadalcanal. … The American Pacific Fleet proved to have just enough naval power to prevent the Japanese from moving beyond the Solomons until new construction would fundamentally change the balance of naval power. In addition, the United States garrisoned Fiji with 10,000 well-equipped Marines. A Japanese invasion would not have faced the small, poorly equipped force they found on Wake and Guam immediately after Pearl Harbor. Fiji soldiers fought with the Allies in the Pacific campaigns that followed. Fijian soldiers acquired a reputation in the difficult American Solomon Islands campaign. The United States and other Allied countries maintained military installations in Fiji during the War, but after the Solomons campaign, Fiji gradually became a remote rear area used for staging and logistics.

 

Coins were struck in London during WW2 for the British occupied Danish possessions of Faroe Islands and Iceland.

Although Iceland and the Faroe Islands were never part of the British Empire, these coins are illustrative of an interesting and important chapter in British history, and are including here for this reason. All the coins illustrated are from my collection.

Early in WW2, on 9 April 1940, Germany invaded neutral Denmark and began an occupation of Denmark that would last until 1945. Britain feared that Germany would establish bases on Iceland and the Faroe Islands, which were both possessions of Denmark. On 12 April 1940 the British peacefully established an occupation force on the Faroe Islands. Later, on 10 May 1940, Britain would invade and occupy Iceland after unsuccessfully trying to convince Iceland to give up its neutrality and align with the Allies. The invasion was non-violent, and Iceland protested the action, to no avail.

During the occupations of the Faroe Islands and Iceland, Britain struck coins for both at the London Mint.

I suspect that the work load involved in striking the issues for the Faroes (5 denominations in 1941 and 1942) and Iceland coinages (5 denominations in 1942), explain why the WW2 minting of coinage for the British territories of Australia and Fiji were transferred to the US Mint starting in 1942.

Faroe Islands

Faroe Islands coinage minted in London.

The Faroe Islands did not have a unique coinage, Danish coinage circulated there. Below is a “Danish like” 5 ore minted in London for the Faroe Islands.

In 1941 and 1942 (using 1941 dies) 1, all denominations of minor coins for the Faroe Islands were struck in London. This coinage faithfully reproduced the Danish coinage that was in circulation up to 1941. These coins were struck in the same bronze or copper-nickel compositions of the previous Danish coinage. The London Coins do not include mint marks or initials though.

Footnote 1: From NGC https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/world/faeroe-islands-5-øre-km-3-1941-cuid-1202117-duid-1267869

In an interesting contrast, the German occupied Denmark minor coinage of 1941 introduced new compositions of Aluminum or zinc instead of bronze or copper-nickel, no doubt to conserve copper and nickel for war materials. The 1941 coinage eliminated the holes that were used on previous coins. Probably for efficiency, because the holed designs did not return in liberated Denmark after the war.

History of the British occupation of the Faroe Islands

Excerpts from Wikipedia in italics {my additions in curly brackets}:

- During the Second World War Denmark was invaded and occupied by Nazi Germany. The British subsequently made a pre-emptive (but friendly) invasion and occupation of the Faroes to prevent a German invasion.

- At the time of the occupation, the Faroe Islands had the status of an amt (county) of Denmark.

- During the occupation {Faroe Islands} wasgiven full legislative powers.

- Following the liberation of Denmark and the end of World War II, the last British troops left in September 1945. {and the Faroe Islands status as a amt (county) of Denmark continued}

- The experience of wartime self-government did, however, mean that a return to the pre-war status of an amt (county) was unrealistic and unpopular. A referendum on independence was held in 1946; subsequently formal autonomy was established in 1948

- The Faroe Islands {are today} a self-ruling dependency of Denmark.

Faroe Islands in red on map.
Iceland

Icelandic coinage minted in London. From http://www.coinfactswiki.com/wiki/Iceland_1940_5_aurar

{Coins were} struck for Iceland in 1940 {and} 42 at the London mint. Previous issues were struck at the Copenhagen mint 1926-39 and bear the heart mintmark. In 1940, as Nazi troops occupied Denmark, British troops occupied Iceland.

As with the Faroe Islands coins struck in London, the designs were faithfully reproduced, and mint marks and initials were not included. The compositions of bronze or copper-nickel were maintained in 1940, but former copper-nickel coins were struck in zinc in 1942. Designs were maintained in the 1942 zinc coinage, and well as all others.

History of the British occupation of the Iceland

Excerpts from Wikipedia in italics {my additions in curly brackets}:

- The invasion of Iceland was a British military operation conducted by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines during World War II to occupy and deny Iceland to Germany. At the start of the war, Britain imposed strict export controls on Icelandic goods, preventing profitable shipments to Germany, as part of its naval blockade. Britain offered assistance to Iceland, seeking cooperation "as a belligerent and an ally", but Reykjavik {the Capital of Iceland, hence the government} declined and reaffirmed its neutrality. The German diplomatic presence in Iceland, along with the island's strategic importance, alarmed the British. After failing to persuade the Icelandic government to join the Allies, the British invaded on the morning of 10 May 1940. … Meeting no resistance, the troops moved quickly to disable communication networks, secure strategic locations, and arrest German citizens.

- The government of Iceland issued a protest, charging that its neutrality had been "flagrantly violated" and "its independence infringed”, noting that compensation would be expected for all damage done. The British promised compensation, favorable business agreements, non-interference in Icelandic affairs, and the withdrawal of all forces at the end of the war.

- Resigning themselves to the situation, the Icelandic authorities provided the invasion force with de facto cooperation, though formally maintaining a policy of neutrality.

Later Canadian forces would replace the British, still later US forces would replace the Canadians.

- At the start of WWII Iceland was a fully sovereign state in a personal union {two states that are independent but have the same monarch} with Denmark. In 1944 Iceland voted to terminate the Union and established a republic.



Greenland

The British did not occupy Greenland. … Here’s why.

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenland_in_World_War_II#Greenland_enters_the_war

- Before the war, Greenland was a tightly controlled colony of Denmark, otherwise closed off to the world.

- {After the German occupation of Denmark} Britain and Canada initially laid plans to occupy points of interest on the island, but the United States, still neutral, firmly rejected "third party" intervention there.

- On 9 April 1941, the anniversary of the German occupation{of Denmark}, the Danish envoy Kauffmann, against the instructions of his government, signed an executive agreement with Secretary of State Cordell Hull, allowing the presence of American troops and making Greenland a de facto U.S. protectorate.

- On 5 May 1945, Greenlanders celebrated the liberation of Denmark in Nuuk. The Greenland Administration under Eske Brun surrendered its emergency powers and again came under direct control from Copenhagen. Kauffmann returned to Copenhagen, where treason charges against him were dropped, and the Danish parliament ratified his agreement with the United States. The United States presence continued in decreasing numbers until the Kauffmann-Hull agreement was replaced by a new base treaty in 1951. The successful experience of an independent Greenland led to a dramatic restructuring and modernization of Danish policy with respect to the colony

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenland

- {Today, Greenland} is an autonomous constituent country within the Kingdom of Denmark

 

Comparison of reverses of 1842 Canadian preconfederation tokens PC-2A1 and PC-2B. Mint state vs proof.

 

I've got a few, here's 2 to start with: An 1891 and a 1901 Queen Victoria Penny (Please don't mind the coin holder tears):

 

Although Iceland and the Faroe Islands were never part of the British Empire, these coins are illustrative of an interesting and important chapter in British history, and are including here for this reason. All the coins illustrated are from my collection.

Early in WW2, on 9 April 1940, Germany invaded neutral Denmark and began an occupation of Denmark that would last until 1945. Britain feared that Germany would establish bases on Iceland and the Faroe Islands, which were both possessions of Denmark. On 12 April 1940 the British peacefully established an occupation force on the Faroe Islands. Later, on 10 May 1940, Britain would invade and occupy Iceland after unsuccessfully trying to convince Iceland to give up its neutrality and align with the Allies. The invasion was non-violent, and Iceland protested the action, to no avail.

During the occupations of the Faroe Islands and Iceland, Britain struck coins for both at the London Mint.

I suspect that the work load involved in striking the issues for the Faroes (5 denominations in 1941 and 1942) and Iceland coinages (5 denominations in 1942), explain why the WW2 minting of coinage for the British territories of Australia and Fiji were transferred to the US Mint starting in 1942.

Icelandic coinage minted in London. From http://www.coinfactswiki.com/wiki/Iceland_1940_5_aurar

{Coins were} struck for Iceland in 1940 {and} 42 at the London mint. Previous issues were struck at the Copenhagen mint 1926-39 and bear the heart mintmark. In 1940, as Nazi troops occupied Denmark, British troops occupied Iceland.

As with the Faroe Islands coins struck in London, the designs were faithfully reproduced, and mint marks and initials were not included. The compositions of bronze or copper-nickel were maintained in 1940, but former copper-nickel coins were struck in zinc in 1942. Designs were maintained in the 1942 zinc coinage, and well as all others.

History of the British occupation of the Iceland

Excerpts from Wikipedia in italics {my additions in curly brackets}:

- The invasion of Iceland was a British military operation conducted by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines during World War II to occupy and deny Iceland to Germany. At the start of the war, Britain imposed strict export controls on Icelandic goods, preventing profitable shipments to Germany, as part of its naval blockade. Britain offered assistance to Iceland, seeking cooperation "as a belligerent and an ally", but Reykjavik {the Capital of Iceland, hence the government} declined and reaffirmed its neutrality. The German diplomatic presence in Iceland, along with the island's strategic importance, alarmed the British. After failing to persuade the Icelandic government to join the Allies, the British invaded on the morning of 10 May 1940. … Meeting no resistance, the troops moved quickly to disable communication networks, secure strategic locations, and arrest German citizens.

- The government of Iceland issued a protest, charging that its neutrality had been "flagrantly violated" and "its independence infringed”, noting that compensation would be expected for all damage done. The British promised compensation, favorable business agreements, non-interference in Icelandic affairs, and the withdrawal of all forces at the end of the war.

- Resigning themselves to the situation, the Icelandic authorities provided the invasion force with de facto cooperation, though formally maintaining a policy of neutrality.

Later Canadian forces would replace the British, still later US forces would replace the Canadians.

- At the start of WWII Iceland was a fully sovereign state in a personal union {two states that are independent but have the same monarch} with Denmark. In 1944 Iceland voted to terminate the Union and established a republic.


I thought you would like to see the Royal mint in London's handy work of Icelands 1940 proof coins

 

I thought you would like to see the Royal mint in London's handy work of Icelands 1940 proof coins View attachment 647743 [/QUOTE]

Well Krause does not list proofs for any of the Icelandic coins. So I searched for information about them on the Net. I found this forum entry at the link below:

http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?topic=7986.0

I'm here tonight to do a little bragging about a set of 1940 proof coins from Iceland I won at a Stack's auction last month. Knowing that there is only about 10 sets ..give or take That was minted at the Royal Mint in London I thought I would never be able to find one....well my search has come to an end and here are the pic's and I hope you enjoy them.

And you were the author. …. Wow. … Most impressive. … Congratulations. Thank you for the reply to my post.

It appears that you have had these proofs re-certified because the coin mounts look different on your recent post, and the post above.

 

http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?topic=7986.0

I'm here tonight to do a little bragging about a set of 1940 proof coins from Iceland I won at a Stack's auction last month. Knowing that there is only about 10 sets ..give or take That was minted at the Royal Mint in London I thought I would never be able to find one....well my search has come to an end and here are the pic's and I hope you enjoy them.

And you were the author. …. Wow. … Most impressive. … Congratulations. Thank you for the reply to my post.

It appears that you have had these proofs re-certified because the coin mounts look different on your recent post, and the post above.[/QUOTE]


You are welcome and thank you. I did have them placed in the smaller holders because I'm not fond of those multi-holder..plus they are much easier to store.

 

Someone posted one of these somewhere awhile back. I really liked it and said I wanted to find one. And I did. Lucky Me. Not the best example, But very nice 90 year old for the price.
Australia, One Florin, 1927, Commemorative of the Parliament House,
One year type, KM-31, mintage of 2,000,000. asw.3342. 28.5 mm.

 

I think it was me who posted one.

Nice example!

 

Thank you for doing so. This is the only coin I have seen on here that I actively
looked for.

 

The only one? You're lucky, I think I keep adding to my 'want' list because of these threads.....

 

No problem.

Same here, heck I got into ancients cause of this board, now 400 ancients later

 

Here's a modern, actually brand new. Mintage of 120,000 for the trident privy anniversary issue.


Stock photo.

 

Not exactly a problem-free coin, but I can't help but like it

 

A coin with a Dodo on it. It made me laugh, so I had to get it.