To round off this session, I am posting one of the most historically significant pieces in my collection. It represents the “Year of Three Kings,” the Abdication Crisis, and the “other” great mint of Birmingham.

This is a coin of Edward VIII—the King who gave up the throne for love.

The Historical Context: The King Who Never Was

Edward VIII reigned for less than a year in 1936. Because he abdicated before his coronation, the Royal Mint never released portrait coins for circulation in Britain.

However, the colonies were different. East Africa used “holed” coins which didn’t require a royal portrait—only the name needed changing. As a result, East Africa is one of the few places in the world where Edward VIII currency was legally issued and circulated.

The Birmingham Connection: Kings Norton

My collection focuses heavily on the Heaton Mint (“H”), but they weren’t the only game in town.
The Kings Norton Metal Company (“KN”) was Heaton’s local rival. Located in the Kings Norton area of Birmingham, they often took on overflow work from the Royal Mint.

  • The Rarity: The 1936 5-Cent was minted in London, by Heaton (H), and by Kings Norton (KN). The KN variety is generally considered the scarcest of the three.

The Coin: 1936 East Africa 5 Cents

  • Denomination: 5 Cents
  • Monarch: Edward VIII (Legend: EDWARDVS VIII)
  • Year: 1936
  • Mint: Kings Norton (Birmingham)
  • Mintmark: KN
  • Metal: Bronze
  • Reference: KM 23

Spotting the Mark:
On the reverse, look at the very bottom, just above the date 1936 and between the tips of the elephant tusks. You will see the tiny letters KN.

Condition & Grading

The Assessment:

  • Obverse: The legend EDWARDVS VIII REX ET IND IMP is clear and legible. This is the most important part of the coin—the name of the short-lived King.
  • Reverse: The tusks are visible, though the coin has seen honest circulation.
  • Surface: The coin is quite dark with some surface deposits (verdigris) around the rim and lettering. This is very common for bronze that has spent decades in a tropical climate. The darkness makes the mintmark harder to spot, but it is there.

Grade: Fine to Very Fine (F/VF)
A circulated example, but a scarce variety of a rare monarch.

The Verdict

This coin is a conversation starter. It bears the name of a King who was never crowned. It bears the mark of a mint (Kings Norton) that rivaled Heaton. It is a piece of history from the months leading up to the biggest constitutional crisis of the 20th century, struck right in the heart of Birmingham.

Further Reading & Data: